For The Culture – Celebrations Of Blackness Festival

Published: 21 November 2021
Reporter: Sandra Giorgetti

Dr Peggy Brunache Credit: Kirsty Anderson
Le Gateau Chocolat - Raw Cacao Credit: Lee Faircloth
Josephine
Lemn Sissay Credit: Hamish Brown
Tinuke Craig Credit: Manuel Harlan
Nicholai La Barrie Credit: Dan Patrick

The headline acts have been announced for Lyric Hammersmith's For the Culture—Celebrations of Blackness Festival, a three-day event curated by Dr Peggy Brunache, lecturer in the History of Atlantic Slavery and director of the Beniba Centre for Slavery Studies at University of Glasgow, Tinuke Craig, Lyric artistic associate, and Nicholai La Barrie, Lyric associate director.

They said, “the resurgence of Black Lives Matter is rocket fuel for a global reckoning. For the Culture does not ask sweetly, quietly to please see our humanity. We must be loud, we must be rebellious, we must be grateful, and we must be joyful. And we will take up as much damn space as we can. So this is a call to action from us at the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre: Black joy is resistance!

"This inaugural festival is an inspiring programme of love and inclusivity, through art, music, intellect, literature and self-care. Every artist who shares their gift and every person who joins us at the Lyric to share in this joy will help make this festival a beautiful celebration of our culture and of our resilience.”

Amongst the acts announced so far are international prize-winning writer Lemn Sissay, drag diva Le Gateau Chocolat and children’s show Josephine about the life of performer, spy and activist Josephine Baker.

As well as theatre performances, the programme includes music, readings, discussions, talks, films, food, art, hair and beauty.

Tickets for these events and others are on sale now with more to be announced.

For The Culture—Celebrations Of Blackness Festival will take place from 28 to 30 January at Lyric Hammersmith.

*Some links, including Amazon, Stageplays.com, ATG Tickets, LOVEtheatre, BTG Tickets, Ticketmaster, The Ticket Factory, LW Theatres and QuayTickets, are affiliate links for which BTG may earn a small fee at no extra cost to the purchaser.

Are you sure?