The Gift, Theatre Royal Stratford East

Brutwood Prize-winning playwright Janice Okoh (Egusi Soup, Menagerie Theatre; Three Birds, Royal Exchange Theatre) explores imperialism, cultural appropriation and cross-racial adoption across two different eras in new play The Gift.

Drawing on the remarkable true story of Sarah Bonetta Davies, an African child who was adopted by Queen Victoria and raised in royal circles, the play switches between 1862 and the present day.

In Victorian era Brighton, young Sarah is preparing to return to Africa after being brought up under the Queen's royal guidance. Fast forward to the modern day and a black middle-class woman staying in a Cheshire village is visited by well-meaning neighbours with a confession to make.

The drama gets increasingly bold and surreal when the timelines compress and the two Sarahs meet Queen Victoria for tea.

Commenting on the writing processed, Okoh said: ' I first heard the story of Sarah Bonetta Davies when I was at primary school, but for many years I wasn’t sure if it was actually true or not. As part of my research, I read personal diaries and journals kept by Queen Victoria and got a real insight into their incredible relationship. The theme of cross-racial adoption is a difficult subject to tackle, but the comedic elements of the play allow me to do this in a way that is playful, as well as thought-provoking. I also felt it was important to bring part of the story into the present day, as these are issues that are still relevant now.'

The Gift is the third production for Revolution Mix, a movement bringing more Black British stories to the stage than ever before. The show comes to Theatre Royal Stratford East after premiering in Coventry and before embarking on a national tour.