Hospital bakers dish up some food for thought

After Sunday is set in a secure mental unit where the patients go on a journey of self-discovery and face some uncomfortable truths, writes DIANE PARKES

- DIANE PARKES

Corey Weekes (Ty), Darrel Bailey (Daniel) and David Webb (Leroy) in rehearsals for After Sunday

A NEW play at Coventry's Belgrade Theatre will be turning up the heat as four people join in a cookery class in which they are not only learning how to baste and bake but also discovering more about themselves and their lives.

Written by Birmingham playwright Sophia Griffin, After Sunday tells the story of three men who are confined to a secure mental health unit and their therapist, Naomi, who together embark on a course in Caribbean cookery. By focussing on the healing power of food, the sessions aim to encourage the group to share their experiences and undertake their own personal journeys.

Birmingham actor Darrel Bailey, who plays Daniel, says the class provides an ideal space for discovering common bonds between people.

"The centre of the piece is the live cooking on stage and the characters are cooking food that represents their culture," he says. "All the characters are of Caribbean descent and part of Caribbean culture is cooking and it gives you that sense of hope.

"Even if you're not from the same culture as the characters, people should be able to relate to the fact that cooking food that is comfortable and that you love and enjoy brings that sense of hope to you.

"There's funny interaction between the characters about how they interpret their way of cooking but everyone should be able to understand on some level the comforts of home and that includes cooking."

But there is a lot more boiling in the pot.