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 has commissioned and is curating Passages: A Windrush Celebration, a series of seven monologue films presented by the Royal Court Theatre.
Writers include Rikki Beadle-Blair, Natasha Gordon, Kwame Kwei-Armah, Lynette Linton, Jamael Westman and Roy Williams. The films, which focus on the British West Indian experience, will be released weekly online later this year.
Passages: A Windrush Celebration will culminate in a day of celebration which will include food, music and a screening of all seven films, held at the Royal Court theatre. Date to be announced.
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.”
Passages: A Windrush Celebration will be produced by Lynette Linton and Christopher Haydon with support by Black Apron Entertainment, Misfit Films and the Royal Court Theatre.
