Notnow Collective presents-

Pepper and Honey Spring Tour 2022

Written by- Kristina Gavran Directed by- Tilly Branson Produced by Hannah Stone and Notnow Collective Designed by- Eleanor Field 

Composer- Jovana Backovic 

Lighting – James Stokes

Sound – Adam McCready Movement Director- Kitty Randle Performed by- Tina Hofman

 “A story of new beginnings, loss, and the sharing of cultures”  Reviews Hub ****

“A warm and gentle show, it captures the transient and precarious nature of life as an immigrant in the UK in the current climate” The Stage ****

“Gavran’s writing is alive with sensuous detail”  British Theatre Guide 

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 was the UK’s first ‘European’ theatre piece to tour the UK as it prepared 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, before opening the Voila! Europe Festival in London and embarking on an Autumn tour. 

Since Covid, Pepper and Honey has enjoyed a Digital premier and is now looking forward to a Spring 2022 tour. 

Tina said: “So far Pepper and Honey has received an incredible response from audiences and critics alike, and we are looking forward to taking the show across the UK in 2022. Whilst we are now dealing with the aftermath of the UK leaving the European Union, we are still yet to find out the impact this will have on Europeans calling the UK ‘home’, Pepper and Honey is still so timely.”   

Spring, (and Rural) Tour dates and venues: 

28th February The Dukes, Lancaster

2nd March Saltburn Arts, Saltburn by the Sea

4th March ArtsReach, Nether Compton Village, Sherborne, Dorset

5th March ArtsReach, Briantspuddle Village Hall, Dorchester

10th March Curve, Leicester

15th March The Core, Solihull, West Midlands 

18th March Ashcroft Arts, Fareham, Hampshire

22nd March Chapter Arts, Cardiff

25th March The Astor, Deal, Kent

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