Drama alumnus wins JMK award and directs performance at Battersea Arts Centre

• Thursday, June 27, 2019

Drama alumnus Tristan Fynn-Aiduenu has written and directed Playback Drama's most recent performance Sweet Like Chocolate Boy, being performed at Battersea Arts Centre.

The performance is about two characters and their worlds colliding, a street-smart, lyrically saturated man-on-the-edge and a quiet boy in a loud borough with a new politically charged black identity swirling around him. The story is told alongside a soundtrack of garage and jungle and examines the spirit of revolution and celebrates Black British Culture from the 90s onwards.

The performance has been reviewed highly, with the Spy in the Stalls rating the performance 5 stars saying Sweet Like Chocolate Boy is an "unforgettable performance". The Stage called the performance "nostalgic perfection" and has rated it 4 stars. Tristan has also been promoting the show on BBC Radio London alongside cast member Jade Hackett.

As well as Tristan's recent success with Sweet Like Chocolate Boy, he was recently chosen as the winner of the 2019 JMK Award. The JMK Award enables one outstanding applicant each year to create their own production of their choice of classic text. For many, winning the James Menzies-Kitchin (JMK) Award is the breakthrough moment in their directing career.

As a director, 24 year old Tristan's credits include Melanin Box Festival (Theatre Peckham), Fresh Direction as part of the Young Vic's My England, Timbuktu (Theatre Royal Stratford East), and Black Attack (Bush Theatre). As an Assistant Director, his work includes The Brothers Size (Young Vic), Soapbox (Central School of Speech and Drama/Embassy Theatre/Talawa Theatre), and D and Suffocation (Ovalhouse).

Sweet Like Chocolate Boy is running from the 25 till the 29 of June at Battersea Arts Centre, and touring three other UK theatres then after, tickets can be purchased here.