Jitney director Tinuke Craig interview: ‘I’m from Brixton, so I know the feeling in this play intimately’

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “So I know that feeling intimately; that sense of ‘Where the hell am I gonna go, and why doesn’t me needing a place to live matter in the name of money?’ There’s a kind of shadow of capitalism that just does not give a s*** about who’s trying to make a world for themselves, and how important community is – something we know, from the last two years, is really, really necessary.” I felt like I kind of knew the characters a bit. “As it turned out, I really enjoyed it.” She went on to study at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art before winning the Young Vic’s Genesis Future Directors Award. I find it to be really helpful and useful when you see Black men engage in that way, because they’re not always afforded those spaces in order to do so.” open image in gallery Craig directs actor Dayo Koleosho during rehearsals for ‘Jitney’ at the Old Vic Before we know it, it’s time for Craig to return to rehearsals – today, they’ve been working on a “big, galvanising, everybody-on-stage scene, then a two-hander”. “I hope if there are people who wouldn’t normally take that risk, they might feel like this is a play where I think the risk could pay off.” Jitney, an Old Vic, Headlong and Leeds Playhouse co-production is at the Old Vic from 9 June – 9July before touring.