Danesha
Saturday 26th October
7:30pm
“Sometimes I pretend I’m in a music video. And that I have a backing group. And they’re always black, even though I don’t have any black friends, in real life”
All they play in Preston nightclubs is Little Mix and Miley Cyrus. How is Danesha supposed to vibe to that?
After successfully managing to convince her Preston mates (as well as telling a teeny, tiny white lie to her dad), Danesha arranges a night out in Manchester. She finds the sickest club with the sickest music and the sickest vibe. It’s proper, proper mint.
Then she meets Her and Danesha’s whole existence becomes one big question mark. Because Danesha thought it was normal to feel like you don’t quite fit in, to like music that nobody else likes, to move your body in a way your friends can’t, and to not know anything about your mum and the island she comes from…
Danesha is a new coming-of-age story exploring black culture, queer joy and finding and loving your authentic self.
Praise for Box of Tricks:
“David Judge fuses poetry and exquisite theatricality into a lovingly delivered personal
monologue” ★★★★ The Guardian (on SparkPlug)
“Gently harrowing… A mighty miniature.”
★★★★ The Times (on Plastic Figurines)
“Sailors and sound effects are a perfect match in a wartime tale.”
★★★★ The Observer (on Narvik)
Cast
Talia Rae Smith – Danesha
Talia is a Yorkshire born actor who trained at The Arden School of Theatre, Manchester. Theatre credits include Robyn in ‘Robyn Hood’ (Fidget Theatre for Leeds Playhouse), Juliet in ‘Romeo & Juliet’ (Chester Storyhouse), Swing in ‘Happy Birthday Peter Rabbit’ (Old Laundry, Windermere), Alice in ‘Alice in Wonderland (HOME) and Lumi in ‘The Snow Queen’ (wrongsemble).
Liam Grunshaw – Paul (Dad)
Liam has toured Europe and the US in productions ranging from classical tragedy and physical theatre to TV, film.Credits include The Package (The Lowry), Othello (CSC), Then and Now (London Actors Group), The Rise and Fall of Little Voice (Assembled Junk), The Before and After (JB Shorts) and Niall Granger in CORONATION STREET.
Kelise Gordon-Harrison – Leonie
Kelise graduated from Rose Bruford Wigan. Theatre Credits include: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Shakespeare North & Northern Stage); Peter Pan (Hall for Cornwall); The Not So Big Bad Wolf (Wrongsemble Theatre); Vignettes (Contact Theatre Manchester). Television credits include WACO: British Stories for ITVX and Kelise is soon to feature as series regular in upcoming drama We Go Again (The Forge).
Jennifer Marvaree-Robinson – Lianne
Jennifer Marvaree-Robinson credits include: Coronation Street (ITV1), Tell me Everything (ITVX), Waterloo Road (BBC One), Autopsy (ITV1), theatre production Windrush Warriors (U.K. tour) and a number of commercial campaigns. Jennifer is thrilled Danesha is coming to her home town of Manchester.
Stefan Gumbs – Marcus
Stefan’s theatre credits include: The Good Person of Sichuan (Mercury Theatre, Colchester); Spiralling (Odd Arts); Same Same Different (Eclipse Theatre ). Television credits include: Brassic; Doctors; 4 O’Clock Club; Waterloo Road; Scallywagga.
