Go behind-the-scenes of joyful new play Danesha and you’ll find a rehearsal room with dancing and self-discovery at its heart.

Box of Tricks world premiere tour of playwright Stefanie Reynolds’ coming of age celebration, exploring black culture, queer joy and loving your authentic self, comes to our Bramall Rock Void from 10-12 October.

Yorkshire-born actor Talia Rae Smith, who returns to the Playhouse after playing Robyn in its 2024 Community Tour of Fidget Theatre’s Robyn Hood, once again takes the title role in Danesha. She trained at The Arden School of Theatre in Manchester and her theatre credits include Romeo & Juliet (Chester Storyhouse) and Alice in Wonderland (HOME Manchester).

She is joined by Kelise Gordon-Harrison as Leonie (A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Shakespeare North & Northern Stage; Peter Pan, Hall for Cornwall; Vignettes, Contact Theatre Manchester); Liam Grunshaw as Paul (The Package, The Lowry; Othello, CSC); Stefan Gumbs as Marcus (The Good Person of Sichuan, Mercury Theatre, Colchester; Spiralling, Odd Arts); award-winning actor Janelle Thompson as Lianne; and Tareq Al-Jeddal as Rayan, a character who appears through FaceTime calls (Ridley, ITV; Brassic, Sky; Maternal, ITV).

Adam Quayle, Joint Artistic Director of Box of Tricks, said: “Northern talent is at the heart of the Box of Tricks ethos so we’re excited to be working with a company of brilliant local actors. We can’t wait to hit the road with them, taking this new play celebrating black queer joy to schools and theatres across the North. In the current climate, funding cuts have hit the arts and education, so it’s more important than ever to be touring new work that speaks to young people and ignites a passion for theatre.”

All they play in Preston nightclubs is Little Mix and Miley Cyrus. How is Danesha supposed to vibe to that? After successfully managing to convince her Preston mates (as well as telling a teeny, tiny white lie to her dad), she arranges a night out in Manchester. She finds the sickest club with the sickest music and the sickest vibe. It’s proper, proper mint. Then she meets Her and Danesha’s whole existence becomes one big question mark. She always thought it was normal to feel like you don’t quite fit in, to like music that nobody else likes, to move your body in a way your friends can’t, and to not know anything about your mum and the island she comes from. But now she’s thinking.