Originally conceived as a theatre piece, by 20 Stories High and Contact, I told my Mum I was going on an R.E. Trip… toured to theatre and community venues across the UK in 2016. Its film journey began shortly after, when theatre professionals Julia Samuels (20 Stories High) and Roxanne Moores (Contact) joined forces with film director Lindy Heymann to translate the piece as a BBC/Arts Council England commission. It was first broadcast on BBC Two in January 2017.

The piece is a frank, funny and moving drama about four young women’s abortion experiences, told verbatim from real interviews, with spoken word and urban-afro music. After being broadcast on BBC2, R.E. trip was selected to be screened at the prestigious and largest North American documentary festival Hot Docs, in Toronto, Canada, where it came third in the Audience Award for best mid-length documentary. It was also selected for Underwire (London), Pilot Light TV Festival (Manchester), FILMSTOCK (Luton).

I told my Mum I was going on an R.E. Trip… was featured as pick of the day/critics’ choice in The Times, The Guardian, The Observer and the Telegraph, and received media coverage including BBC Breakfast News, Elle Magazine.

CREDITS

Co-produced by Contact and 20 Stories High
Directed by Lindy Heymann
Written by Julia Samuels
Featuring Jamie-Lee O’Donnell, Aizah Khan, Emma Burns and Dorcas Sebuyange
Developed by 20 Stories High and Contact in association with Battersea Arts Centre and Arts Council England