Exploring trauma, relationships, and our human instincts to find the courage to survive, the heartfelt Funeral Flowers comes to Bernie Grant Arts Centre this spring. Emma Dennis-Edwards won the Filipa Bragança Award for an outstanding solo theatre performance by an actress for her Fringe First award-winning run of this incredibly powerful production at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2018.

Through lyrical spoken word and an inspiring floristry demonstration, Funeral Flowers takes audiences on an immersive journey into the world of 17-year-old Angelique, who dreams of being a florist. Left alone to navigate the care system, adulthood, and the recurring threat of her boyfriend’s gang, Angelique takes us by the hand and leads us through her story.

Set in Tottenham, North London, the show playfully switches between six characters to highlight the reality of many vulnerable young women, and young black women in particular, who are left to grow up in the British care system.

A story of perseverance and hope, a spirit that remains crucial to this play, the piece was inspired by Tottenham Community leader and businesswoman, Gina Moffatt, who shared her story of creating her own floristry business whilst incarcerated at HMP Holloway. Funeral Flowers challenges broken institutions to explore the repercussions of a system in crisis.

Emma Dennis-Edwards said: “I originally wrote Funeral Flowers specifically for audiences in Tottenham and I am proud that, since its run in Edinburgh, the story of Angelique has resonated with audiences – I cannot wait to bring the show back to London. I’m over the moon that Funeral Flowers will return to its Tottenham roots at The Bernie Grant Arts Centre, where Gina runs the local café. This is a coming of age story, Angelique faces lots of adversity, but I remain hopeful for her and her humanity.”

The Bernie Grant Arts Centre, Town Hall Approach, Tottenham Green, Wednesday, June 29, to Saturday, June 1. Details: 020 8365 5450 berniegrantcentre.co.uk