DAWTA (DAR-ta) is a 70 minute one woman musical in which I play 7 characters and sing 10 original songs.

DAWTA is my first semi-autobiographical play about Sarah. Born to a Jamaican mother and adopted by a white family in the early 1970’s Sarah is on a quest to find her way home whatever the cost.

The 1950’s and 60’s saw a rise of transracial adoptions in the UK, continuing to the present day. Poverty, shame, systemic racism and gender inequality meant that adoption was the choice facing some women.

Social services became wards for the growing number of ‘relinquished’ children of African descent. These children were adopted, fostered or remained in the care system. Almost all were placed with white families. I am one of these adopted children and I belong to a community who identify as ‘transracial adoptees’. As adults we are starting to question our adoptions and share our stories of racial abuse and trauma.

My hopes for DAWTA is that the story clearly shows social care professionals and carers of children growing up outside of their community that #BlackLivesMatter, ensuring cultural needs are prioritised in transracial adoptions.

My hope for my transracial community is that together we find peace, resolution and home.

Photos: Marie-Dominique Demers-King

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