...cake (NHB Modern Plays)

Cake is a psychological drama by babriye bukilwa that explores the cycle of generational trauma and asks if queer, Black femmes can find love and belonging in a hostile environment.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 80 pages
Publication date: 19 August 2021
Publisher: Nick Hern Books

Everything I do kills you. I don't know if I love you because I have to or because I can't help it. I don't know if both of those things are bad.

It's one of those hot April evenings that feel like summer, and the heat is stifling in Sissy's London flat as she dances, unrestrained, beautiful, alive. But when sixteen-year-old Eshe arrives, powerful emotions come to the surface, and the two women are locked in a dance where freedom clashes with duty.

Babriye Bukilwa's play "Cake" is a psychological drama that asks if the cycle of generational trauma can ever be broken. Can queer, Black femmes find love and belonging when the soil beneath them – and the climate around them – is hostile? It was first performed at Theatre Peckham, London, in 2021, directed by the venue's Associate Director, Malakaï Sargeant.

The play explores the complexities of love, loyalty, and identity, as Sissy and Eshe navigate their way through a world that is both hostile and unforgiving. Sissy is a young Black woman who has been raised in a conservative Muslim family. She is deeply religious and has a strong sense of duty to her family and community.

Eshe, on the other hand, is a sixteen-year-old queer girl who has been abandoned by her mother and is living on the streets. She is fiercely independent and has a rebellious spirit. When Sissy and Eshe meet, they are immediately drawn to each other, but their relationship is complicated by their differences.

Sissy is deeply religious and has a strict moral code. She is horrified by Eshe's promiscuous lifestyle and her refusal to conform to her religious beliefs. Eshe, on the other hand, is disgusted by Sissy's conservative values and her refusal to accept her for who she is.

As the play progresses, Sissy and Eshe are forced to confront their pasts and their demons. Sissy is forced to confront the fact that she has been living a lie, pretending to be someone she is not in order to please her family and community. Eshe is forced to confront the fact that she has been abandoned by her mother and has no one to turn to.

Despite their differences, Sissy and Eshe are able to find common ground and build a relationship. They are able to overcome their prejudices and their fears and find love and belonging in each other.

However, their relationship is not without its challenges. Sissy is torn between her love for Eshe and her duty to her family and community. Eshe is struggling with her own demons and is not sure if she is worthy of Sissy's love.

In the end, "Cake" is a powerful and moving play that explores the complexities of love, loyalty, and identity. It asks if the cycle of generational trauma can ever be broken and if queer, Black femmes can find love and belonging in a world that is hostile and unforgiving.

The play is beautifully written and performed, with each character brought to life with depth and complexity. The performances are powerful and emotional, with each actor bringing their own unique perspective to the characters.

Overall, "Cake" is a must-see play for anyone who is interested in exploring the complexities of love, loyalty, and identity. It is a powerful and moving exploration of the human experience, and it will leave you thinking long after the curtain has fallen.

Weight: 102g
Dimension: 129 x 199 x 13 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781839040214