Audio play with Paapa Essiedu and Jade Anouka to respond to George Floyd killing

Paapa Essiedu, Jade Anouka and Cherrelle Skeete are among performers who will feature in an audio play responding to the killing of George Floyd, in a project led by playwright Roy Williams.

Williams has put together 14 writers to create short pieces responding to Floyd’s death. The piece will collectively be called 846.

Produced by Theatre Royal Stratford East, each is described as a “standalone exploration of racial inequality and oppression”, which form “a powerful tapestry of voices” when put together.

846 is directed by Ola Ince and features a soundscape by Donato Wharton. The free audio play will be released on July 20 on Theatre Royal Stratford East’s website.

The piece will also be adapted and performed live as part of the Greenwich and Docklands International Festival on September 12, with casting to be announced.

Williams said: “Like the rest of the world, I was sickened at the sight of that video. The blatant murder of a fellow black man. There is no other way to describe it. As shocking as it was, the little voice inside my head was saying: ‘You know you are going to write about this, so what are you waiting for? Get going.’”

Stratford East artistic director Nadia Fall added: “In normal times, we’d be front and centre with an artistic response to the George Floyd murder and the activism that has followed it. And though our doors are currently closed, we are passionate about producing work that speaks to this moment and adds its voice to the vital push for change that is happening with the Black Lives Matter movement.”

The pieces include Shehe, by Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti and starring Essiedu, and Triggered, written by and starring Clint Dyer.

Anouka appears in The Revolution Will Not Be Televised, by Lettie Precious, with Skeete in Cop, by Avril E Russell.

Williams has penned 8 Minutes 46 Seconds, which will be performed by Elijah Ansah.