Trybe House Theatre launches feature film challenging what ‘a home’ means to Black men today

“My village is a place where I’m feared and hated and told that I should pack my bags and go back home.”

To celebrate International Men’s Day, Trybe House Theatre has launched a new feature film giving voice to the day-to-day struggles of young Black men and questioning what ‘home’ really means if your village cannot offer that safe space.

Trybe House Theatre is a social enterprise dedicated to supporting young Black men between the ages of 18 and 26 through theatre, helping them to explore their mental health, express themselves, and find a sense of belonging. They do this with a safe space for Black men to come together to develop their confidence, creativity, and skills—both as artists and as individuals.

The new feature film has been produced by Mill Road, well-known for its powerful social impact films. It selected Trybe House Theatre as its competition winner earlier this year, recognising that this was an issue that deserved to be given a platform and a voice.

The film was developed and directed by filmmaker Carly Claydon-Davies, who has previously produced campaign films for Dirt is Good (Unilever and Arsenal FC), Investing in Women, Pregnant Then Screwed, the Early Education and Childcare Coalition and Flex Appeal. You can find more of her work here.

The new film “If home is where the heart is” opens showing three different Black men, all from different backgrounds and the different roads that their lives take, all leading to the same studio space in Brixton where they come together at the end of the film.

Through the script, they tackle difficult themes, explaining the stigma and social barriers that come inherently with being Black.

“If home is where the heart is, then I’ll be real, that means there is a hollow hole in our chest. Then that means we’re orphans, black boys who know only to lay their head in a hood before a bed to rest.”

The film goes on to explain the feelings that come with being at home, but feeling feared by those around you.

“They say it takes a village to raise a child, but I’ll be real mandem, I don’t even really know… because my village is a place where I’m feared and hated and told that I should pack my bags and go back home. Home is not a place, it’s a feeling. Then my home is anger, vengeance, disdain. My home is that red hot feeling of rage I get when I’m stopped and searched again, and again, and again.”

It is hoped that the new film will highlight the day to day hardship that Black men face today because of the colour of their skin, and will also show the brilliant community that Trybe House Theatre has brought together and will inspire more young Black men to join in with the programme, and to feel at home in this community of men all seeking belonging and acceptance.

Philip Morris, artistic director of Trybe House Theatre, comments: “Mental health among Black men is an urgent issue, with many struggling in silence due to stigma, lack of support, or societal barriers. Trybe House Theatre provides a space where these young men can be vulnerable, find joy, and develop the confidence to tell their own stories. By capturing the heart of what we do-through powerful imagery and raw emotion—we aim to inspire donors, sponsors, and new supporters to invest in our mission. This film isn’t just about us, it’s about the future of countless young Black men who deserve spaces where they can be seen, heard, and uplifted.”

Carly Claydon-Davies, filmmaker and founder of Mill Road, said: “We are living in a time of increasing division and fear of ‘otherness’. ‘If Home is Where The Heart Is’ draws attention to the effect this scrutiny and hostility have on young Black men within our society who, like the rest of us, deserve a safe place to call home. Trybe House Theatre embodies this provision of safety, community and expression and is doing such brilliant work with limited resources – they were a clear winner for our Reach competition, which aims to give a voice through film to a deserving organisation."

Philip Morris, artistic director of Trybe House Theatre, adds: “This film will serve as both a celebration of our work and a call to action. We want to showcase the real, lived experiences of the young men in our community—the impact Trybe House Theatre has had on their lives, the skills they’ve gained, and the sense of belonging they’ve found. More than just a highlight reel, the film will be a powerful testimony to the necessity of spaces like ours.”

Credits

Production Company: Mill Road
Director: Carly Claydon-Davies
Written by: Selorm Adonu, Joshua Aketse-Entsie, Duval Reid
Director of photography: Simon Brann Thorpe
1st AD: Benjamin Annang
1st AC: Olivia Prendergast
Gaffer: George Tsamis
2nd AC: Stephen Bull
Editor: Carly Claydon-Davies
Creative director of audio: Ben Firth
Sound designer: Alex Macrae
Sound house: Factory Studios / Factory Originals
Colourist: Goran Salah
Voiced by: Selorm Adonu, Joshua Aketse-Entsie
Music by: Adrian Berenguer
Cast: Tobi Ejirele, Christoper Mbaki, Tyler Britton, Tane Siah, Selorm Adonu, Pyerre Clarke, Vashane Manroe, Kwabena Peprah, Alphonso Brown, Abbey Oyetunde
Trybe House Theatre artistic director: Philip J Morris
Trybe House Theatre wellbeing lead: Stefan Livingston
Trybe House Theatre creative producer: Chenube-Rut Bailey
With thanks to: Brixton House Theatre, Tea Films and First Gear Convenience Store