F U E L P R E S E N T S THE BODY REMEMBERS

P R O G R A M M E R P A C K 2 0 2 1 The Project

The Body Remembers explores the effects of internalised trauma on the physical body, and how feelings of extreme visibility within hostile environments and spaces cause the body to conform, particularly for women of colour across different generations.

The project began when Heather suffered from stress related headaches . It led her to examine how traumatic experiences had impacted the way she interacted with herself and others. She collected stories from the public on the topic of visibility and invisibility and realised that the commonality in the statements were around how people adapt their physical behaviour as a result of a traumatic experience. This formed the basis of an exploration into movement as a tool for catharsis.

Through the performance, the aim is to create tools to undertake a process of healing, to strengthen communication, understand the importance of self-care and champion the use of performance as a tool for empowerment.

F U E L | T H E B O D Y R E M E M B E R S - P R O G R A M M E R P A C K | 2 The Body Remembers is a solo performance that uses authentic movement, projection, audio testimonies and soundscapes created and performed by Heather Agyepong, co-created by Imogen Knight (movement) and Gail Babb (dramaturgy).

The piece creates a unique relationship between performer and audience, as we invite them through guided projection to witness the performer and reflections from 20 Black women in trauma recovery as they attend to their own feelings.

Authentic Movement is a therapeutic practice that has allowed Heather to process what her body has been trying to communicate for years and most importantly brought gentle attention to the self. The practice consists of the mover and the witness. The mover without restriction, through impulse, reclaims space. The witness observes, reflects, and notes what is happening in their own bodies.

The Body Remembers focuses on the six parts of Heather’s body that speak the loudest; head, throat, heart, stomach, womb, and hands.

The Body Remembers is produced by Fuel, with support of Arts Council England, Wellcome Trust and the Jerwood New Work Fund.

F U E L | T H E B O D Y R E M E M B E R S - P R O G R A M M E R P A C K | 3 To watch an interview about The Body Remembers with Heather Agyepong click here

F U E L | T H E B O D Y R E M E M B E R S - P R O G R A M M E R P A C K | 3 Heather Agyepong Creator & Performer Heather Agyepong is a visual artist, performer/actor and maker who lives and works in . Her art practice is concerned with mental health and wellbeing, invisibility, the diaspora and the archive. She uses both lens-based practices and performance with an aim to culminate a cathartic experience for both herself and the viewer. She has adopted the technique of re-imagination to engage with communities of interest and the self as a central focus within the image.

She has worked within photographic & performance arts since 2009 with a range of works that have been published, performed and exhibited around the UK and internationally.

She has been nominated for Prix Pictet & Paul Huf Award in both 2016, 2018 & 2021 . Her work exists in a number of collections including Autograph ABP, Hyman Collection, New Orleans Museum of Art and Mead Art Museum.

She has been commissioned by a number of organisations including the Mayor of London, Photoworks, Artichoke & Tate Exchange.

In her television/film and theatre work, she is drawn to challenging and compelling writing with an intrigue for unique voices. She has previously been an associate artist of black led theatre company Talawa and continue to perform both nationally & internationally.

She was nominated for the South Bank Sky Arts Breakthrough Award 2018, awarded the Firecracker Photographic Grant 2020 and have recently been selected as part of Foam Talent 2021.

Heather is currently filming one of the leading roles, ‘Ndudi’ on the highly anticipated series The Power for Amazon Studios which is directed by Reed Morano.

F U E L | T H E B O D Y R E M E M B E R S - P R O G R A M M E R P A C K | 4 COLLABORATING ARTISTS Imogen Knight, Co-Creator (movement)

Imogen is a choreographer, movement director working nationally and internatioally across theatre, film, television, classical and electronic music, visual and performance art, photography and opera.

Imogen was awarded the Choreography for Children 2012 commission by Sadler’s Wells, Company of Angels and and OMG! premiered at The Place and Sadler’s Wells in 2013.

Imogen has worked extensively at the National Theatre, Royal Court, , Almeida, Donmar, Kiln, Manchester Royal Exchange, Manchester International Festival and throughout the West End. She is the movement director for NYX - female trans non binary electronic drone choir, who look to reshape the role of the traditional female choir, testing the limits of organic and synthetic modulation to explore the entire spectrum of collective female voice as an instrument.

Imogen works closely with the innovative charity BODY & SOUL , a charity that uses a comprehensive, community-based and trauma informed approach to address the life-threatening effects of childhood adversity in people of all ages and she has strong ties with CLEAN BREAK Theatre Company and is a faculty member at LAMDA.

Imogen offers intimacy direction and co-ordination for television & film, a practice adopted by many leading production houses including Netflix, Warner Bros, Amazon, HBO and the BBC.

Imogen was movement director for the multi award winning series Chernobyl for HBO and is currently movement director for the upcoming tv series The Power for Amazon.

F U E L | T H E B O D Y R E M E M B E R S - P R O G R A M M E R P A C K | 5 COLLABORATING ARTISTS Gail Babb, Co-Creator (dramaturgy)

Gail Babb is a theatre maker who specialises in creating new work and supporting emerging artists. As a dramaturg, director and producer, she has created shows for theatres, found sites (including museums and a derelict school), as well as national and international touring. Recent credits include work with House, Talawa Theatre Company and Hackney Showroom.

Alongside her theatre making, Gail co-directs the MA in Applied Theatre at Goldsmiths University of London and facilitates creative processes in community settings. Her pojects often centre Black British history and identity and include creative learning in schools, arts and heritage projects and devising with young people and mental health service-users.

As a Producer at Talawa Theatre Company from 2007-2018, Gail brought work with emerging artists to the centre of the company and supported hundreds of young Black artists, technicians and producers as they took their first steps into the industry.

Gail was awarded a Clore Fellowship in 2017 and was named Arts & Media Finalist in the Black British Business Awards 2020.

F U E L | T H E B O D Y R E M E M B E R S - P R O G R A M M E R P A C K | 5 FUEL

Fuel aims to catalyse positive change in the world by producing new live performance by inspiring theatre makers for and with people across the UK and beyond. We seek to realise this vision by producing a programme of artistic work inspired by the ambition of the outstanding artists we support. These artists encourage audiences to understand fears, imagine a different future, and through that experience and insight, inspire change individually and collectively in order to better understand and more fully contribute to the world we live in.

Fuel was founded in 2004 and is led by Kate McGrath. Since then we have produced over 160 shows and 5 festivals, supported the development of 90 artists and companies, reached over 500,000 audience members and 8,750 participants. From a base at Somerset House, London, Fuel works locally, nationally and internationally to develop, create and distribute new work to the widest possible audience. Fuel is a National Portfolio Organisation of Arts Council England, and a registered charity.

Fuel is currently working with artists including Will Adamsdale, Heather Agyepong, Encounter, Inua Ellams, Lewis Gibson, Nick Makoha, Racheal Ofori, Hema Palani, Frauke Requardt, David Rosenberg, Andy Smith, Melly Still, Uninvited Guests and Melanie Wilson. Fuel’s current season includes Barber Shop Chronicles, Touching the Void, and The Day I Fell Into A Book.

"the most exciting and indispensable producing outfits working in British theatre today." - The Guardian

www.fueltheatre.com @FuelTheatre

F U E L | T H E B O D Y R E M E M B E R S - P R O G R A M M E R P A C K | 8 Charity No. 1149680 CONTACT

To learn more about the show contact:

Kate McGrath, Director [email protected]