At the age of 21, Black Panther Activist Fred Hampton had become chairman of the Illinois chapter of the revolutionary movement and had founded the ‘Rainbow Coalition’, a multicultural political organisation aiming to create social change. His activism would draw the attention of many, this including the FBI. His ability to inspire, something that hadn’t gone unnoticed. In 1969, an armed raid would tragically end Hampton’s life, however his legacy lives on. Taking on Hampton’s powerful story, writer and director Jesse Briton alongside Paula B. Stanic present Messiah. 

Can a place ever be home without a connection to family and roots? asks Rukhsana Ahmad’s current show Homing Birds. Focussing on Saeed’s story, we learn about the journey of many Afghan refugees forced to flee their homeland to avoid the dangers they find themselves confronted with; a heartbreaking repercussion of this being the disconnection of families and roots. How can one even begin to trace their own history having lost that connection? Homing Birds will play at Tara Arts from late November for a limited run; ahead of the performance, Rukhsana tells us more about what inspired her to write this story, how she approached creating the show and working with Kali Theatre Company to develop this from a scratch performance first shown in their War Play season in 2017  into a full length production.

For the past 5 years, arts development organisation Certain Blacks have curated various festivals supporting a range of theatre voices. Diversifying our industry, they ‘present art from the margins [and bring them] into the mainstream’. Their latest offering, ‘Circus Circus Circus’ showcases an eclectic line up of live art, spoken word, jazz, opera and circus and takes over Rich Mix London and Hoxton Hall throughout November. Artistic Director Clive Lyttle tells us more about curating this year’s line up, how he’s found the process of supporting artists and how artists can get involved with future events!

Certain Blacks return with their latest festival, ‘Circus Circus Circus’, a mixed programme of live art, spoken word, jazz, opera and circus. An eclectic performance line up, Certain Blacks continue on their mission to showcase works exploring themes via various theatrical forms. Bringing his and Marv Radio’s latest show Hip Hop Palace to Rich Mix London on Thursday 7th November, Dance Artist Muti Musafiri and Marv’s production is an exploration of the values of Hip Hop and how very often popular culture tends to hijack elements of it without knowing enough about the multifaceted culture. Muti tells us more about the show!

Certain Blacks return with their latest festival, ‘Circus Circus Circus’, a mixed programme of live art, spoken word, jazz, opera and circus. An eclectic performance line up, Certain Blacks continue on their mission to showcase works exploring themes via various theatrical forms. Bringing his latest show 24 Italian Songs and Arias to Rich Mix London on Friday 8th November, Performance Artist and Storyteller Brian Lobel’s production is an exploration of failure, loss and family; presented in the form of an operatic recital. Joined by soprano Gweneth Ann Rand, both performers reflect on previous experiences. Brian tells us more about the show!

Inspired by her bilingual upbringing and identity, Singer/Songwriter Samia Malik recalls the songs from Bollywood films and Urdu Ghazals (a traditional poetical form originating from various Southern Asian cultures) that have inspired her creative process for her upcoming album. A celebration of world music, Samia will perform a varied set, joined by guitarist Giuliano Modarelli, multi instrumentalist Sianed Jones on violin, keyboards and bass guitar and renowned tabla player Sukhdeep Dhanjal. Ahead of the tour, starting off at Rich Mix London on Sunday 27th October, Samia tells us more about what to expect!

Nearly 60 years ago, Lyndon B. Johnson would become the 36th President of the United States (1963 to 1969). His presidency would witness the ‘War on Poverty’ – allowing for millions of Americans to earn above the poverty line and the signing of various Civil Rights bills banning racial discrimination. That moment in time would also witness the formation of the Civil Rights Movement – a fight for equal rights. Fast forward to 2019, and Donald Trump’s rhetoric couldn’t be anymore jarring from these efforts made in terms of bringing communities together. Controversial in his delivery and approach, there is no doubt that Trump is a polarising figure. Set in ‘69, yet resonant today, celebrated playwright August Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize nominated play Two Trains Running is adapted by the English Touring Theatre, and is currently on a UK tour. Taking on the role of Sterling, Michael Salami tells us more about the show.

As times shift, tastes change, something we’re currently witnessing in regards to the role of the pub. Once the heart of local communities, we now find that 25% of UK pubs have shut down since 2001. Exploring what this institution means to different people, Anna Jordan’s We Anchor in Hope transforms The Bunker into a full functioning pub. During the show’s run, Anna tells us more about her approach in terms of creating the show, what she’s learned from writing the show and offers advice to aspiring writers!

Within the UK, we  often find we learn and hear about international conflicts via the news, online and print media. The role of technology playing a crucial role in us all finding out what’s happening, yet simultaneously creating a barrier between us and those directly impacted by said conflicts. Drawing on the use of technology to report on such issues, Artist Caroline Williams talks about her show ‘Now is the Time to Say Nothing’, co-created with Syrian Filmmaker Reem Karssli and currently playing at the Battersea Arts Centre.