Pitch Lake Productions is an East Midlands based national touring theatre company. Formed to address the lack of leading roles in British Theatre for BAME actors the company creates new and exciting work which puts BAME characters at the centre of their own story.

During their residency, Pitch Lake Productions will exploring and developing the first draft of new play They Know Not What they Do by Michelle Inniss. The play tells the story of a meeting between Moselle, a grieving Mother, and DeAngelo, her son’s killer. Moselle believes she will find solace in forgiving DeAngelo however she battles with her anger when it emerges that maybe the boy who killed her son does not want to be saved.
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The two characters are engaged in the process of Restorative Justice; a system of criminal justice which focuses on the rehabilitation of offenders through reconciliation with victims and the community at large. The company will explore this practice and seek information and guidance from those who work in the field as well as exploring the possibilities of this meeting both in terms of the practical and legal processes that must be undertaken and the emotional and psychological journeys of the characters.

​Will her daughter ever return to her and can she ever forgive the mother that let her go?
This original piece of drama written in the Trinidadian Vernacular poses questions about Evangeline’s life. What does it mean to be elderly and homeless in our society today? How can we heal broken relationships with our mothers or daughters? And, how do we uncover the secrets of domestic violence from their veil of domestic bliss?

A 20-year friendship between celebrated actress Cathy Tyson and creative writing student Michelle Inniss has blossomed into a new theatrical project after the pair’s paths crossed once again at Brunel University London.

Michelle, who is completing her two-year, part-time Master’s degree in Creative Writing the Novel at Brunel, has secured funding from Black Theatre Live for a UK tour of her play ‘She Called Me Mother’, about an elderly homeless Trinidadian woman who sells the Big Issue.

The role is played by Cathy and based on a real Caribbean woman who Michelle used to see and talk to at London Bridge station when she took the train to visit her own mother in South East London.

Cathy, who is well-known for her starring roles in the film Mona Lisa (1986) with Bob Hoskins, for which she won two US film critics’ awards and was nominated for a BAFTA and Golden Globe, and the ITV series Band of Gold (1995-1997), graduated from Brunel  in 2013 with a degree in English and Drama.

Cathy and Michelle’s friendship dates back to the 1970s when they were both school students at the Catholic girls’ school, St Winifred’s, in Dingle, Liverpool, where they both grew up.

“We’d kept in touch for over 20 years,” explained Michelle. “So I sent Cathy my play and she read it and liked it.” The drama was originally written as a poetic monologue in vernacular Trinidadian, highly challenging for a performer but a voice familiar to Michelle, whose parents are from Trinidad.

“I have that voice situated very well within. I’ve lived in Liverpool, and then London. I’ve been exposed to so many different cultures,” she added.

When Michelle used to see the homeless woman —in the play she is called Evangeline Josephina Gardner — “she was always talking”.

One of our MA students has been hugely successful in securing funding and a UK tour for her first play with her production company.

Michelle Inniss, due to complete her MA in Creative Writing: The Novel at the end of this academic year, is producing 'She Called me Mother' alongside her co-founders of Pitch Lake Productions, Cathy Tyson and Cara Nolan.

Overjoyed that her work is coming to life, Michelle said: "This is the first play I have ever written so it was amazing to discover that others love it as much as I do."

Cathy Tyson is a BAFTA and Golden Globe nominated actress with over three decades of experience in film, television and theatre. She will perform as the lead character with Cara directing and overseeing production.

Cathy is also associated with Brunel, having graduated in 2012 with a BA in English and Drama, but that is not where she and Michelle first encountered each other. They actually met in secondary school in Liverpool, and continued to be good friends ever since.

The protagonist of the story, Evangeline, is an elderly homeless lady from Trinidad. The play is written from her perspective, in a poetic Trinidadian vernacular, and partly inspired by a real homeless lady that Michelle came across in her travels in London.

"I wondered, where were her family, what happened to her loved ones? This play explores how she ended up in that situation. I can't imagine what it's like to not have a home, somewhere safe to live. Everyone has a right to a home."

Cathy commented: "When she sent the script to me I fell in love with the language immediately. My father is from Trinidad so I was already familiar with the speech.  

"You don't often see elderly black women on the stage, and it's such a wonderful opportunity to bring an overshadowed character to life."

Cara added: "Michelle has this amazing gift of poetry. As I was reading the play, the language inspired a roller deck of images in my mind. I just knew we had to bring it to the stage."

Black Theatre Live received over 50 applicants for the funding overall, and this is the first new play that they have supported in this way. The consortium is backed by Arts Council England, which is "committed to increasing the amount of black and ethnic minority theatre on the touring circuit". The play is hoped to be shown in eight theatres late this year.

Black Theatre Live is a partnership of Tara Arts, Derby Theatre, Queens Hall (Hexham), the Lighthouse (Poole), Theatre Royal Bury St. Edmunds, Theatre Royal Margate, Stratford Circus (London) & Key Theatre (Peterborough).

The Black Theatre Live national consortium of eight regional venues is delighted to announce their second tour in 2015.

Black Theatre Live reveals that their second touring show will be Michelle Inniss’s play ‘She Called Me Mother’ starring Cathy Tyson which is about an elderly, Afro-Caribbean homeless woman.

