When The Blackbird Sings is a fascinating concept; the immersive theatrical experience taking you off on an open topped bus from Blackbird Leys to Oxford, meeting numerous historical characters along the way. READ ABOUT IT HERE, hearing their stories and understanding more about Oxford’s diverse and pro-active history.
But what is the reality and how does it pan out? Is When The Blackbird Sings just a token effort by The Schwarzman Centre to promote itself or does it pack a punch?
Bearing in mind this is also a collaboration with Creation Theatre, masters at in-the-round theatre, and you’ll get an idea of the whimsical, eclectic and entirely original concept in store.
a clever, nuanced, sometimes uncomfortable and unique theatrical experience
Because not only does When The Blackbird Sings bring people together from all walks of life, but it relishes its ability to showcase and celebrate stories that aren’t necessarily on our radar and immerse its captive audience in a clever, nuanced, sometimes uncomfortable and unique theatrical experience, the likes of which you’ve probably never come across before.
As the starting point is Blackbird Leys, it does involve some clever logistics, but the Schwarzman team handle it admirably, no mean feat considering every audience member given headsets to relay the narrative as we traverse along the Cowley Road and into Oxford. But not before we’ve met Paulette (Charlyne Francis), a black nurse heading to the maternity hospital (in the former Radcliffe Infirmary) to protest about equal pay.
every audience member is given headsets to relay the narrative as we traverse along the Cowley Road and into Oxford
Jamaican born, Paulette’s experience of living in Oxford in the 60s is based largely on local Windrush generation accounts, archived by community leader Dolcie Obhiozele.
Jumping between generations and centuries, the bus tour is a kaleidoscopic, time travelling odyssey as Pauline bumps into friends, acquaintances and fellow passengers – from the modern day Huda who is en route to start at Oxford University – to her friend Tommy who advises her not to rock the boat.
the bus tour is a kaleidoscopic, time travelling odyssey
They are interrupted by hippy Leila (Eloise Sheffield), who gets on the bus high on acid, refusing to pay, and Johannes, a Lutheran pastor who fled Nazi Germany on his way to a meeting in the city centre. Suddenly the bus comes to a juddering halt – The Suffragettes are protesting, and clamber aboard, dextrously handling all the naysayers while pleading their cause.
Trundling down Oxford High Street, Paulette then spots her hero, the dapper Alain LeRoy Locke (Joseph Akubeze), the first African-American Rhodes Scholar, before heading to University Church off St Mary The Virgin, climbing high to the Old Library, to watch the Oxford Committee for Famine Relief (Oxfam) being founded in 1942, Johannes being one of the founding members.
Oxford’s wonderful melting pot of cultures and visitors swirl around us, although ‘When The Blackbird Sings’ attracts a significant amount of attention itself!
All the while Oxford’s wonderful melting pot of cultures and visitors swirl around us, although When The Blackbird Sings attracts a significant amount of attention itself, especially when traversing towards The Sheldonian when an argument breaks out on the street between Maharajah’s daughter Catherine Singh (Lydia Danistan) and her lifetime companion Lina, all in period garb, the duo famous for helping many Jewish families to escape from Germany during the 1930s.
Oxford however continued going about its business, as students celebrated their graduations, some in bright Caribbean clothes, unwittingly echoing Paulette’s heritage, tourists from all over the world enjoying Oxford’s architecture and history simultaneously, the global pull of Oxford still tangible.
the global pull of Oxford is still tangible
Nowhere was this more evident than in The Bodleain Library courtyard where we were regaled of the tale of the violent St Scholastica Day riot in 1355, where 63 scholars and 30 local townsmen lost their lives after a fight erupted in The Swindlestock over the quality of the wine, and how Oxford town had to pay symbolic penance until 1825, helping to explain Oxford’s town/gown divide.
But that’s what’s so enlivening about When The Blackbird Swings. It doesn’t shy away from difficult conversations, Huda’s struggle to fit into Oxford University, despite her academic prowess, a modern day issue which the university still battles with.
what’s so enlivening about ‘When The Blackbird Swings’ is that It doesn’t shy away from difficult conversations
On the way back to the bus we pass a pregnant women in labour outside The Kings Arms. Her husband is on strike and spending the housekeeping at the pub, leaving Debbie to get to the maternity hospital alone. Paulette swings into action resisting Debbie’s clearly racist based reluctance, the bus dominated by her labour shrieks, as we process to The Schwarzman, “you’re one of the good ones” her meagre thanks.
Processing through the doors, the characters congregate in the Schwarzman’s central atrium to assess the pros and cons of living in Oxford and discuss whether its reputation as a hub of campaigning for justice and haven for refugees is valid, the sunshine lighting them up as if on stage.
Thought-provoking, enlightening, entertaining, quirky and entirely novel, ‘When The Blackbird Sings ‘feels part of that mission to knock down barriers and ensure that inclusivity, accessibility, understanding and community continue to thrive in Oxford
Thought-provoking, enlightening, entertaining, quirky and entirely novel, When The Blackbird Sings feels part of that mission to knock down barriers and ensure that inclusivity, accessibility, understanding and community continue to thrive in Oxford, despite the current political situation.
In so doing, Director Erica Whyman, Creation Theatre and the incredible team of writers and actors behind When The Blackbird Sings have created a dazzlingly inventive way to bring Oxford’s community together, bridge the town/gown divide and have fun in the meantime. A totally unique and captivating two hours.
A totally unique and captivating two hours
Unsurprisingly, When The Blackbird Sings is selling out fast and only runs until October 11, so get on board and buy a ticket. Book here https://www.schwarzmancentre.ox.ac.uk/whats-on/when-the-blackbird-sings-t2pc
