This is a highly emotive and award-winning play which tells the story of the mother of the evolution, research and current modern medicine that we now rely upon!.
Family Tree is the story of Henrietta Lacks, a Black woman, whose stolen cells changed medical research forever without ever being acknowledged. Written by Alfred Fagon Award winner Mojisola Adebayo, it comes to the Everyman for only three performances from 4 to 6 May 2023..
In 1951, no one asked Henrietta Lacks for permission to use her cells for research as she was dying of cervical cancer and looking for treatment in Baltimore. The studies on her cells have contributed to important discoveries in many fields, including: cancer, immunology and infectious diseases. After more than sixty years, her cell has finally been formally recognised by institutions and the public.
Family Tree is a beautifully poetic drama about race, health, the environment, and the incredible legacy of one of the most influential Black women of modern times.
Director, Matthew Xia, says: “The work is fearless, brutally honest, at turns hilarious, yet, ultimately transformative. Henrietta’s cell line forms the basis of the most important medical research and breakthroughs across the last 70 years, from Cancer and HIV to COVID, we owe our lives to her. Denied her place in history, now is the time to bring Henrietta’s epic legacy to life on stage.”
The story of Henrietta Lacks illustrates the racial inequities and Family Tree paints how her cells, blood and waters have birthed, raised and changed the world. On writing the play Mojisola Adebayo,, says:
“Writing Family Tree was the most painful research process I have had because the play is about extraction from Black female bodies, not just Henrietta Lacks but the forgotten ‘mothers’ of modern gynaecology, African American women who were used in experimental surgeries without consent or pain relief and it is also about the extraction of labour from NHS nurses during the Covid 19 pandemic. I was writing during lockdown and it was really tough to read all these histories and stories from today as well. Although the material comes from brutal stories the ultimate picture and message is one of beauty and transcendence.”
There is an exciting opportunity to have a post-show discussion with Associate Director Amelia Thornber and members of the cast on Thursday 4 May.
Tickets, priced from £12 to £19, are on sale now directly from the box office.
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