A traditional stone statue of a historic figure is suspended from an orange metal hook with yellow straps against a bright blue background. It is wrapped in yellow 'police line do not cross' tape and defaced with red, white and blue graffiti and an American flag neck scarf.
A traditional stone statue of a historic figure is suspended from an orange metal hook with yellow straps against a bright blue background. It is wrapped in yellow 'police line do not cross' tape and defaced with red, white and blue graffiti and an American flag neck scarf.

About Safe Space

What’s in a name?

The winds of change are blowing through the elite ivy-league halls of one of America’s most prestigious universities. For students Isaiah, Connor, Annabelle, Omar and Stacy, on the precipice of starting their adult lives, life is no longer about getting through a political science lecture with a hangover and auditioning for the school acapella group. Confronting the injustices of the past is top of the agenda – starting with the fact that the college is named after a notorious defender of slavery.

And in this pressure cooker environment, everyone has to pick a side.

Beneath the passionate speeches, do old prejudices die hard? What happens to friendship and love amidst frank debate?

Jamie Bogyo’s whip-smart, hilarious and bracing new play takes us into the volatile quicksand of campus politics in the dying months of Obama’s presidency, and asks how – and if – we can escape the past.

Roy Alexander Weise, whose recent productions include The Hot Wing King and Nine Night (National Theatre), Untitled F*ck M*ss S**gon Play (Royal Exchange/Young Vic/Headlong) and Much Ado About Nothing (RSC), directs.

Creatives

    • Roy Alexander Weise

      Role
      Director
    • Isabella Odoffin CDG

      Role
      Casting Director

    We want you to feel welcome and comfortable at CFT. You’ll find further guidance on content here; please be aware that by reading this, elements of the plot may be revealed. Please note that this may be updated nearer the time of the production as staging details are confirmed.

    If you have any questions or feedback, or would like further information, do email us at hello@cft.org.uk

    Content and themes

    This production contains very strong language, racist language, sexual content, smoking and mild violence; and themes including racism, the legacy of historic slavery, sexism and sexual assault.