Joy Nesbitt's play, 'Blood of My Blood', is being performed at the Royal Court Theatre in London. The production is described as a ghost story that also serves as a reckoning with the undocumented history of enslaved people, moving from present-day America to the moment slavery was abolished.
The narrative follows Talulah, a Black British woman played by Jodie Campbell, who traces her family line to a South Carolina plantation now operating as a holiday rental. Talulah attempts to contact her enslaved ancestor, Ginnie, portrayed by Ronkẹ Adékọluẹ́jọ, through a ritual practice known as "conjuring" to uncover her family's past.
Directed by Tatenda Shamiso, the play blends comedy, race drama, and gothic horror. The set design by Simisola Majekodunmi uses lighting to distinguish between past and present, while Kayodeine's sound design builds suspense. The stage extends into the auditorium with earthy tufts, suggesting the enduring presence of the past.