{"id":495994,"date":"2025-10-13T11:21:25","date_gmt":"2025-10-13T11:21:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/495994\/"},"modified":"2025-10-13T11:21:25","modified_gmt":"2025-10-13T11:21:25","slug":"sutara-gayles-story-comes-to-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/495994\/","title":{"rendered":"Sutara Gayle’s Story comes to HOME"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The Legends of Them tells the extraordinary life story of Sutara Gayle, also known as Lorna Gee, the writer and performer behind the Offie Award-winning show. Coming to HOME Manchester on 18th of October, this deeply personal work revisits her journey through the vibrant world of reggae sound systems such as Saxone, Coxsone and Nasty Rockers, and her rise as one of the pioneering female deejays of 1980s London.<\/p>\n

Charting her path through the city\u2019s dynamic reggae scene, The Legends of Them captures the remarkable story of a woman who broke boundaries. A chance encounter with Linton Kwesi Johnson while waiting in a dole queue inspired Sutara to write her first single, Three Weeks Gone (Mi Giro), which she later heard for the first time on the radio while serving a short sentence in Holloway Prison. <\/p>\n

The life story of Sutara Gayle \u2013 The Legends of Them<\/p>\n

\"TheThe Legends of Them comes to HOME <\/p>\n

Her follow-up single Got To Find A Way stayed in the reggae charts for six weeks, earning her the BBC Radio London Reggae Awards for Best Female Artist in both 1985 and 1986, and later, the 1992 New York Tamika Reggae Award for Best Female Deejay.<\/p>\n

We caught up with Sutara to learn more about the show and her extraordinary life.<\/p>\n

Reflecting on her journey bringing The Legends of Them to the stage, Sutara explained: \u201cIt\u2019s been very difficult, challenging, but because it\u2019s truthful, it\u2019s been almost smooth sailing at the same time.\u201d<\/p>\n

She praises the team that helped bring her vision to life: \u201cThe creatives behind the show are just remarkable. They\u2019re the reason it\u2019s been realised in the way it has.\u201d<\/p>\n

The process has been an emotional one: \u201cThere have been a lot of cathartic moments in the rehearsal room: plenty of tears, joy, and a real sense of fulfilment.\u201d<\/p>\n

What are Sutara\u2019s standout career moments?<\/p>\n

\"TheSutara Gayle <\/p>\n

When asked about standout moments in her career, Sutara shares her top five:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Recognition for her music<\/strong>: \u201cBeing nominated for Best Female Artist at the 1986 BBC Reggae Awards for Gotta Find a Way was incredibly special. It was one of the first times I truly felt that people were listening to my music and connecting with my voice.\u201d<\/li>\n
  2. Using music to inspire change<\/strong>: \u201cPerforming at Artists Against Apartheid in Clapham Common in 1988 was the biggest show of my career. More than the size of the audience, it was the realisation that music has the power to unite people and inspire change.\u201d<\/li>\n
  3. Returning to education<\/strong>: \u201cGraduating from drama school at 40 was a personal triumph. It reminded me that it\u2019s never too late to follow your dreams or start a new chapter.\u201d<\/li>\n
  4. Meeting an icon<\/strong>: \u201cA bonus highlight \u2013 meeting Angela Bassett backstage after playing GG in The Tina Turner Musical. She came to see the show, and when she greeted me with a kiss on the cheek, it was surreal \u2013 a dream come true.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    On black history and representation<\/p>\n

    When asked how she\u2019d improve awareness of key Black historical figures, Sutara responds passionately: \u201cBlack History Month<\/a> should last all year. Children should grow up learning about people like Mary Seacole, Nanny of the Maroons, Olaudah Equiano, Claudia Jones, and so many others.\u201d<\/p>\n

    The story also touches on personal and historical pain. In 1985, Sutara\u2019s sister Cherry Groce was shot by police, an event that triggered the second Brixton Uprising. This tragic moment provides the socio-political backdrop to her compelling narrative.<\/p>\n

    Faith, healing and inspiration<\/p>\n

    Where does Sutara find her strength and motivation?<\/p>\n

    \u201cMy faith and belief in God keep me grounded. I\u2019m more spiritual than religious, but I\u2019ve learnt that someone is watching over me. No matter how deep or dark things get, I know a higher power is looking out for me \u2013 and that\u2019s what keeps me going.\u201d<\/p>\n

    As for what inspired her to write The Legends of Them, she explained: \u201cI never planned it. It came to me while on a spiritual retreat in India. I didn\u2019t set out to chronicle my life, but the storyteller in me knew I needed to get these stories out. So many things just started to surface.\u201d<\/p>\n

    She continued: \u201cI felt disconnected from who I thought I was, so I had to start rediscovering that person. That\u2019s how the story was born.\u201d<\/p>\n

    Who are Sutara Gayle\u2019s musical heroes?<\/p>\n

    Music has shaped every part of Sutara\u2019s journey. She names her key influences: \u201cCaroll Thompson, when I first heard Hopelessly in Love, it helped me connect with my own romantic feelings as a young woman. Songs like Hopelessly in Love, Simply in Love, I\u2019m So Sorry, they were the soundtrack to my youth.\u201d<\/p>\n

    She adds: \u201cBob Marley, because his music spoke to the fighter, the warrior, in me.\u201d<\/p>\n

    And finally: \u201cMillie Jackson, she spoke to the conversationalist and the poet in me. She represented women\u2019s empowerment, brought the fire, and made it okay to fight back, hell yeah!\u201d<\/p>\n

    A passion for performance and storytelling <\/p>\n

    Sutara is passionate about live performance and storytelling.<\/p>\n

    \u201cI love seeing great stories unfold on stage. One recent favourite was Superwoman at the Bush Theatre, a two-hander with Letitia Wright and Golda Rosheuvel. It was such a powerful story about love, grief, and resilience.\u201d<\/p>\n

    How does it feel to bring your story to the stage?<\/p>\n

    How does it feel to see her life story come alive in the theatre? \u201cIt\u2019s thrilling, I have to pinch myself sometimes,\u201d she admitted. \u201cWhen you write a play, you constantly question yourself, is it too indulgent? Why would people want to hear my story? Is it good enough? But the truth of the story, and the need to face it head on, outweighed any self-doubt.\u201d<\/p>\n

    She added, \u201cI\u2019ve been a reggae artist for more than 40 years and played in many of these cities back in the \u201980s and early \u201990s. There\u2019s still a huge reggae community, and I\u2019m so excited for everyone to come out and see how far we\u2019ve all come. It\u2019s going to be amazing.\u201d<\/p>\n

    What can audiences expect at The Legends of Them?<\/p>\n

    When The Legends of Them arrives at HOME, Sutara promises a show full of authenticity and representation, a celebration of culture, resilience, and truth.<\/p>\n

    The Legends of Them is at HOME on 18th October and can be booked here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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