Following a day in the life of Djibi – a young Black man living in a largely white area of Liverpool – LOOPS grapples with Stop and Search, institutional police racism and how it affects Djibi’s relationships with his family, friends, and wider community.

LOOPS is a Hip-Hop Theatre show from 20 Stories High, co-produced with Liverpool Everyman + Playhouse, bursting with heavy beats, beautiful lyricism, and raw energy.

As well as exploring challenging themes, LOOPS is also a show full of activism, uplifting music, and practical strategies on how to deal with ongoing police encounters.

Accompanied by a pulsating live original score by rapper and producer Man Like Mally (BBC’s Rap Trip) and starring actor/rapper Winston Branche (Peaky Blinders, The Streets Where We Live), LOOPS is a vital piece of theatre for modern times.

Written by Keith Saha, the play was developed with the cast – as well as a group of local Black and Global Majority activists and artists.

Touring

LOOPS mainly toured to local schools & community groups and so most shows were not open to the public. Two public shows at Unity Theatre, Liverpool, took place on 2nd and 7th February. 

Performance Dates:
2nd and 7th February 2023

Show Information

Content Warnings

LOOPS is challenging, but also hopeful and empowering.
Contains strong language and explores institutional racism, microaggressions, encounters with the police, family relationships and physical abuse.

Also contains loud music.

Age Guidance 14+

Cast

Winston Branche –  Actor

Mal Lidgett – Live Music & Original Score 

Creative Team

Keith Saha – Writer/Director

Ameera Conrad – Associate Director

Lin Coghlan – Dramaturg

Winston Branche, Mal Lidgett and Chantelle Lunt – Additional Lyrics

Lucy Graham, Leanne Jones and Natasha Patel – Producers

Nathan Powell and Francesca Peschier – Creative Consultants (Everyman & Playhouse)

Michelle Richards – Artist Wellbeing

Chantelle Lunt (MARE) – Participation Lead

Joe Taylor and Rob Awok – Participation & Pastoral Workers

Rebecca Oliver – Photographer

Joe Harper – Graphic Designer

Huda Lidgett, Lila Tamea, Pari Richards, Winston Branche, Joe Taylor,

Mal Lidgett, Chantelle Lunt and Natasha Patel – Developed with

Diego Gutiérrez Córdoba – Production Managers

Fiona Hilton – Stage Manager

Xenia Bayer – Lighting Design

20 Stories High co-produced with Everyman & Playhouse, in association with Unity Theatre.
Supported by Arts Council England, Children in Need,  The Coutts Foundation, Granada Foundation, Liverpool City Council, Paul Hamlyn Foundation, PH Holt Foundation.

Resources

LOOPS - Resource Pack

A creative and educational resource pack designed for teachers, youth workers, facilitators and educators exploring the themes of LOOPS with young people. Includes background on the show, workshop activities, curriculum links, discussions around racism and allyship, creative exercises, wellbeing guidance, and practical information around Stop & Search rights.

Download (PDF)

LOOPS - Self Care Toolkit

A supportive resource for individuals who have seen, or are about to see, LOOPS. This toolkit includes content guidance, self-care tips, a full show synopsis, wellbeing support, and signposting to organisations and resources connected to the themes explored in the production. Designed to help audiences engage with the show in a safe, supported and empowering way.

Download (PDF)