Canary and the Crow

The Canary and the Crow is a brand-new gig theatre show about a working-class black kid who is accepted to a prestigious school, combining grime, hip-hop, and theatre to tell his story of struggle between a new environment and an old one.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 96 pages
Publication date: 16 July 2019
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Winner of the 2020 George Devine Award, Middle Child presents The Canary and the Crow, a brand-new gig theatre about the journey of a working-class black kid who is accepted to a prestigious school. A lyrical, semi-autobiographical piece from writer and performer Daniel Ward, The Canary and the Crow blends grime, hip-hop, and theatre to tell the story of Ward's struggle between a new environment that doesn't accept him and an old one that has no opportunity.

Born and raised in London's East End, Ward faced numerous challenges growing up. He was the youngest of three children and often felt like an outsider in his own family. Despite his academic achievements, he struggled to find a job and felt trapped in a cycle of poverty and hopelessness.

One day, Ward received a letter of acceptance to a prestigious boarding school. He was overjoyed and saw this as his chance to escape the life he had known. However, his journey to the school was not easy. He had to overcome financial barriers, cultural differences, and his own doubts and fears.

At the school, Ward faced a new set of challenges. He was the only black student in his year and often felt like an outsider. He struggled to fit in and found it difficult to make friends. But he refused to give up and worked hard to prove himself to his peers and teachers.

Through his struggles, Ward discovered his love for music and theatre. He started writing songs and performing in plays and found that these were a way for him to express himself and connect with others. He also discovered a sense of purpose and belonging that he had never felt before.

In the end, Ward graduated from the boarding school with honors and went on to attend a top university. He continued to pursue his passion for music and theatre and became a successful artist and performer.

The Canary and the Crow is a powerful and moving piece of theatre that tells the story of Ward's journey from a working-class black kid to a successful artist and performer. It is a testament to the resilience and determination of the human spirit and a reminder that no matter how difficult our circumstances may be, we can always find a way to overcome them and achieve our dreams.

Weight: 78g
Dimension: 198 x 129 x 8 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781786827975