Spirits of the Black Meridian – An Unmissable Outdoor Theatre Experience
Immersive outdoor drama and promenade created by Dervish Productions, based on original archival research.
We are proud to announce the upcoming performances of Spirits of the Black Meridian, a groundbreaking site-specific outdoor theatre production that will take place every night from 21st – 24th May 2025 in the grounds of the Old Royal Naval College.
This immersive and interactive promenade performance brings to life the hidden stories of Black people in Greenwich, Southeast London, uncovering their influence on British culture, cities, and world views.
Created and directed by writer and director Hassan Mahamdallie with a nationally and internationally acclaimed diverse team of creatives, Spirits of the Black Meridian is an evocative journey through time and space, mapping onto the historic landscape of the Royal Naval College and the old Hospital wing beside the Thames. The production breathes life into the submerged voices of the enslaved, freemen and women, sailors, political agitators, adventurers, and colonial subjects who came and settled in the UK.
Working with celebrated historian SI Martin, Dervish Productions masterfully combines history, geography, and astronomy to challenge perceptions and rethink the narratives tied to the iconic Greenwich Meridian. The result is a visually rich and thought-provoking experience that reimagines our collective past and its connection to our present. These are the spirits who walk amongst us unseen.
Black Greenwich Pensioners, Royal Collection Trust © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2020
About the Creative Team
The production features an impressive creative team including:
- Hassan Mahamdallie – Director and Playwright
- SI Martin – Historian and Cultural Advisor
- Rachana Jadhav – Award-winning Theatre Designer
- Awate Abdalla– Acclaimed Eritrean Rapper and Composer
- Jeanefer Jean-Charles – Choreographer and Movement Director
- Joe Conteh, Tyrone Huggins, Monique Walker, and Fiona Whitelaw – Featured Actors
- Isobel Hawson – Producer
- Cheng Qian – Production Assistant
- Mohammed Ali / Soul City Arts – Outdoor Specialist
- Josh Garner / Inon Productions – Film, Animation and Projection Specialist
What Audiences Are Saying:
History told, and retold through digital art and the spoken word – is this the future of British Theatre? I hope so. — Media Diversified
Audiences and critics have praised previous productions by Dervish, describing them as “thought-provoking”,“evocative,” and “transformative.” Previous works, such as Quiet Rebels and The Crows Plucked Your Sinews, have toured nationally and internationally, earning acclaim for their powerful storytelling and innovative presentation.
Supported by Culture& with funding from Arts Council England.
Thanks to our partners Emergency Exit Arts, University of Greenwich, Royal Borough of Greenwich, Royal Museums Greenwich, Soul City Arts and Greenwich Caribbean Social Forum.
Contact: Yujia Wang – Info@cultureand.org