Un|Earthed Stories

On Saturday, 5 June 2027, the Artista Cafe and Gallery in Brighton will host Un|Earthed, a performance storytelling show that follows Inez Aponte as she uncovers the stories of her ancestors. Through a rich tapestry of tales from Surinam's oral tradition and her own family history, Aponte explores the themes of home, rootedness, and belonging, meeting a cast of characters along the way, including an old crone, shape-shifting animals, and magical babies.

As Aponte delves into the past, she sheds light on the often-overlooked aspects of the Surinamese slave trade, weaving a narrative that is both deeply personal and historically significant. Her show is a testament to the power of storytelling to reclaim and preserve the stories that have been erased from history. With its unique blend of memoir, family history, and folklore, Un|Earthed is a performance that will resonate with audiences long after the show is over.

The performance is a deeply intimate and honest exploration of Aponte's own identity and heritage, and it is this intimacy that creates a sense of trust and connection with the audience. As Jon Lavieri, Rhode Island Poet, notes, Aponte is a performer who is unflinching in her honesty, and it is this willingness to take risks that makes her storytelling so compelling.

For those interested in attending Un|Earthed, tickets and details can be found with the button beside this article. The show contains descriptions of, or references to, colonial and domestic violence, contextualised within historic, personal, and mythic narrative, and it is this thoughtful and nuanced approach that makes Un|Earthed a performance not to be overlooked.

The themes of identity, freedom, and belonging that Aponte explores in Un|Earthed are timeless and universal, and it is the way she weaves these themes together with her own family history and the oral traditions of Surinam that makes this performance so unique and powerful. As a result, Un|Earthed is a show that will appeal to anyone interested in storytelling, history, and the human experience.