Special Measures Theatre has announced a two-week site-specific performance of Dictating to the Estate, a documentary play about the events leading up to the catastrophic fire at Grenfell Tower.
This year will mark the 5th anniversary of the fire and it is against this backdrop that Dictating to the Estate analyses this wholly preventable tragedy. Following two readings at the Playground Theatre in early 2019, and two free online readings, the script has incorporated the feedback from local residents and survivors to produce a play that aims to reflect their experiences.
The play will star Tamara Camacho (The Winter’s Tale, National Theatre; Macbeth, National Theatre) Lucy Ellinson (Run Sister Run, Sheffield Theatres/Paines Plough/Soho; Kingdom Come, A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Play For The Nation, RSC), Jon Foster (F*ck the Polar Bears, Bush Theatre; Othello, Globe Theatre; buckets, Orange Tree Theatre), Nathan Ives-Moiba (All My Sons, Queens Theatre Hornchurch; As You Like It, National Theatre; My Children My Africa, Trafalgar Studios) and Avin Shah (Hobson’s Choice, Manchester Royal Exchange; The Royal Duchess Superstore, Broadway Theatre Barking; Behud, Soho Theatre/Coventry Belgrade).
Written by Kensington resident and writer Nathaniel McBride, and directed by Lisa Goldman and Natasha Langridge, the play will run from 31st May – 12th June. In a bid to make the play as accessible as possible to locals, survivors and families affected by the tragedy, the performance will be held at Maxilla Social Club, a community centre in the heart of North Kensington built on Community Trust Land under the Westway Flyover. The building became a collection point for donations after the tragedy and is located only a stone’s throw from Grenfell Tower.