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Opening this week for an Easter holidays run at the 141-year-old Stratford East theatre, Choir Boy has already won three Black British Theatre Awards for its original production at Bristol’s Old Vic.

It’s the story of Pharus, a confident and gifted singer who has earned his position in the school choir as soloist. But when his pride is sullied by one of his peers, he falters... what does it mean to be a young, Black, queer man? And, most pressingly, what does it mean to be all that at the Charles R. Drew Prep School for Boys?

Stratford East’s new Executive Director, Hannah Streeter, joined us at last month’s CIG meeting at Crate Brewery (see box below for details of the April edition), and said that the show is “a really joyful coming‑of‑age story," which takes in spirituality, sexuality, race, identity, and brotherhood along with some soul-stirring a cappella gospel singing, too.

Streeter may be new to the job, but she explained that she’s dedicated to keeping the theatre’s revolutionary political focus and deep local community integration showcasing the work of new Black and Asian artists going for a new era, despite today’s tough financial climate.

"We want Stratford East to be a home for early‑career artists who maybe haven't yet worked at scale,” she said. “We're thinking a lot about how we support artists in their career – and that runs through to roles across the organisation, including the many backstage roles as well.

“Our learning and participation work reaches about 10,000 local people a year. That’s lots of schools’ work and an adult‑focused Newham Neighbours programme with lots of community organisations, which is all about introducing people who’ve not been to the theatre before."

With its next show Choir Boy presenting a perfect example of the theatre’s mission in action, the play is an Easter essential, and with tickets available from just £10, book early to make the most of the best available prices.

More info and tickets to Choir Boy here.

📚 Adele Parks is the author of 25 bestselling novels including the recent Sunday Times Number One hits Lies Lies Lies and Just My Luck. She’s the very special guest at the next Fish Island Books Supper Club, on Thurs 16th Apr, where she’ll be discussing her latest hit novel, Our Beautiful Mess. Tickets include a copy of the book, a two-course menu and drink at Unlock, and plenty of time to chat with the author.

🖼️ Discover some emerging contemporary artists at the opening night of KELLART, a brand new contemporary art gallery in Hackney Downs, and originally hailing from Bristol. Their first public event, a private view on Thurs 26th Mar, will be a chance to meet local artists, view new pieces and network with a likeminded art crowd.

👔 Brand new menswear and homewares shop, Acte Store, opens on Fish Island’s Rookwood Way on Fri 3rd Apr with a curated selection of brands, lifestyle essentials and nifty accessories.

🖼️ There’s a large-scale immersive solo exhibition over at Sugar House Island by East London-based multidisciplinary artist SHEM, which reinforces the area’s role as a place where creativity, community and contemporary culture intersect. Don’t Forget to Teleport has transformed the 6th Floor of the big Colour Works building into a free constructed environment spanning painting, film, lighting and participatory installation, inviting audiences to enter a spatial narrative exploring self-belief, ancestry and vulnerability. Runs to 9th Apr.

❓The latest exhibition at UCL’s Urban Room, Manifesting, using sounds, text and design to question exclusion, imagine belonging and explore whether a space can be a manifesto. Can an institution hold the people it historically excluded, and if so, what would its future look like? Runs to 20th Jun.

📿Flea London, the long-time favourite for collectors and fans of a curated mix of vintage fashion, statement jewellery, art, books, vinyl, cameras, cult design pieces, brocante and one-off homeware finds, is moving to Hackney Bridge from Sat 11th Apr, and will be there every weekend after. More info to follow next week…

🥳 Club Alegria: Primavera lands at The Bath House to celebrate the Spring equinox this Fri 27th Mar, bringing experimental, eclectic and timelessly electronic sounds merging 90s Chicago House, UK Breakbeats and ethereal Detroit Techno into one hella lively party.

🔊 London duo Dusky are preparing to smash the main room at Colour Factory with Scarlett O’Malley this Sat 28th Mar.

🎵 There’s a day-into-night loft party from Maizon, who bring Stockholm’s Tiger Stripes and Clive From Accounts to the decks alongside their residents, from 5pm onwards at Vittoria Wharf Studio this Sat 28th Mar.

🕑 Six hours of the alternative electronic sensibilities from the master, Erol Alkan, are promised at Number 90 Lock on Thurs 2nd Apr for a To The Rhythm Easter special where Erol will play from open to close, plus go B2B with special guest Decius in the middle.

🪴 West African rhythm champions Edd Bateman and Mosi Conde are this week’s guests joining conga player Williams Cumberbache at Grow’s Sunday afternoon Canalside Sessions as we tip into British Summer Time this Sun 29th Mar.

📕 The Wick Book is a stunning limited edition 160-page hardback historic record, looking at 15 years of culture, community and change in the neighbourhood through the pages of The Wick. We’re now down to the last 200+ copies, and they won’t last long…

BUSINESSES: profile your own local venture in a video and share your offers and events to over 8,000 locals via this newsletter and 1,000s more on our social channels. Sign up to The Wick Business Community today.

There’s an offer of a free week of coworking space at Here East innovation hub Plexal, from Mon 13th - Fri 17th Apr, where you can join 150+ other businesses in their ecosystem and access a dedicated range of resources, programmes and guidance to help you grow.

🤖 The Agents & Robotics HackXelerator (AR26) is a 20-day exploration of the future of intelligent systems, from digital agents and multi-agent systems to autonomous robotics and human-robot interaction, taking place at Plexal from Fri Mar 27th. Compete for a £10,000 cash prize pool and cloud credits while networking with sponsors like Meta and Vultr.

🏛️ The next edition of Hackney Wick Town Hall takes place at Trowbridge Gardens on Wed 15th Apr with Becky Sampson from the Canal & River Trust exploring interventions to reduce crime and share experiences of being impacted by crime on the towpath, a chance to share local priorities and hear updates on ongoing projects and opportunities, too.

♻️ The HW&FI Community Development Trust is launching guidance supporting developers, local authorities and practitioners in creating Circular Economy Hubs at a special event at The Loop on Thurs 16th Apr, open to developers, planning and sustainability officers, consultants, academics and anyone interested in being part of such a hub.

👧🏻 Hackney Wick Rainbows, Brownies and Guides meet on Monday evenings and are looking for new recruits. Find out more and sign up.