We are the people with whom we eat
Companion, noun.
From the Latin com-, together with & panis, bread
with bread is a performance where the History of bread meets personal histories of migration. Over the course of the performance, audience members take part in making flatbreads which are served, along with a seasonal stew, at the end of the show. The story told in with bread traces the journey of this staple and heavily symbolic food from prehistory to Brexit Britain, via biblical times and the Arab Spring.
with bread is in turn a poetic history lesson, an opportunity to hear voices from the margins, and a baking class. with bread is an attempt to explore what it means to share a culture, to make community and to belong in an everchanging and globalised world.
In the context of Brexit and heated debates around identity politics, with bread brings people together in a joyous celebration of diversity and difference. The piece is performed with a different cast of migrant locals everywhere it takes place.
with bread premiered at ARC, Stockton on March 20th 2019
with bread is made possible thanks to public funding by Arts Council England and is developed with support from the University of Leeds, ARC Stockton Arts Centre, Lancaster Arts, Lyth Arts Centre, The Lowry & The University of Salford.
Devised, written and directed by Leo Burtin with the company
Performed by Leo Burtin with Aliki Chapple & Katherina Radeva
Set Design by Katherina Radeva
Production Management and Lighting Design by Michael Norton
Produced by Louise Cross & Leo Burtin for Making Room. With additional support from Charlotte Mountford
Developed with dramaturgical support from Ali Matthews and Alister Lownie.
With thanks to Yvonne Battle-Felton, Argenis Ramirez Gomez, Maja Bugge and Moujan Mirdamadi, Dr Jenny Lawson, Dr Anna Fenemore.