It’s 2020. Since the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, dodgy politics, austerity and civil unrest have left the streets of London in turmoil. A new coalition between the Conservatives and UKIP has driven house prices to an all-time high. Two local rappers (Dr Green Fingers & Dustin Roads) find themselves in the last ‘affordable’ housing block in London and reflect upon the last ten years' of politics that brought them to this point.

A co-production with Camden People's Theatre, and supported by Cardboard Citizens’ Home Truths Young Company Bursary, Merryville has been developed in partnership with CPT and Jerwood Charitable Foundation. Writer, performer and Artistic Director of HighRise Theatre, Dominic Garfield shares his views on an often hostile city, and how grime, theatre and politics have come together in HighRise's new production.

Eli Goldstone: Who are HighRise?

Dominic Garfield: HighRise is an artistic movement. A collection of 5 actors, writers, rappers, directors, musicians and anything else we can show off with. We create acclaimed theatre and experiences with rhyme and beats at the heart of it all; Whether it’s Hip Hop, beat poetry, or live acoustic music we hope our audience’s heads are always bouncing while their minds are buzzing with thought.

The artistic vision of the company is guided by an active, ongoing relationship with young people. What excites them? What styles do they respond to? And what stories are relevant and immediate? Through these conversations HighRise make and develop work which is then aimed to hit that same age group, while keeping engaging and appealing to all.

Eli: Can you tell us a bit about how the show has evolved since you first came up with the concept?

Dominic: Merryville is set in a not too distant alternative future (2020 London). We wanted to explore how immediate and pressing the issues are that have either affected us or dosed the general public with a hit of paranoia. So we imagined they all happened. Where are we at that point and who is left in London?
The original idea was a 5-track EP that would explore the housing crisis and what home is to a Londoner not making £50,000 a year. It is now a 14-track concept concert, armed with tricky lyricism, high drama and political satire. The evolution has been real thorough! We have built this whole new history of Britain, using facts and projections to place ourselves in this alternate future. Oh and the piece is funny… Like stupid funny.

Eli: The show is concerned with the loss of social housing. Can you talk about how you see this affecting London’s communities?

Dominic: Communities are suffering either by being away from their families, broken by homelessness, or riddled with paranoia - fearing what’s to come next.
Londoners are moving out of London. That’s the long and short of it. It’s not just social housing’s tenants, it’s all tenants. Average house prices in London are around £500,000 and rentals are reflected similarly. Everyone needs change or something to help. I can count on one finger the number of friends I have that own their own place and wouldn't need more than 2 hands to count those that can afford to rent. Some are on a list and have been for years. All work very hard.
It’s also clear to see the rise in homelessness in London and it’s fair to say the housing crisis has acted as a catalyst for this rise. Our leaders can’t shy away from this fact. Businesses can’t reject it and we need to acknowledge it as a society.

Eli: Musical crossovers aren’t unusual but the worlds of grime and theatre don’t often meet - are you excited to bring them together?

Dominic: 100% - The energy is mad. Both me and co-writer Gerel Falconer were involved in the grime scene from before it was even called grime. Both of us were MCs when we were younger.
Gerel made a documentary in 2005 called The North West At Large DVD which included him and artists including Bashy, Flirta D and Ribz. He also appeared on radio sets at Manic FM, React FM and Heat FM as well as making several features on freestyle videos and tunes.
I have also been involved in the scene since I was 14, hosting sets on flare FM as well as Deja Vu - making tunes with the likes of Flow Dan, Flirta D and Row.d Beats and working as an mc for the likes of Urban Nerds, Vagabonds, Digital (Brighton) and fabric.
As actors and theatre makers it was natural for us to put grime into our work. Merryville is the 2nd of a trilogy of two handed, urban musicals by Gerel and myself which we also perform in. The first was called Penny Lane which was a Hip-Hopera at The Yard Theatre. it worked. So we've turned it up 50 bpm and seen what we can do with grime.

Eli: To what extent have you found that the grime scene is engaged with politics?

Dominic: I think whilst being a super political genre with a huge message, it is difficult for artists to be successful whilst speaking super political raps. Don't get me wrong, there are exceptions all over the place - Kano comes to mind with his Made in the Manor album which I thought was a masterpiece. The best soundtrack for anyone who grew up in 90’s 00’s London.

However on the whole because of the history of grime it isn't easy to release material that is too political. Let’s not forget grime was banned from many clubs in London and many promoters wouldn't have it anywhere near their line ups. How can those people who are wrongly rejected from expressing their art at clubs then release music with overt political content and feel comfortable performing it or it being successful in the charts and making money, when a part of society has turned their back on them?

Eli: What sort of an audience do you hope to see at Merryville?

Dominic: We are hoping to have a number of 16-24 year olds engage. On top of that it will have major appeal to grime fans, politics enthusiasts, activists and theatre lovers.
We hope to build a world where audiences feel exhilarated, engaged, thoughtful and playful. We have treats galore.
Eli: How important is it to you that HighRise engages with local communities?

Dominic: It is a massive point in HighRise’s manifesto for working. Co artistic director Joseph Barnes Phillips is a youth worker, community mentor and freelance facilitator and I work with numerous communities across London delivering our practice to disaffected young people. We have produced and delivered several employment programmes which use acting and theatre techniques to help get young people ready for interviews, training and jobs. We are all under 30 and see ourselves as the fathers of this Xbox generation of today and from day one of forming the company we have felt a responsibility to get our hands dirty and explore what community means for young people across London.

Eli: How have you seen London change over the last ten years?

Dominic: Think it’s clear to see that London is ever changing. 80% of HighRise are born and bred Londoners and have all got issues with building personal stability in this city. Some of us are still at our parents’ places and unable to move out. Others in council housing with parents and others alone. This show explores what that means. Living at family home till your 60 or looking over your shoulder for them to kick you out when someone comes with enough zeros.
We are the lucky ones in the sense we all have a roof over our heads but how long for? We don't want to move out of the city we call home, but politics and inflation continue to prove it impossible to get by on minimum wage. Then there are the people that have moved away. Friends and family members. Evicted, moved and priced out. Areas that used to be filled with minority cultures now regenerated.
Eli: Finally can you tell us about a grime artist that we should be excited about?

Dominic: Wow, that’s a hard one. The scene is flourishing. On a more obvious one Kano and Skepta have both had inspiring years. What they have done for grime this year is special and I have listened to them both for over 10 years, so feel mad happy for them.
I think Lady Leshurr has the sickest flow. Always loved Wretch 32 for content and Avelino is also mad talented.
Younger artists like Novelist and Stormzy are also getting played in my headphones right now.

Merryville

Tue 1 - Sat 5 Nov at 9pm

Camden People's Theatre

Tickets from £10