The whole system needs a reboot, refresh, restart.
Revolution’s possible, hear me share from the heart.
A searing exploration into sex positivity, online safety and intersectionality, Birds and Bees is an enthralling play by renowned writer Charlie Josephine (I, Joan, Shakespeare’s Globe). Having reached over 500 schools across the UK with online performances in 2020, Theatre Centre is proud to present their spring tour of Birds and Bees. Uncovering the failings of the sex education system in schools, this dynamic and poignant production has been developed in collaboration with Sheffield Theatres and will be touring to Sheffield, Scarborough and Plymouth.
One click and it’s gone too far, far too fast. As explicit photos of the school’s ‘it’ couple go viral, real-life consequences of online life start to spread – and so do everyone’s opinions. Leilah can’t help but feel her Instagram is more of a burden than ‘living her best life’. Billy is queer and proud but feels unseen by the education system; they’ve had enough of feeling invisible. Aarron is still in the early stages of learning how to be a man online and it’s starting to become toxic. And Maisy, well Maisy’s not that into sex, thank you very much. Birds and Bees follows the narrative of four school peers as they recognise their differences and engage their own unique power and potential to spark change.
Celebrating 70 years of schools touring, Theatre Centre is a national theatre company that generates daring and reverent work to amplify the voices of young people. Acting as a connector and enabler for local communities, Theatre Centre fosters creativity and aims to incite positive change by commissioning trailblazing new writers and taking their enthralling new works into schools and theatres across the UK. Prioritising access, Theatre Centre works with young people in areas that are excluded and where there is little provision, eliminating economic barriers and uniting artists and young people across the arts.
Director Rob Watt comments, We are super excited to be working with Sheffield Theatres to make Birds and Bees; a show that has been created with young people across the UK. With a magical combination of Charlie Josephine’s rhythmical words, a top-notch creative team and four awesome actors we are thrilled to share this stunning show with schools and theatres across the nation. The core of this show digs into how young people have complicated conversations. Conversations around gender, identity, sexuality, power and consent. It asks the question ‘If we can learn to have complex conversations, then how would the world change for the better?
This punchy production for young people combines fiery spoken word and an electric soundtrack.
The Stage ★★★★
Centre Stage ★★★★★
Drama & Theatre ★★★★★
Notes to Editors
Title Birds and Bees
Running Time 60 minutes
Age restrictions 14+ (Year 10, Year 9s with advisory)
Content Warnings Contains direct and indirect references to panic attacks and a suicide attempt, as well as infrequent swear words.
Website https://www.theatre-centre.co.uk/projects/birds-and-bees-spring23-tour/
Instagram @sheffieldtheatres
@theatrecentre
Facebook @shefftheatres
@TheatreCentreUK
Twitter @crucibletheatre
@TCLive
#BirdsandBeesTour
Cast
Aarron Richard Logun (he/him)
Billy Milo McCarthy (they/them)
Leilah Dumile Sibanda (she/her)
Maisey Sandra Belarbi (she/her)
Creatives
Writer Charlie Josephine (they/them)
Director Rob Watt (he/him)
Sound Designer Lee Affen (he/him)
Movement Director Yami Löfvenberg (she/her)
Lighting Designer Hector Murray (he/him)
Designer Bethany Wells (she/her)
Stage Manager Lizzie Bond (she/her)
Production Manager Gareth Edwards (he/him)
Casting Consultant Becky Paris (she/her)
Artwork Guy J Sanders (he/him)
Creative Associate Monay Thomas (she/her)
Captioner Cara Lawless (she/her)
Sign Language Interpreter Julie Fletcher (she/her)
Tour Dates
25th January – Sheffield Theatres, Playhouse
11th February There will be captioned performance on Thursday 2nd February and an Audio Described and Signed performance on Thursday 3rd Feb.
www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk/events/birds-and-bees
2nd – 3rd March Stephen Joseph Theatre, The Round
https://sjt.uk.com/events/birds-and-bees
9th – 11th March Theatre Royal Plymouth
https://theatreroyal.com/whats-on/birds-and-bees/
All enquiries, high res images and further information:
Phoebe Carlisle, Chloé Nelkin Consulting
E: phoebe@chloenelkinconsulting.com, T: 020 3627 2960