Following a tour of Tara Arts’ Macbeth which begins in February, a new work by Pitch Lake Productions founded by actress Cathy Tyson, writer Michelle Inniss and director Cara Nolan will tour during Autumn 2015. She Called me Mother will be the second production from the national consortium dedicated to touring inventive BAME theatre to venues across the country.

Starring respected actor and Pitch Lake Productions co-founder Cathy Tyson, She Called Me Mother invites the audience into the life of Evangeline Gardner – a homeless, 70 year old Afri-Caribbean woman, who finds herself living on the streets. The play brings together Evangeline and her estranged daughter Shirley and is written in poetic Trinidadian vernacular rarely heard on our stages.

Cathy Tyson is to star in the world premiere of a play that will tour nationally as part of an initiative to increase the visibility of black and ethnic minority theatre.

She Called Me Mother is written by Michelle Inniss and will be directed by Cara Nolan. Tyson – who co-founded the play’s production company Pitch Lake Productions – said the play had the potential to be a “modern classic”.

It is the first new play to be commissioned from Black Theatre Live – a group of eight theatres which say they are “committed to increasing the amount of black and ethnic minority theatre on the touring circuit”. Member venues include Derby Theatre, Tara Arts and Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds.

Sarah Brigham, artistic director of Derby Theatre, said: “I’m delighted that our consortium have selected such an exciting prospect for our first commission. The combination of experienced artists such as Cathy Tyson and Michelle Inniss, with an emerging director like Cara Nolan, signals the combination of quality and innovation which Black Theatre Live is all about.”

“The poetry of the script blew me away and I’m looking forward to bringing our audiences an unheard voice and story told through powerful and engaging drama,” she added.

She Called Me Mother will tour in the autumn, though dates have not been confirmed. It is Black Theatre Live’s second show, following a production of Macbeth which will commence touring in February.

Both productions are part of a three-year programme to bring performances from culturally diverse perspectives to regional venues.

Link to original article.

Michelle Inniss’ play She Called Me Mother about an elderly, Afro-Caribbean homeless woman, starring Cathy Tyson.

Following a tour of Tara Arts’ Macbeth which begins in February, a new work by Pitch Lake Productions founded by actress Cathy Tyson, writer Michelle Inniss and director Cara Nolan will tour during Autumn 2015. She Called Me Mother will be the second production from the national consortium dedicated to touring inventive BAME theatre to venues across the country. 

Starring respected actor and Pitch Lake Productions co-founder Cathy Tyson, She Called Me Mother invites the audience into the life of Evangeline Gardner – a homeless, 70 year old Afro-Caribbean woman, who finds herself living on the streets. The play brings together Evangeline and her estranged daughter Shirley and is written in poetic Trinidadian vernacular rarely heard on our stages.

Sarah Brigham, Artistic Director Derby Theatre said “I’m delighted that our consortium have selected such an exciting prospect for our first commission – the combination of experienced artists such as Cathy Tyson and Michelle Inniss, with an emerging director like Cara Nolan, signals the combination of quality and innovation which Black Theatre Live is all about.  The poetry of the script blew me away and I’m looking forward to bringing our audiences an unheard voice and story told through powerful and engaging drama.”

Actor and Pitch Lake Productions co-founder Cathy Tyson is a BAFTA and Golden Globe nominated actress with over three decades of experience in the industry. She began her career at the Liverpool Everyman at the age of 17, before joining the RSC in 1984, and achieved widespread renown for her role in Mona Lisa alongside Bob Hoskins in 1986. Recent credits include Bright Phoenix (Liverpool Everyman), Stand (Oxford Playhouse) and Monkey Bars (Traverse and touring).

Michelle Inniss is a writer and Spanish teacher. She will be published this Spring in Closure: an anthology of short stories, Peepal Tree. She has been longlisted for Angle at The Bush Theatre 2011, shortlisted for The Fish Short Story Prize 2010, and in 2006 was awarded a runner up for the Penguin Decibel Prize. 

Cara Nolan is a director and writer, who has worked across the UK and Europe and has recently completed an MA in Theatre Directing at RADA.

Cathy Tyson said "I believe She Called Me Mother has the potential to be a modern classic. We are going into territory that hasn't been explored on our stages before; an elderly black female homeless person searching for her estranged daughter. The emotional potential of the play is boundless. I hope this play will be a rewarding experience for our audience and all those with creative involvement."

She Called Me Mother is announced as the second production from Black Theatre Live, a pioneering consortium of 8 regional theatres committed to increasing the amount of Black and Ethnic Minority theatre on the touring circuit. 

Cast Includes Cathy Tyson, written by Michelle Inniss, directed by Cara Nolan, dramaturg Trish Cooke.

Through a 3-year programme, Black Theatre Live will bring high quality performances from culturally diverse perspectives to venues across the country.  The initiative is a partnership of Tara Arts, Derby Theatre, Queens Hall (Hexham), the Lighthouse (Poole), Theatre Royal Bury St. Edmunds, Theatre Royal Margate, Stratford Circus (London) & Key Theatre (Peterborough).

Link to original article.