Passages: A Windrush Celebration, Seven Films for Seven Decades Now Available to Watch Online

To mark seventy years after the arrival of passenger liner V Empire Windrush at Tilbury Docks, Essex, and in response to the recent Windrush scandal, writer/director Lynette Linton commissioned and curated Passages: A Windrush Celebration, a series of seven monologue films which were presented by the Royal Court Theatre on 13 April 2019.

Writers included Rikki Beadle-Blair, Natasha Gordon, Lynette Linton, Shereen Jasmin Phillips, Winsome Pinnock, Jamael Westman and Roy Williams.

Lynette Linton, who is of Guyanese heritage, said;

 ‘I always knew I wanted to create something around the Windrush generation. It’s a part of British history. Yet, I hadn’t been taught about it at school. Why? If it hadn’t been for my own personal connection, I wouldn’t have known much about this period at all. And then the scandal happened. And I wasn’t even surprised. I was and am still angry. Frustrated. Desperate to do something.  

I wanted to find a way of celebrating how much our parents and grandparents have contributed to this county while acknowledging the struggle too. So I spoke to those with West Indian heritage around me, as well as artists I respected, and asked for their opinion. How do we honour this anniversary? What did we want to say? How do we give a voice to our community in a time where we should be celebrating our legacy but instead we’re worrying for our grandparents’ safety?

Passages: A Windrush Celebration is our contribution to this debate. I am thrilled to be working alongside so many artists from my community that I admire and respect. We wouldn’t be here without the Windrush generation. It is time for us to tell our story using our own words.”

The films, which focus on the British West Indian experience, are now available to watch online.

 

CECIL

Written and directed by Rikki Beadle-Blair

Performed by Gary Beadle

 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDe2cT3L0Kw0xY8JNBpCbJEhTty7DRR0v

 

CARMEN

Written by Natasha Gordon

Performed by Sharon Duncan-Brewster

Directed by Lynette Linton

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDe2cT3L0Kw0xY8JNBpCbJEhTty7DRR0v

 

A PLACE FOR YOU AND ME

Written and directed by Lynette Linton

Performed by Malachi Kirby

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDe2cT3L0Kw0xY8JNBpCbJEhTty7DRR0v

 

PAVED WITH GOLD

Written by Shereen Jasmin Phillips

Performed by Angela Wynter

Directed by Daniel M. Bailey

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDe2cT3L0Kw0xY8JNBpCbJEhTty7DRR0v

 

THE COLLECTOR

Written by Winsome Pinnock

Performed by Sarah Niles

Directed by Gino Ricardo Green

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDe2cT3L0Kw0xY8JNBpCbJEhTty7DRR0v

 

CONVERSATIONS WITH GRANDAD

Written and performed by Jamael Westman

Directed by Daniel M. Bailey

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDe2cT3L0Kw0xY8JNBpCbJEhTty7DRR0v

 

DOMINOES FOR BEGINNERS

Written by Roy Williams

Performed by Jo Martin

Directed by Gino Ricardo Green

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDe2cT3L0Kw0xY8JNBpCbJEhTty7DRR0v

 

Passages: A Windrush Celebration was produced by Lynette Linton and Christopher Haydon with support by Black Apron Entertainment, Misfit Films and the Royal Court Theatre.