Ujima Radio in partnership with Bristol Old Vic Theatre staged three nights of entertainment bringing new and established artists to Britain’s oldest theatre. These included Bristol’s literary giants Dr Edson Burton, Cheryl Morgan and Miles Chambers. Dancers Cleo Lake, South West Dance Group, Breathing Fire Dance Company and The Misfits Theatre Company all brought vibrancy to the stage.
Other social activists were invited to take part to showcase their project. This included Lilleith Morrison who co-wrote Paul Stephenson’s Memoir of a Black Englishmen and who led Bristol’s Bus Boycott
along with Roy Hackett who gave a stirring performance. Both Paul and Roy were among the cast of 50 Voices. Paulette North, Kalpna Woolf, Marvin Rees and Steve Nelson from Westport all added resonance to their work in front of an audience. Musically, Kizzy Morrell & Studio 7, RSVP Bhangra plus DJ Style played a variety of performances and musical sets. Artwork came from Michele Curtis and her 7 Saints of St Pauls exhibition celebrating the origins of carnival.
The cast were ably supported by new voices singing, dancing and performing to give testimony for what social activism means to them, from organisations such as Full Circle, Unity and The Misfits Theatre Company a disability arts group. The event was filmed and photographed by 8th Sense Media. There was a live outside broadcast from Bristol Old Vic with Mistri and several of the performers and Ujima’s finest.
Finally, the event concluded on Saturday 13th June with Malcolm X’s speech, From the Bullet to the Ballot performed by Ujima’s ‘The G-Man’ and author, Roger Griffith who also co-produced the event.
This was a special historic event to celebrate a year of cultural significance and achievement.
http://www.bristol247.com/channel/culture/theatre/reviews/review-50-voices-for-malcolm-x-bov