BLX25 - Grand Union presents: Malcolm X Marks the Spot

Grand Union presents:

Malcolm X Marks the Spot: Assassinating Prejudice

You are invited to an open workshop and relaxed early-evening participatory performance.

A unique workshop & performance day devised around this year’s Black History Month theme.

Locals are invited to a free, open workshop to share songs music and stories; representing both struggles and successes in celebrating Black voices.

We’ll explore the strength of political and social visionaries who fought for equal rights, including Thomas Sankara and Malcolm X, and artists like Nina Simone who used music to express their experiences and fight for equality. With group participation a narrative will be devised for the performance which encompasses key historical anniversaries and contemporary concerns.

Music and creative expression can play a powerful part in helping people of all ages and cultures to work in harmony. It can demonstrate how people of different backgrounds can be brought together, helping heal division and acting in opposition to intolerance. Grand Union has a vast selection of music, photographs and video relating to Black History, Arts, Culture and Heritage which we will take a fresh look at this with a creative eye to produce new streams, and materials. The workshop and concert aims to spread awareness of the wide range of communities co-existing in Tower Hamlets, encouraging pride in their powerful influence on British culture.

The Grand Union’s core of experts will take participants and audience on a journey across continents - drawing upon a vast repertoire from our core group and workshop participants; we’ll also include contributions from young African and Caribbean musicians who will bring their own responses to how Black History has been shaped. We hope that this will be a powerful and forward-looking event, with the aim to develop more events that encompass Grand Union’s commitment to growth, and inspire pride in Tower Hamlets’ communities.

About Grand Union Orchestra

The Company has been based in Tower Hamlets for nearly 4 decades. We aim to bring people of all ages and cultures together to create work that reflects and responds to our country's ever-widening demographic. Through its commitment to local work, Grand Union has built up strong connections with Bengali, African, Somali, East European and Roma communities. Our work has always aimed to spread awareness and understanding of the diversity of our Borough and celebrate the ways communities can unite.

Residents of all backgrounds, ages and genders are invited to come together to consider how Black History has been shaped across generations in our Borough, and wider society.