"Sweet Blood" Explores Resistance and Survival in New Play at NACL

Award-winning playwright and JACK partnership artist Camille Simone Thomas is deep into developing her powerful new play "Sweet Blood." Currently in residence at the NACL Theatre, Thomas is exploring the intricate relationship between text, song, and dance as she crafts the story of three free Black Maroon/Taino women in 18th-century Jamaica.Set in 1727, "Sweet Blood" follows these women as they face the looming threat of colonialism and the impending sugar revolution that will bring centuries of chattel slavery to the Caribbean. The women must decide how far they are willing to go to protect their land, their people, and their freedom as the British colonial forces approach. The play grapples with the realities of survival, revolution, and resistance in a rapidly changing world.On Friday, November 22, NACL will host a reading of selected scenes from this work-in-progress, followed by an audience discussion of the play’s major themes. The event provides an opportunity to witness the early stages of Thomas’ creative process and engage with the powerful questions posed by the narrative."Sweet Blood" is an exploration of how far individuals will go to challenge the oppressive forces of colonialism, capitalism, and white supremacy. It delves into the complex dynamics of survival, resistance, and the question of what it truly means to be a revolutionary in a world where freedom is under constant threat.About Camille Simone ThomasCamille Thomas is a 5th generation Detroiter and first-generation Jamaican playwright whose work often focuses on cultural legacies, ancestral wisdom, spirituality, and the struggle of Black femmes to achieve liberation. Her work interrogates how colonial and capitalist forces shape the lives of Black people, particularly women, and the ways in which they fight for their survival.Her previous work has been showcased at prestigious venues including The Connelly Theatre, New York Theatre Workshop, Playwrights Horizons, Dixon Place, and the Detroit Public Theatre Company, among others. Her web series *Gro Up* was featured at the Academy Award-qualifying Reel Sisters Film Festival, the PanAfrican Film Festival, and the Martha’s Vineyard Virtual Film Festival. Thomas has been recognized for her bold voice in the theater world, receiving accolades such as the 2023 New Harmony Project finalist and the 2023 Van Lier New Voices Fellowship Semi-finalist. She is also an associate artist with the Sanguine Theatre Company and has held fellowships with the Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute’s DEAR fellowship and The Theatre Producers of Color.JACK PartnershipJACK, an award-winning multidisciplinary theater space in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn, is a key partner in supporting the development of Thomas’ work. JACK provides artists with access to the NACL residency center to develop new work that will ultimately be produced at the Brooklyn venue. JACK’s programming centers on artists of color and those working toward collective liberation, and they present over 75 performances a year across theater, dance, and music.