Labels

Joe Sellman-Leava captivates his audience in this award-winning one-man show about labels that are placed upon people and the wider issues of racism, immigration and displaced people.

The show had its genesis in a racism and equity workshop hosted by Oscar winning actress Emma Thompson and is also a reaction to the rise of right-wing politics in Britain and Europe. Armed with a suitcase full of labels, Sellman-Leava bursts onto the stage and with beautifully accented imitations, repeats controversial racists remarks made by media influencers and politicians. Clever and confronting, this leads to what feels like a conversation about his childhood as a child of a mixed-race heritage in rural Britain, his family’s experiences being dis-placed from Uganda and his family’s decision to change their name from Patel, to improve his father’s employment prospects.

Disarmingly honest, but also funny and endearing it raises many issues that have become even more prominent since the show first performed in 2009.

The stage ends up littered with labels, and ignorant, stupid comments that have been thrown at people - a fitting and pertinent metaphor.

A beautifully managed production which without its production elements could stand on its own as a very powerful speech on human rights - but as a performance is quite stunning and very moving.

Kimberley Shaw

Photographer: Anna Bruce.