The Trumpet & the King

In the late 15th century, John Blanke, Britain’s first named black artist, a young musician of exceptional talent, left the ancient city of Granada and made his way to the court of Henry VII of England. There he forged a surprising musical bond with the child who would become the infamous Henry VIII.

A really powerful piece: so deftly written, directed and performed. (T&K Audience)

What an incredible story! Funny tragic, and fascinating (T&K Audience)

The Trumpet & The King is a play set at the crux of history, where Islam meets Christianity, black meet white, and talent meets power. It also owes much to its development in the religious and political crucible of modern post-conflict Northern Ireland.

Amazing! Very gripping and emotionally charged! (T&K Audience)

This powerful Tudor coming-of-age story wowed audiences at sold-out scratch performances in 2022, and on its Irish tour in 2023 sold out its residency at Belfast’s Grand Opera House. The Trumpet & The King is now in planning its English premiere.

Playwright

Delhi-born Canadian Playwright Andrea Montgomery is one of Northern Ireland’s more unique voices. She creates plays featuring multiple languages and has a knack for sensitive handling of stories set at the place where cultures meet. She has worked across the globe, from rural Ireland, urban Belfast, to Greenland, Iran, France, Germany, Hong Kong and Macau.

A tour de force...jaw-droppingly impressive...absorbing and enthralling. (Down Recorder)

Andrea has been shortlisted for both the Nick Darke Award for environmental writing and the National Diversity Awards, and has been long-listed for the Bruntwood Award, seen ten of her scripts produced in England, Ireland and Canada, been commissioned by the BBC, and received multiple SIAP awards from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.

Andrea’s arrival in Northern Ireland came as a breath of fresh air - she brought a new perspective and an abundance of energy and expertise.  She combines seriousness of purpose with an infectious sense of fun, even when – or especially when – the work is dealing with challenging issues.  (Daragh Carville - NI playwright & screenwriter on ITV’s The Bay)

Following more than three years of research and hundreds of hours of engagement with her network across the globe immigrant playwright Andrea Montgomery has created a play about the longing to belong, about friendship across cultural and religious divides, and how art can give us hope of connection, communion and understanding. It’s also about young men trying to figure out life, women, and what to do when talent confronts power.

Actors

Emmanuel Olusanya and Sam Claridge have been involved with this project since 2021. These talented actors build the Tudor world through deft multi-rolling in this dynamic two-hander, in which the audience features as a important, engaged presence.

Powerful authentic performances (T&K Audience)

Brilliant portrayal by actors. Drew me in and I felt their passion & emotion (T&K Audience)

The Trumpet & The King was developed through years of workshop exploration with the Terra Nova community and its strengths are the strengths of many perspectives. Below are just a few images from that process.

On tour Terra Nova offers unique intercultural workshops developed over 18 years of ethical theatre making, as well as a teacher’s pack created by a multi-racial team under the guidance of Tudor Historian Professor Onyeka Nubia.

To talk to us about booking in London or across Britain please email us or call 07958 916 984.