KnappChats is Young People’s Laureate for London Cecilia Knapp’s new series of conversations with writers whose work she loves. The series gives space to writers doing incredible things with their creativity from a range of perspectives, showcases different journeys into writing, and explores the power of writing.
In this first KnappChat, Cecilia interviews Travis Alabanza. Travis is a writer, performer and theatre maker based in London, via Bristol. Cecilia and Travis talk about how they’re looking after themselves creatively, journeys into writing, tackling difficult subjects in writing with different perspectives and much more.
About Travis Alabanza:
Travis is a writer, performer and theatre maker based in Bristol. Their writing, performance and public discourse surrounding trans and Black identities has had them noted as one of the most prominent emerging trans voices in the arts and beyond. For stage, Travis wrote and performed in their debut show Burgerz. The show won the Total Theatre Award at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival as well as selling out numerous venues including Southbank Centre and Traverse Theatre. It was also voted one of The Guardian Readers Top Shows of The Year and is published by Oberon Books. Most recently, their play Overflow, which premiered at and live-streamed from The Bush, was met with critical acclaim including numerous four-star reviews and over 4,000 streams worldwide. Travis’ work has also appeared on BBC Front Row, The Verb and in 2019 they hosted their first radio documentary ‘Going to The Gay Bar’ for BBC Radio Four. Alabanza was listed in the Evening Standard as one of the 25 most influential Londoners under 25 and placed on the Dazed100 list.
KnappChats is part of #WriteThroughThis, Cecilia’s campaign to encourage young people to use poetry to help keep positive and connected to others during the national lockdown. You can read more here: www.spreadtheword.org.uk/projects/writethroughthis/
Published 22 February 2021