Public Interest

Info

Public Interest

Are we really all innocent until proven guilty?

Part music video, part political theatre. Public Interest is an immersive large-scale show that asks how we challenge the narratives spun about working class young people.

Public Interest explores real cases of Joint Enterprise to confront racist and classist discrimination within the justice system. A cast of rappers and DJ’s perform drill, grime and bassline – the music weaponised against them – to tell their stories on their own terms.

Staged in a warehouse basement with video projection, cinematic lighting and a bassline you can feel in your bones. In partnership with JENGbA (Joint Enterprise Not Guilty by Association) Public Interest is a call to action.

Contains strong language.

Loud Music, Projection, Lighting, Strobes and Haze will be used.

Know Your Rights

Photos

Show information

When:

Wednesday 21 May – 7.30PM
Thursday 22 May – 7.30PM
Friday 23 May – 7.30PM
Saturday 24 May – 7.30PM [BSL] [AD] [+Post Show Discussion]
Wednesday 28 May – 7.30PM
Thursday 29 May – 1.30PM [BSL] [AD] [+Post Show Discussion]
Friday 30 May – 7.30PM [BSL] [AD] [+Post Show Discussion]
Saturday 31 May – 7.30PM

Saturday 31 May – Club Night – 10PM-1AM (18+)

Where: Loading Bay – 1 Duke Street, Bradford, BD1 3QR

Running time: 90 minutes

Recommended age: 12A – Accompanying Adult

Tickets on sale now via Bradford 2025

Ranging from: £2 for school groups to £15 Pay it forward tickets which contribute towards free tickets

For Free Youth & Community Group bookings, please email to book: [email protected]

School Group Bookings please contact Bradford 2025 Ticket Team

We recommend that School Groups book and attend the Thursday 29 May Matinee at 1.30pm – this show also includes a post show discussion where students will be able to ask the cast & creative team questions.

Credits

Performed and written by Lukas Cervenak, Bradley Escalante-Justice, Ibrahim Flaherty, Kemmi Gill, Ezesinachi Onwughalu, Sarah Manning and Nikkiel Pinnock with Joe Appiah and an extended cast of Bradford young people aged 14-19

Text by Zia Ahmed
Director Evie Manning
Associate Director Dermot Daly
Dramaturg Kirsty Housley
Designer Sascha Gilmour
Video Designer Catherine Woodhouse
Choreographer Kloé Dean
Movement Director May McQuade
Composers J3 & Wojciech Rusin
Lighting Designer Andy Purves
Creative Producer Ezra Nash
Production Manager Tom Robbins

Research & Development with the Performance Collective

In partnership with JENGbA (Joint Enterprise Not Guilty by Association)

Commissioned by Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture

Access Information +

Please note that this performance will not have allocated seating and the audience will be encouraged to free roam through the space. Some limited seating will be available throughout the space on pieces of the set and on benches. Cast members may ask audience members to move from seating when required.

Some accessible seating will be available for audience members who have access requirements. Please inform us at the time of booking. Common/Wealth Show Hosts will be available throughout to assist audience members with free roaming and navigating the performance.

CAP

Captioning will be available for every performance via a downloadable app for your smartphone. You will need to download an app to your phone, and we can help you with that. The app information will be sent to you in your pre-event information email after booking.

If you don’t have a smartphone, there will be devices you can borrow, so please let us know when you book if you’ll need one.

BSL

British Sign Language interpretation will be available during two performances within this production run – with specific dates identifiable within the ticket booking process.

Due to the immersive and free roaming nature of the show, our interpreter will lead a guided tour during the production. For more information you can also book a place on one of our Free Access Opening events during our rehearsals.

Audio description will be available during two performances within this production run – with specific dates identifiable within the ticket booking process.

Wheelchair Accessibility

There will be two wheelchair accessible spaces to book for each performance. The venue is wheelchair accessible and has an accessible toilet. Please let us know your requirements when you book.

Common/Wealth Show Hosts will be available throughout the roaming performance to assist wheelchair users to accessible viewing spaces. There is limited seating throughout due to the roaming nature of the show and standing audience members may obscure views. Our companions will be trained in navigating the space. For more information you can also book a place on one of our Free Access Opening events during our rehearsals.

Companions

Free companion tickets are available throughout the production run.

Free Access Opening Events

Two 1-hour sessions are available as a ticket add-on during the booking process. The event will take place at the venue during production rehearsals on the 13th and 15th May and will include:

Venue & Show space viewing and familiarisation
Touch Tour
An example of the lighting & sound states that will be used
How BSL interpretation will be delivered
How to download the Audio Description App or loaned Device Use
Quiet room and reflection space viewing
Required BSL for these sessions need to be requested in advance

Assistance dogs

Due to the use of loud music, strobes and haze, the production will not be suitable for assistance dogs.

Content Warnings +

Contains strong language.

Loud Music, Projection, Lighting, Strobes and Haze will be used.

The production includes stories of; Knife Crime, Manslaughter, Murder, Incarceration, Injustice and the Criminalisation of young people and youth culture. Themes of Systemic Racism, Profiling, Police Violence, Corruption and Abuse of power.

The production will actively challenge the current UK Justice System through performance, music and open discussion with the attending audience each show.

Views and opinions of the audience will be facilitated but won’t be ‘monitored’ and may have additional unknown content warnings.

Some stories will include graphic accounts and unsettling information.

A quiet space and reflection area will be available throughout the performance.

Press +

Press Coverage: Public Interest

Ex-warehouse Transformed Into City’s New Art Space – BBC News

Former M&S Storage Building Opens As City Centre Arts Venue – Telegraph & Argus

Bradford 2025: ‘Pop-up’ Arts Venue Opens In Former Warehouse – Arts Professional

Bradford 2025: Loading Bay Delivers Creative Pop-up Arts Space – MSN

Press Coverage: Joint Enterprise and the Justice System

Joint Enterprise Law Reform Will Help Solve Uk Justice System Crisis, Say Experts – The Guardian

Three Black Men In Uk Say ‘Institutional Racism’ Influenced Murder Convictions – The Guardian

Behind Bars: How Rap Lyrics Are Being Used To Convict Black British Men – The Guardian