To mark seventy years since the arrival of passenger liner V Empire Windrush at Tilbury Docks, Essex, and in response to the recent Windrush scandal, join us for a day of food, music, performance, panel debate and the premiere of Passages: Seven Films for Seven Decades, commissioned by the Royal Court.
The day of celebration will evolve through to the evening and will be topped off with a live reggae music performance as well as a special guest DJ to take us into the night.
All events are free to attend. Booking required for screenings, workshops and live music performance.
JUST ANNOUNCED
Live Music Performance by Janet Kay, Carroll Thompson, and Victor Romero Evans (from the Lovers Rock Monologues), plus a special opening performance from Jordan Thomas.
All day events:
Royal Court Caribbean Kitchen Takeover
The Royal Court Bar & Kitchen will be serving authentic Caribbean cuisine all day by Original Flava.
Original Flava was founded in 2016 by brothers Shaun and Craig McAnuff from London. Taught how to cook by their Jamaican grandmother and mother, they have created a popular online platform with over 500,000 followers, teaching people how to cook authentic and modern Caribbean food. They have also launched their first cookbook which has hit no. 1 in Caribbean cookbook charts.
Click here to view the menu and make a booking using the widget below.
The kitchen is open from 12pm – 10pm, with reservations available from 7pm-9pm.
New Passages – Young Writers
Sharing of pieces from young writers’ group inspired by the films
A group of young writers who have worked with the Participation Department over the last two years will work with playwright Nicôle Lecky to develop monologues in response to the seven short films which premiere at the Royal Court the same evening. These will be performed in pop-up spaces throughout the day, directed by Jade Lewis.
Windrush – Building Greatness
A Notting Hill Carnival costume display by Clary Salandy & Mahogany Carnival Design
Clary Salandy & the Mahogany Carnival Design creative team present their 2018 award winning ‘Windrush’ themed carnival costume display. Experience the colourful display and understand the meaning behind each piece.
The Front Room
An installation and experience by Michael McMillan
The radiogramme, the drinks cabinet and chinaware only reserved for special guests – all feature in Michael McMillan’s iconic installation based on The West Indian Front Room exhibition at the Geffrye Museum. Take a journey back to the 1960s & 1970s or remember growing up back in the day.
Scheduled events:
There will be a limited number of spaces available on the day for workshops and talks. Please arrive at the Box Office 30 minutes before the start time and your name will be added to a waiting list. Spaces will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.
10.30am
Windrush: A Playwriting Workshop
A unique opportunity to partake in a writing workshop themed around all things Windrush. This workshop is for all levels of experience.
From 1pm
A double bill of films by Horace Ové
Horace Ové holds the Guinness World Record for being the first black British film-maker to direct a feature-length film and has been declared by the British Film Institute as a pioneer in Black British history. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to see two of his renowned films screened in the Jerwood Theatre Downstairs and introduced by his daughter actress Indra Ove.
Films shown by arrangement of Indra Ove and the Ove family. Special thanks to BFI.
1pm: Pressure (15)
Hailed as Britain’s first black feature film, Pressure is a hard-hitting, honest document of the plight of disenchanted British-born black youths. (Running time 136 mins)
4pm: Baldwin’s Nigger (15)
Documentary of a lecture by eminent American author and political commentator James Baldwin, accompanied by comedian and author Dick Gregory. (Running time 46 mins)
2.30pm
Levi Roots’ Cooking Seminar
The creator of the infamous ‘Reggae Reggae’ sauce will share his take on Caribbean cuisine and culture, presenting some of his favourite dishes and showing you how to “put some music into your food”.
From 4.45pm
A Tribute to Louise Bennett-Coverley aka ‘Miss Lou’
Jamaican folklorist, poet, and writer Louise Bennett-Coverley (‘Miss Lou’), was regarded by many as the “mother of Jamaican culture” for her efforts to popularize Jamaican patois and to celebrate the lives of ordinary Jamaicans. Enjoy a special tribute recital from Colleen Bailey and Kingsley Bailey.
7pm
Premiere Screening – Passages: Seven Films for Seven Decades
Seven filmed monologues by Rikki Beadle-Blair, Natasha Gordon, Lynette Linton, Shereen Jasmin Phillips, Winsome Pinnock, Jamael Westman and Roy Williams.
Actors in the monologues include: Gary Beadle, Sharon Duncan-Brewster, Malachi Kirby, Jo Martin, Sarah Niles, Jamael Westman and Angela Wynter.
Curated by Lynette Linton
8pm
Windrush Panel Debate
Following the screening there will be a panel discussion on the current climate in Britain for the Caribbean community as well as an insightful discussion about how we honour the contribution and legacy of the Windrush Generation.
9.30pm
Live Music Performance
Celebrate the golden years of Lovers Rock with Janet Kay, Carroll Thompson, and Victor Romero Evans, plus a special opening performance from Jordon Thomas.
10pm
Special Guest DJ
A special guest DJ will be on hand to take us late into the night with iconic reggae, rocksteady, lovers rock, rare grooves and more.
Jerwood Theatre Downstairs
All events are free to attend. Booking required for screenings and workshops.
The Company
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