Sus by Barrie Keeffe

bristol | policing | event notice Wednesday June 17, 2009 16:26 by mostin - Splice Productions

A shocking account of racism within the police force

Splice Productions present Barrie Keeffe's shocking play Sus at Bridewell Island this July.

1979. Election night. A police interview room. Delroy is brought in 'on suspicion' and interrogated throughout the night. Next day, the country wakes up to a new Conservative Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher.

This production uses archive footage and music to provide an historial and social context, whilst local MCs and DJs add to this hard-hitting and provocative play.

Sus Eflyer

Check out the new show from Splice Productions about the sus laws...

1979. Election night. A police interview room. Delroy is brought in ‘on suspicion’ and accused of his wife’s murder. After a night of brutal interrogation he is released without charge. The country wakes up to a Conservative Government with Margaret Thatcher as the new Prime Minister. Is this the dawning of a new era?

Barrie Keeffe’s shocking and disturbing account of overt racism and the abuse of power within the police force is as powerful now as it was thirty years ago. The notorious ‘SUS’ laws, based on the 1824 Vagrancy Act, gave police the power to stop and search anyone suspected of being about to commit a crime. The law was repealed in 1981 following a massive public campaign and spontaneous riots in the St. Paul’s area of Bristol, Brixton and Toxteth.

During the last two years, the procedures put in place to prevent young Black and Asian men from being disproportionately targeted by the police have been relaxed. ‘Stop and Search’ – section 44 of the Terrorism Act – is now being used extensively in the ‘fight’ against knife crime and terrorism. The number of black people stopped has risen by 322%, the number of Asian people by 277% and the number of white people by 185% to very little positive effect.

Barrie Keefe’s extensive TV, film and theatre credits include the screenplay for the classic British gangster movie The Long Good Friday.

Staged at the former police and fire station complex Bridewell Island in the centre of Bristol, Splice Productions’ new production uses archive footage and music from the period to provide a historical and social context for this hard hitting and provocative piece of theatre.

Tracks by The Specials and the two great Bobs – Dylan and Marley – will feature in the play. Up and coming Bristol MCs and DJs will be invited to write and perform their responses to the play and how stop and search affects their lives today.

Splice Productions was formed in 2006 by Bristol-based actors/director Kath Rogers and Robert Gwilym. Our first project was a contemporary multi-media adaptation of Macbeth in Bristol Old Vic Studio. It was voted one of the top three most exciting theatre productions in the South West by Venue.

The cast includes Bob Gwilym: Sorcerer in Aladdin (Bristol Old Vic), title role in Macbeth (Splice Productions/Bristol Old Vic), Max in Casualty (BBC); Huss Garbiya and introducing Jack Wharrier in his first professional role after graduating from Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.

Bridewell Island, Silver Street, Broadmead, Bristol
15 - 26 July, 8pm
Saturdays 6pm and 9pm
Tickets: £12/£8
Booking: 0117 929 9008
www.bristolticketshop.co.uk