The stories of activism are interspersed with spectacular projections, joyous dance and uplifting karaoke

Icon Theatre announces cast and creatives for extraordinary large-scale immersive production The Ballad of St John’s Car Park.

Renowned Medway-based theatre company Icon Theatre, who celebrate their 20th anniversary this year, has announced the cast and creative team for The Ballad of St John’s Car Park.

Set at a Karaoke night, this important immersive and site-specific production celebrates true stories of community activism in Medway, from the protested closure of Chatham’s Dockyard in 1984 to the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020. The production is created and performed by a professional cast and creative team and features a community ensemble of over 100 performers.

The Ballad of St John’s Car Park is directed by Icon Theatre’s Artistic Director Nancy Hirst. Award-winning Hirst has created the theatre production with the cast and local community groups, collecting their stories to shape the script. Research and development was supported by Tabby Lamb, Harveen Mann ARAM and Ravneet Sehra.

Professional performers taking part include Vaneeka Dadhri (Cyrano de Bergerac, UK Tour and West End; Unite - It’s Not As Simple As Black & White, The New Vic), David King-Yombo (The Visit, National Theatre; Protests, Hymns and Caskets, Belgrade Theatre), PK Taylor (Jerusalem and Sweeney Todd, South Hill Park Arts Centre), and Jaye Hudson (This Isn’t a True Story, Almeida; Cacophony, Yard Theatre; The Film We Can’t See, BBC Sounds). The production also offers roles to emerging and local performers including Nicole Dunn (Get Even, BBC/Netflix; Everything I Know About Love, BBC) and Rainham-based actor Pialy Mallik (Honour, ITV; Academy Award-nominated The Long Goodbye), with more to be announced.

The production’s set and costume design are by Sarah Booth (The Firework-Maker's Daughter, Minack Theatre; BEAM, Aldeburgh Festival), with projection design from Gino Green (Sweat, Donmar Warehouse; This Is Not Who I Am, Royal Court) and the lighting design is by Dan Terry (Sweet Charity, Cadogan Hall; Beautiful Octopus Club, Southbank Centre). The production features mass-movement choreographed by Grace Murdoch (Artistic Director, Cheap Date; Orfeo, Minack Theatre) and includes original music and sound design by Jonathan Vincent (The One Show, BBC; Brooklyn 99, Fox/NBC).

The Ballad of St John’s Car Park will feature pupils from six local schools, who will participate as part of Icon Theatre’s award-winning young people’s programme Theatre31, and singers from Fat Lady Opera Chorus.

Taking inspiration from true stories of activism in Medway, The Ballad of St John’s Car Park explores how they have shaped the identities of individuals and the community.

Stories include the Black Lives Matter movement's campaign to rename a local car park that commemorated a prominent slave trader, the protested closure of Chatham Dockyard, local LGBTQ+ and Trans activism that led to the establishment of Medway Pride, how Sikh traditions of ‘Langar’ have positively supported protestors and young people’s involvement in the Greta Thunberg climate protests.

The stories are interspersed with spectacular projections, joyous dance and uplifting karaoke, bringing these poignant stories to life in vivid ways. After the show, the bar and karaoke will stay open for an inclusive community party where the audience can perform their own karaoke songs.

The Ballad of St John’s Car Park is an Icon Theatre production and was co-commissioned by Creative Estuary's Co-commission programme, the initiative which aims to showcase 60 miles of the North Kent and South Essex region as one of the UK’s most dynamic and creative areas, and Medway Council and is supported by Arts Council England.

Icon Theatre’s Artistic Director, Nancy Hirst comments: “The Ballad of St John’s Car Park unites an expert creative team with multiple local talents and important stories from local Medway communities.

“When Icon make a new production I never fully know what the outcome will be. We start off with a small creative idea and develop it with community groups and a professional team. For this production I was inspired by the strength and persistence of the Black Lives Matter movement’s campaign to change the name of a local car park that commemorated slave trader John Hawkins.”

“There are over 200 people in the company for The Ballad of St John’s Car Park and my aim has been to enable them to tell stories of protest that are important to them. Right now, we are at an important moment in our national history where our right to protest has been significantly restricted by recent legislation. The Ballad of St John’s Car Park seeks to demonstrate the positive side of activism.”

Dates and Times:

Wednesday 5th October, 7.30pm

Thursday 6th October, 7.30pm

Friday 7th October, 7.30pm

Saturday 8th October, 2.30pm and 7.30pm

Running Time: 90 minutes (including an interval), the bar and karaoke will stay open after the show.

Location: The St. George Hotel, 7-8 New Rd Ave, Chatham ME4 6BB

Tickets: www.icontheatre.org.uk