How are black women who shave their heads depicted in the media and greeted at the barbershop?
Artist Ruth Sutoyé created Bald Black Girl(s), an exhibition about black women who shave their heads, and the poetry film Reign that visually re-imagines a world where only bald and low shaved black women exist.
This edition of Violet Nights includes a screening of Reign, and discussion of media representations of black women and the shifting culture of barbershops.
How are black women in Britain, particularly bald and low shaved women, depicted in TV, theatre and literature?
How do barbershops treat women, nonbinary and visibly queer customers? Male and female barbers share their take.
The discussion is chaired by Chanté Joseph, and speakers include Candace Skelton, Trix Worrell, Monica Siyanga and Mark Maciver. Poet Bridget Minamore also performs as part of the event.
Violet Nights is a space for young people to socialise and express their views on topical issues, with music, performance and discussion.
In a relaxed format, people aged 18 – 30 have the opportunity to exchange ideas and engage in issues that feel important to them, creating a real-life forum for online conversations
Candace Skelton is an International Relations graduate-turned-barber. She has been cutting hair for 8 months, starting her barbering journey with Trim-It mobile barbershop, before moving to work alongside Eph The Barber in Eph’d Up Grooming Lounge, Kennington. As an academic, her fields of interest are race, capitalism and colonialism, and how this triptych have come to shape international, interpersonal and internal interactions between states, individuals and the self.
Chanté Joseph is a freelance writer, digital content producer and host of Reform The Funk’s Talk and Play. After completing her degree at the University of Bristol in 2018, she edited and curated Bristol’s first-ever BME Powerlist. The BME Powerlist had over 500 nominations and 100 award recipients. She frequently writes for platforms including The Guardian, The i Paper, VICE, Gal-dem, Crack Magazine and more. In 2018, she wrote her first-ever cover story for Wonderland Magazine interviewing Beyoncé’s very own Chloe and Hallee.
Bridget Minamore is a British-Ghanaian writer from south-east London. She is a poet, critic, dramaturg, and journalist, and writes for The Guardian about theatre. Titanic, her debut pamphlet of poems on modern love and loss, was published in May 2016.
Trix Worrell is an award winning writer and director, best known in the UK for the sitcom Desmond’s. During a thirty-year career both sides of the Atlantic, he has written and produced for film and TV, working with Denzel Washington, Vigo Mortensen, Harvey Keitel, Thandie Newton, Jean Reno and Whoopi Goldberg.
Monica Siyanga is a London based freelance Casting Director. She worked as a Casting Assistant for the Royal Court Theatre before moving into film and television, working on projects directed by Ridley Scott, Steve McQueen, Jon East, and many more. Monica has also worked on projects for Southbank Centre including My Name Is My Own directed by Jo Tyabji.
SliderCuts is a self-taught barber and has been cutting hair professionally for over sixteen years. His client list has included Lebron James, Ludacris and J. Cole, and currently includes Anthony Joshua, Reggie Yates, Stormzy, Tinie Tempah and Big Tobz. His razor-sharp skills make him an expert figure in his field.
Age recommendation
For ages 18 – 30
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