SIMONE

Young Vic: MY ENGLAND short films

About

In the summer of 2018, the Young Vic commissioned 14 theatre makers from across England to write monologues about what Englishness meant to them, for the MY ENGLAND short film series. In exploring the identity of England, the pieces asked questions such as: is 'Englishness' about where you were born, where you live, or how you feel? Has English nationalism has been weaponised by the far right? And, what place does art have in shaping our sense of national identity?

Seven of the monologues were filmed on location in the regions where the writers were from; seven were filmed at the Young Vic in a single day, and performed by people from the Young Vic's local neighbourhood in collaboration with the Young Vic's Taking Part Department.

SIMONE, filmed at the Young Vic, is directed by Elayce Ismail, written by Lynette Linton and features community performer Hana Oliveira. It is a searching and passionate monologue about Beyonce, East London and tea.

For more information, and to watch all of the short films in the MY ENGLAND series, please visit the Young Vic’s website here.

Creative Team

Director: Elayce Ismail
Writer: Lynette Linton
Filmmakers: Tristan Shepherd & Andrew Muir
Producers: Nadia Latif & Imogen Brodie
Executive Producers: Kwame Kwei-Armah & Despina Tsatsas
Jerwood Assistant Director: Floriana Dezou
Runner: Patrick Ellis

Cast

Hana Oliveira