Notnow Collective presents
Pepper and Honey
by Kristina Gavran
So, what’s “home”? That’s the question Ana, a young Croatian woman, poses as she settles in the UK.
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. As Grandma bakes her traditional Croatian pepper biscuits (believed to bring a loved one back home), will this be enough to be reunited with her granddaughter? But what is “home” to Ana now?
Written by a Croatian playwright and performed by a Croatian actor, Pepper & 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.
In these strange new times, join us for a heart-warming performance that says more now than ever about the need for tolerance and the power of human connection, even over distance.
Unfortunately, due to government restrictions, are planned live performances of Pepper & Honey in November at Luton’s Hat Factory Arts Centre and Newhampton Arts Centre can no longer go ahead. We hope to reschedule these performances in Spring 2021.
We are, however, pleased to be able to continue preparations for the digital premiere of Pepper & Honey in December:-
12 & 19 Dec, 7pm
Digital Premiere with The Library Presents
More info
Pepper and Honey is Notnow Collective’s freshest bun in the oven (pun intended!). Funded by Arts Council England, we previewed the work in development at Derby Theatre in March 2019, and then completed a preview tour of the final show to London, Wolverhampton and Leicester in November 2019. We had a UK wide tour planned in Spring 2020, but unfortunately this was cancelled due to Covid 19. We are thrilled to be back on stage in Autumn 2020 with Pepper & Honey.
“A beautifully written story. There was not a dry eye in the house by the end” – Reviews Hub ★★★★
“Flows fantastically from one perspective to the next. 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 ★★★★
“a subtle and charming production … Gavran’s writing is alive with sensuous detail” – British Theatre Guide
“incredibly touching, real and resonating” – A Younger Theatre
*We offer ‘Bring Your Own Baby’ (BYOB) matinees where, alongside our regular audiences, babies are welcome to attend along with their adults: giving local parents/carers of young children an opportunity to go to a grown-up theatre show, without worrying about childcare for once. The Pepper & Honey BYOB performances are open to babes-in-arms (babies that aren’t crawling or walking yet). The performance environment is slightly adapted to make it comfortable for them. If you have any further questions about BYOB, please call the venue’s Box Office.
Pepper and Honey is supported by In Good Company, the Unity Theatre Trust, the Sir Barry Jackson Trust, and by National Lottery funding from Arts Council England.
Creative team:
Written by- Kristina Gavran
Directed by- Tilly Branson
Designed by- Eleanor Field
Performer and Producer- Tina Hofman
Composer- Jovana Backovic
Lighting Designer- James Stokes
Sound Designer- Adam McCready
Projection Designer- David Hately
Movement Director – Kitty Randle
Graphic Design – Fernando / Nerea Perez Rivero
PR- Jo McLeish for The Media Room
Marketing- Claire Bowdler
Producer- Corinne Salisbury
Digital Producer – Hannah Stone
We’ve shown our earliest ideas for this show at Scratch That Itch at Derby Theatre, Pulse Festival’s Scratch Day, York Theatre Royal, Arc Stockton, and as part of Camden People’s Theatre’s No Direction Home Festival .