The Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities, in collaboration with Creation Theatre, has announced the world premiere of When The Blackbird Sings, a new site-specific play that will take audiences on an immersive journey through Oxford from 23 September to 11 October.
Directed by Erica Whyman and written by Natty Mark Samuels, Helen Eastman and Afsaneh Gray, the production combines live performance, local history and a moving bus journey through the city to explore stories of migration, protest and belonging.
Inspired by the experiences of the Windrush generation who settled in Oxford during the 1950s and 1960s, the production is the culmination of three years of creative collaboration between Whyman and residents of Blackbird and Greater Leys.
Blending fact and fiction, When The Blackbird Sings follows Paulette, a young woman born in Jamaica who arrives in Oxford in 1966 determined to change the world. Along the way, audiences will travel through centuries of the city’s history, encountering changemakers, pioneers and ordinary people whose stories have shaped Oxford.
The performance largely takes place aboard a bus travelling through the city, with audiences journeying from the 8th century to the present day before arriving at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities.
Erica Whyman said: “It is an honour to be trusted with such powerful and often ignored stories. To make theatre which shifts the way we think about a place and about each other feels like important work in a world in which divisions run ever deeper. To make a show that partly happens on a moving bus is also enormous fun! Collaborating with these brilliant writers, and an ingenious creative team has embodied what this show is really about – what is possible when we truly stand together”.
Co-writer Afsaneh Gray said: “Working on such an ambitious and big-hearted show has been a joy. Oxford is a fascinating city with so many interesting and hidden histories. It’s been a real privilege to learn more about the city I grew up in, and to bring those stories to life through new and reimagined characters. Natty, Helen and Erica are amazing collaborators, and the cast are extraordinary – there’s nothing they can’t do!”
Charlyne Francis, who plays Paulette, said: “The character of Paulette is inspired by the amazing stories of women in the Leys, Oxford and the Windrush generation. She is the heart of the show, and I am really excited to be working with Natty and Erica to bring her to life.”
Rosie Kelly, Senior Producer for the Cultural Programme at the Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities, said: “This production is the culmination of an extraordinary three years of creative collaboration between the Blackbird and Greater Leys community, Erica Whyman and the Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities. We are thrilled to see this work continue through When The Blackbird Sings, bringing the remarkable stories of Oxford’s people and history to audiences across the city.”
The cast includes Ella Afghani, Joseph Akubeze, Alex Ansdell, Lydia Danistan, Charlyne Francis, Tim Harker and Eloise Sheffield, alongside a chorus of local volunteers performing roles including suffragettes and nurses.
The creative team also includes co-director Helen Eastman and dramaturg Pippa Hill. The production is presented by the Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities in collaboration with Creation Theatre.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
