Grenfell: in the words of survivors
a new play by Gillian Slovo
Booking and details
It was my safest place. It was home.
A powerful new verbatim play from the testimony of residents at the heart of the Grenfell Tower tragedy.
Six years on, interviews conducted with a group of survivors and bereaved reveal the impact of the multiple failures that led to a national disaster, asking: how do we stop this ever happening again?
Created from these interviews by Gillian Slovo (Another World: Losing our Children to Islamic State), the play is co-directed by Phyllida Lloyd (The Donmar Shakespeare Trilogy) and Anthony Simpson-Pike (The P Word).
Startling and deeply moving, it explores the courage and resilience of an ill-treated community and their continued campaign for justice.
Grenfell: in the words of survivors is part of a multi-year programme of National Theatre creative activity in North Kensington, delivered in collaboration with local community organisations.
Performed 13 July — 26 August 2023 in the Dorfman Theatre.
Q&A
How have survivors and bereaved families been involved in making the play?
This is a verbatim play made directly from the words of some survivors and bereaved of the Grenfell tragedy. Over the course of several years, playwright Gillian Slovo has been interviewing people about the impact of the tragedy. Gillian Slovo remains in direct contact with everyone who shared their experiences, and all were invited to a reading of the play during its development. The National Theatre’s Welfare Team have worked with Grenfell Health and Wellbeing Service to provide care and support.
Over the last 12 months the National Theatre has consulted with a wide range of organisations based in North Kensington, including community and youth groups, cultural organisations and educational institutions. We have established an advisory group, made up of survivors and bereaved, and community leaders, who we have consulted about the production and wider project, and who will continue to meet over the coming months.
Will the National Theatre be making a profit from this play?
The National Theatre, a registered charity, is investing in both the production of this play and the community programme delivered in partnership with local organisations. We will not be making any profit from this work. We believe this is an important story of national significance that deserves to be told on a national stage.
How are you working with the North Kensington community?
The National Theatre will work with community-based organisations including Latimer Community Art Therapy (LCAT), Our Power Hub, Youth Action Alliance and others. This includes workshops, free tickets for NT productions, paid long and short-term work placements, collaboration on creative projects and learning programmes in local schools for people who live, work, socialise or study in North Kensington.
If you are interested in hearing more about these placements, please contact thenorthkensingtonproject@nationaltheatre.org.uk
What welfare support is in place for survivors and bereaved?
Welfare is paramount to this project.
The National Theatre’s Welfare Team are working with Grenfell Health and Wellbeing Service to ensure a coordinated approach to providing the care needed when working with the North Kensington community. We are working with therapists who are supporting the survivors and bereaved, as well as the creative team, the cast and all those involved in the play.
We are grateful to Grenfell Health and Wellbeing Service for their guidance and continued presence throughout the project.
Suitability
Please note: This production does not include images or depictions of smoke or fire. The production does contain adult themes and describes the experiences of the night of the Grenfell Tower fire, which some people may find upsetting.
For further details on the synopsis and self-care practices, please download our Self-Care Guide.
The Self-Care Guide is also available to download in Arabic and Farsi.
For further information on the welfare support available for audience members, please see our Q&As above.
Supporters
Our community engagement programme in North Kensington is generously supported by John Lyon’s Charity.
Grenfell: in the words of survivors is supported by the Arete Foundation, who support the National Theatre to make work that is ambitious and socially relevant.
Gallery
Production images
Rehearsal images
Cast includes
Production team
Writer
Gillian Slovo
Co-Director
Phyllida Lloyd
Co-Director
Anthony Simpson-Pike
Set and Costume Designer
Georgia Lowe
Lighting Designer
Azusa Ono
Sound Designer
Donato Wharton
Composer
Benjamin Kwasi Burrell
Additional Music
Brain Rays
Video Designer
Akhila Krishnan
Movement Director
Chi-San Howard
Casting Director
Alastair Coomer CDG
Casting Director
Chandra Ruegg
Voice and Dialect Coach
Hazel Holder
Wellbeing Practitioner
Ashley Miller
Staff Director
Aaliyah Mckay
Film created in collaboration with TEA films
