Jade Anouka, a captivating storyteller, effortlessly navigates personal and dark moments on stage in her debut play, HEART.
The narrative of Heart delves into themes of love, mental health, heartbreak and fresh starts. Jade Anouka manages the grab the audience’s attention from the start and keep it close to her as she unfolds her story of self-discovery.
The piece was accompanied by the rhythmic beatboxing of Grace Savage’s. With her loop station she was able to create the soundtrack of the character which provided a nice pace and dynamics to the story, particularly when she meets a woman at a party. However, the protagonist grapples with societal expectations and questions surrounding her sexual identity.
Performed in the cozy setting of Brixton House, Anouka’s stage presence is hypnotic. Her ability to seamlessly transition between spoken word, rhyme, rap, and song keeps the audience engaged for the entire 60 minutes. There are moments when she ditches the microphone, connecting more intimately with the room, but it’s the technical work being done live that takes this monologue to a powerful but intimate experience.
Jade Anouka’s desire to share this story is evident throughout and her comfort on stage and command over the play are evident, creating a genuine connection with the audience through the highs and lows of her narrative.
The production is currently running at Brixton House until February 3rd, inviting audiences to take the time to experience this powerful connection and maybe get encouraged to do some self-searching in their own HEART.