1884, an anticolonial game-theatre show

What you'll do

Come and play 1884, an anticolonial immersive theatre show inspired by the history of the 1884 Berlin Conference. The 1884 Berlin conference was a pivotal and often-overlooked moment in the 19th-century European partition of the African continent.

The show is set in the fictional contemporary residential development of Wilhelm Street, where you'll play the role of new residents who are invited to build homes and shape your futures. Meanwhile, a closed-door meeting is taking place nearby, making decisions with far-reaching consequences for your households.

The show explores ideas around colonialism, power, resistance, displacement and heritage. It was created by theatre-maker Rhianna Ilube and game-makers Coney, and is now produced by Koro.

How you’ll take part

As a group, you’ll engage in a series of games and creative challenges. These are gently interactive, and you’ll always have the option to step back (or out) if you’d rather not participate.

You’ll mostly be interacting with other players, though there will be occasional verbal exchanges with performers. Participation in these moments is optional – no one will be singled out or pressured to do anything they’re uncomfortable with.

While we encourage larger groups to split and sit with people they don’t already know, you're welcome to stay with the group you came with if you prefer.

You’ll be seated for most of the performance, with occasional opportunities to move around, explore the space, or connect with other groups.

There is no physical contact between players or performers.

All performances are relaxed: you’re free to move around as needed.

Post-show discussion

The performances on Wednesday 22 October at 12.30 – 15:30 and Thursday 23 October at 19.00 – 22:00 will include a 30-minute post-show discussion, open to all audience members.

BSL interpretation

BSL will be provided for one table of participants during the 13:00-15:30 show on Saturday 25 October. Two BSL interpreters will be seated at the table, interpreting conversations between players or between players and performers. Additionally, a BSL interpreter will be positioned by the stage, interpreting performers and addressing the whole room.

Tickets for this table are limited. To book one, please select the ticket type ‘BSL interpreted’ when booking your ticket on Eventbrite.

Need to know

Location

We’ll be in the Forum. To get there, take the lift or stairs up to level 1 and then follow the signs through the ‘Being Human’ gallery.

Place not guaranteed

Booking a ticket for a free, in-person event does not guarantee you a place. You should aim to arrive 15 minutes before the event is scheduled to start to claim your place. If you do not arrive on time, your place may be given to someone on the waiting list.

Waiting list

If this event is fully booked, you may still be able to attend. We will operate a waiting list, which opens 30 minutes before this event starts. Arrive early, and we’ll give you a numbered ticket. If there are any unfilled places just before the start time, we will invite you to enter in order of ticket number.

Relaxed

This is a relaxed event, which means that if you need to, you are welcome to move around and make noise at any time.

For more information, please visit our Accessibility page. If you have any queries about accessibility, please email us at access@wellcomecollection.org or call 020 7611 2222.

Our event terms and condition

About your contributors

Rhianna Ilube - Creator

Rhianna Ilube is a playwright, theatre-maker, and events curator. Her work focuses on bringing audiences together to experience art and storytelling in experimental, interactive, and thought-provoking ways. Her award-winning debut play, Samuel Takes A Break, premiered at The Yard Theatre in February 2024. She is an alumna of the Royal Court Writers Group, BBC London Voices, and the Oxford Playmakers, a member of the Soho Six and a 2024 MacDowell Fellow.

Koro - Producer

Koro is a theatre company specialising in immersive, interactive, and site-specific performance, founded by Coney’s Senior Producer Marie Klimis. They create, produce, and tour shows that place the audience at the heart of the storytelling experience. Blending theatre, design, and interactivity, Koro crafts powerful and joyful experiences that connect people and open up new perspectives. They delve into urgent contemporary stories — and the histories that shaped them — where play becomes a way to reflect, disrupt, and connect.

Photo: 1884 by Rhianna Ilube & Coney. © Alex Brenner.