“Something Dark is a triumph” The Scotsman
“Hugely enjoyable, inventive, funny and touching” The Guardian
“This 90-minute show is a big-hearted pleasure” Time Out Critics’ Choice
The performance is written and performed by Lemn Sissay and directed by John E McGrath.
Something Dark tells the true story of Lemn Sissay who as baby was given up by his Ethiopian mother in the 1960s. He was renamed Norman Greenwood and nicknamed Chalky White throughout his turbulent childhood in care, only finding out his real name at the age of 18. No longer the possession of social services, he left the brutal suburbs of Lancashire for the bright lights of Manchester where he became a celebrated performance poet. Aged 21, Lemn left for Gambia in search of his mother and the truth about his father.
Lemn Sissay plunders his astonishing life story to create a virtuoso performance of searing honesty, laced with secrets, lies and truths too terrible to mention and artistically influenced by his background in poetry. Sissay has a poet's ear for language and metaphor. He recounts difficult experiences often with humour, never self-pity.
Lemn Sissy is a human dynamo with a sharp lyrical line who produces beautiful and arresting writing. He has had five books published over ten years, appeared regularly on BBC’s Grumpy Old Men and Radio 4 and guested on over forty albums. The radio play of Something Dark was commissioned and broadcast by Radio 3 in October 2004 and won the RIMA award for best radio drama in 2005.
Tickets are available from St. James Cavalier, Valletta. For booking information please contact the booking office: phone 21 22 32 00 or 21 22 32 16 or email boxoffice@sjcav.org
Commissioned and produced by Apples & Snakes and Contact Manchester in association with BAC
A little light on 'Something Dark'
www.lemnsissay.com
www.applesandsnakes.org
“You Are…” – a poem written by the pupils of St. Patrick’s School and Savio College, inspired by the workshop with Lemn Sissay.
YOU ARE …
You are the pearl in the oyster
You are the smile on a baby’s face
You are the diamond of my ring
You are a treasure in a case.
You are the colours of the rainbow
You are the water in a fountain
You are the knot in a bow
You are the peak of a mountain.
You are the ace in a deck of cards
You are the pupil of my eye
You are the beat of my heart
You are the filling in the pie.
You are the song of the bird
You are the feather in a wing
You are the scent of the rose
You are the melody when robins sing.
You are the beauty of Mother Nature
You are the dew drops on a flower
You are the sand in the desert
You are strength in my power.
| 
