INTERVIEW: Melina Barnett - Family Tree
When it comes to great woman in history names like Frida Kahlo, Rosa Parks, Amelia Earhart, Marie Curie and Emmeline Pankhurst trip off the tongue, to name just a few…
This June, at Tobacco Factory Theatres, the Actors Touring Company bring their production of Family Tree to Bristol, a story about a woman who, in the opinion of Executive Producer Melina Barnett, should have been told a long time ago.
“Henrietta Lacks has been overlooked for far too long, likely due to the deep-seated and long-lasting effects of slavery and racism on societal structures. It is imperative that we authentically explore the stories and lives of Black people, including those like Henrietta Lacks, whose cells have proven to be of incredible importance. She deserves to be a household name, rather than just another Black woman who was exploited and abused by the establishment.”
Henrietta Lacks was an African-American woman whose cancer cells are the source of the HeLa cell line, the first immortalized human cell line and one of the most important cell lines in medical research history.
Family Tree, by playwright Mojisola Adebayo, challenges the ethics of the medical fraternity over the years. In this powerful new play we are witness to the experiences of Anarcha, Betsy, and Lucy, three young enslaved African-American women whose bodies were subjected to experimentation, abuse, and exploitation without their consent, all in the name of advancing modern gynaecology.
Barnett tells me; “The play begins with the stories of the three women before it then moves on to Henrietta Lacks, who lived during a pivotal moment in American and world history. The play is also brought to the present day with our three NHS nurses. Although their stories are fictional, they are based on real-life experiences of Black women and people of colour who bravely served on the front lines during the COVID-19 pandemic, making this a very relevant and timely piece.”
Music plays a pivotal part in the production with Composer & Sound Designer, Francesca Amewudah-Rivers, introducing Hip Hop to the soundscape to enhance the lyricism of the piece.
“Mojisola artfully crafts their writing with subtext that unfolds in multiple layers. Even when paying close attention to watching Family Tree, the more you watch it, the more you want to analyze the script. The beautiful layers of the story can be heard, felt, and seen. It celebrates black life and pays homage to our ancestors before us, even as it explores the darkest corners of the lives of Henrietta Lacks, Anaracha, Betsy, and Lucy. Music, hip hop, and wordplay are avenues for exploring the story, but the clever lyricism is completely embedded in the storytelling.”
So, what can audiences expect when they come to see the show, which runs at Tobacco Factory Theatres from 13 to 17 June?
“Audiences of Family Tree can expect to feel a real sense of empowerment when exploring the incredible stories of these women. This production will take you to the highest heights of laughter while also nourishing your soul and mind with knowledge and a deeper understanding of the trauma experienced by these women. Their stories live within us. Every element of this production was carefully and skilfully crafted by the creative team, with a celebration of black women at the forefront. I can assure you that the writing does not hold back, leaving you wanting to know more and go on a deep dive of your own personal research.”
Barnett believes that this play will resonate deeply with Bristol audiences. When it came to putting the tour together, Bristol was at the top of this company’s list, not least because there is a statue of Lacks proudly situated at Bristol University next to Royal Fort House.
“Bristol has a complicated past with slavery, prejudice and racism, involving individuals such as Edward Colston and occurrences like the Bristol Bus Boycott. Nevertheless, there have also been influential figures, including Princess Campbell, Cleo Lake (the first black woman to serve as Lord Mayor in Bristol), Helen Wilson-Roe (the first black woman to sculpt a statue of a black woman - Henrietta Lacks), and the Windrush generation, just to name a few. Given all these reasons and more, it was crucial for us to introduce Family Tree to Bristol.”
Family Tree runs at Tobacco Factory Theatres from 13 to 17 June. Tickets available at tobaccofactorytehatres.com / 0117 902 0344.