Imran Perretta: A Riot In Three Acts

Trigger Warning: this exhibition and its description include references to rioting, racism and police brutality.
A Riot in Three Acts is a large-scale installation by artist, filmmaker and composer Imran Perretta, considering the interconnected narratives around riots, civil uprisings and the systemic injustices that spur such collective actions directed against the state. Using the tropes and techniques of cinema, the exhibition unfolds through sound, sculpture and performance, addressing the drama of riots in relation to the alienation of communities and public spaces in decline.
Researched and developed at Somerset House Studios over the course of two years, the work evolves from Perretta’s experience as a young person during the London Riots in 2011, initially a response to the police shooting of Mark Duggan, an unarmed Black man, which became a national uprising accelerated by widespread discontent towards brutal austerity policies. The exhibition is imagined around Reeves Corner in Croydon, a symbolic site of the riots, which provides a stage to remember ongoing cycles of pain and unrest caused by racist policing, social deprivation, youth disenfranchisement and anti-war movements.

The cinematic score, A Requiem for the Dispossessed, composed by Perretta, arranged by William Newell, and co-commissioned and performed by Manchester Camerata, draws on the classical tradition of a requiem and serves as a sonic representation of a civil uprising and its aftermath. Presented in spatialised surround sound by producers and fellow Somerset House Studios residents Call and Response, the installation mirrors the experience of cinema sound, locating the audience at the centre of the action.

The exhibition includes a programme of live performances, events and a 5-day workshop for aspiring creatives aged 16-19, and will be accompanied by a special edition of The Process podcast, hosted by Imran Perretta.

We’re sensitive to the fact that while this subject matter is important to explore, it may be triggering to some audiences. Our visitor experience team have been briefed to direct visitors who may feel triggered by the work to the quiet room located near the exhibition; a separate, dedicated space to reflect, with suggested resources for help and support. For further support, we’d also like to highlight the following resources:

Healing Justice https://healingjusticeldn.org

Resist and Renew https://resistrenew.com

Radical Therapist Network: https://www.radicaltherapistnetwork.com

The Black, African and Asian Network (BAATN): https://www.baatn.org.uk

A Riot In Three Acts (2024) is commissioned by and developed in residence at Somerset House Studios. The score, A Requiem for the Dispossessed (2024), is co-commissioned by Somerset House Studios and the Manchester Camerata, by arrangement with NEWFORM MUSIC. Supported by d&b audiotechnik’s Soundscape.