Before I Step Outside (You Love Me)
An evening of Black trans poetics with one of the UK’s leading trans voices. Combining spoken word with soundscapes, projections and animation in collaboration with Daniel Braithwaite Shirley, Travis presents a feature performance from their acclaimed debut book of poetry. Through diary entries, images, poems and essays, Travis reveals their experience as a trans person navigating public spaces: being on the street, being on public transport, being harassed, stared at, and surviving.
In the last two years, Travis Alabanza has emerged as one of the most prominent emerging queer performers, writers and theatre-makers. They have been artist in residence at the Tate; starred in Scottee’s theatre productions Putting Words In Your Mouth (Roundhouse) and Jubilee (Royal Exchange); and had their work featured in The Guardian, BBC, Huck Magazine and more.To reduce our use of paper throughout the festival, we're emailing audiences with a link to a digital freesheet they can access before the performance. You can view this here. A limited number of paper versions will also be available at the event.
Follow Travis Alabanza on Instagram
Before I Step Outside (You Love Me), has been shipped to over 19 countries worldwide, and is listed as one of the top trans literary books of 2017.
'For me this was just a journey with my friends of saying let's understand me more, let's get to know me more' Listen to Travis talk about non-binary identities on BBC 1Xtra
Read What Navigating Public Space Is Like As A Trans Person on Refinery29
Read an interview with Travis in RIFE Magazine
Subira Wahogo
Subira Wahogo is a defiantly queer, unapologetically Black spoken word poet and activist. Expect rage, laughter, softness, vulnerability and a lot of swearing.
Plus, post-show discussion with Chloe Filani
Chloe Filani has performed at Tate Britain at a Late at Tate, spoken at UAL feminist society and Women of the World Festival's BLACK LIVES MATTER. She has performed and curated an art and music event for Black women cis, trans and queer called Swaying Feels witk Blk Sirens. She is currently part of an artist, poetry and performance collective called RUSHED.
