Notnow Collective presents- Pepper and Honey Autumn Tour 2019

Written by- Kristina Gavran Directed by- Tilly Branson Designed by- Eleanor Field Composer- Jovana Backovic Lighting – James Stokes Sound – Adam McCready Movement Director- Kitty Randle Performed by- Tina Hofman

“A beautifully written story. There was not a dry eye in the house by the end.” Reviews Hub

So, what’s home? As the era of post- Brexit Britain looms large, that question has never been more pertinent… That’s the question Ana, a young Croatian woman, poses as she settles in the UK.

Pepper and Honey is the UK’s first ‘European’ theatre piece touring the UK as it prepares to leave the European Union.

Written by a Croatian playwright and performed by a Croatian actor, Pepper and Honey is a poignant, subtle and timely play about the journey of change, cultural differences, trying not to feel like a foreigner in your adopted country and the conflict between upholding the traditions of the ‘old country’ and embracing those of the new.

Ana has been on a journey. Croatian born, she’s arrived in the UK, determined to make it home. As she focuses on life in this new land, she is haunted by the voice of her Grandma- calling for her to stay true to national identity and yearning for Ana to come home. But what is now ‘home’ to Ana? A play of love, loss, culture, heritage and new beginnings…?

Playwright, Kristina Gavran, said: “I feel this piece had to be written now because there is much that divides people at the minute, and this piece seeks to do exactly the opposite: leaving and returning, making home away from home and making or breaking traditions is not narrowly connected only to

immigration issues. It is intrinsic to the world we all know, where people move for work, university and love. However, people are now listening with a lot of anticipation, so I feel this is time to tell these stories.”

Of working with Kristina on this piece, Artistic Director of Notnow Collective and performer in Pepper and Honey, Tina Hofman, said: “We are two Croatian women who have come to UK in two very different political periods for Croatia and UK, and with that, had a very different experience of travel, mobility and immigration. Twenty years ago, Croatians needed a visa for entering UK, whilst after 2013 we were able to enter in the same queue as any EU national. Both of us have committed to a life and making home and forming strong community bonds here. We are raising our multicultural families here in the Midlands. The questions of what and where is home, and cultural identity are so exciting and alive in our family discussions, with all the riches of our chosen life paths, and our children’s complex and exciting heritage. I am thrilled to be taking Pepper and Honey on tour and sharing true Croatian experiences with a huge range of audiences.”

Peter Knott, Area Director for Arts Council England, said: “Arts and culture can help us connect with each other and the places where we live, and I’m pleased that our funding from the National Lottery is supporting Notnow Collective to bring new work to new audiences.

“Ana’s journey from Croatia to the UK explores universal themes of family and belonging, through words, theatre and live baking, and I hope Pepper and Honey will help more people feel inspired by the human stories that connect us all.”

Pepper and Honey premiered at Derby Theatre in Spring 2019 to critical acclaim. It will open at the Voila! Europe Festival in London before embarking on its UK Autumn Tour. It will tour further in Spring/Summer 2020 to locations including Edinburgh, York, across the Midlands and to many rural venues, full tour to be announced soon.

Tina said: “Voila Festival is a perfect opportunity to engage with all those interested in the ‘European’ flavours and connect with fellow ‘European’ performers! It’s happening at a crucial timeline with Brexit and in the ultra-multicultural London, which aside from being a fabulous city overall, is a home to many Croatian and Ex-Yugoslavian migrants, and a great place for us as artists to launch our new work and tour!”

Autumn Tour dates and venues:

Voila! Europe Festival, The Cockpit, London, 9th November (5pm) Voila! Europe Festival, The Cockpit, London, 10th November (3pm) Arena Wolverhampton, 16th November, (7.30pm) Attenborough Arts Centre, Leicester, 17th November (7pm)

Pepper and Honey is supported by National Lottery funding from Arts Council England.

Notnow Collective are committed to developing a new model of contemporary performance and events that are radically inclusive of parents and carers. We do this through offering BYOB (Bring Your Own Baby) engagement, and crèche supported performances and events. Initially co-founded by 2 Croatian artists living in UK, Notnow Collective are dedicated to examining the migrant identity and meaning of ‘home’.

Arts Council England is the national development body for arts and culture across England, working to enrich people’s lives. We support a range of activities across the arts, museums and libraries – from theatre to visual art, reading to dance, music to literature, and crafts to collections. Great art and culture inspires us, brings us together and teaches us about ourselves and the world around us. In short, it makes life better. Between 2018 and 2022, we will invest £1.45 billion of public money from government and an estimated £860 million from the National Lottery to help create these experiences for as many people as possible across the country. www.artscouncil.org.uk