Opera Express by Streetwise Opera and Sancho & Me by Paterson Joseph

Actor and writer Paterson Joseph and award-winning Streetwise Opera come together for a double bill that celebrates the courage and artistry of composers of Black and African heritage.

The evening begins with a short opera about an impossible love triangle and a daring rescue mission at sea that lead to a realisation. This piece was inspired by the music of American pianist, music teacher and composer Florence Price. The short opera was co-created by people with lived experience of homelessness in Streetwise Opera’s weekly workshops at the Whitworth Art Gallery, working with librettist Paterson Joseph, composer Pete Letanka, director TD Moyo, designer Debbie Duru and music director Aga Serugo-Lugo.

Following the performance we will hear from some of the artists involved in the creative process.

The event continues with a performance by Paterson Joseph of his monologue Sancho & Me - For One Night Only. This play focuses on the life and works of British abolitionist, writer and composer Charles Ignatius Sancho, who was born on a slave ship on the Atlantic Ocean in 1729, and yet became a writer, composer, shopkeeper and respected ‘man of letters’ in 18th century London. This solo performance part-improvised and built around Joseph's recent novel The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho. The piece explores ideas of belonging, language, education, slavery, commerce, violence, threat, politics, music and love - and where these themes intersect with Paterson's own story of being Black and British.