Opening Event: Jay Bernard – Surge

In 1981 a fire broke out at a house in New Cross. Thirteen young black people died and the political events that followed would have a dramatic effect on our understanding of what it means to be Black and British.

Inspired by that story, Surge is a poetic exploration of what came after – the resistance, activism and changing notions of the state, the body and the city, narrated by the ghosts of the fire. Rooted in the area’s local history, this is a show that imaginatively blends the personal and the political, tracing a line from Thatcherism, the colour bar and the National Front to our current age of Brexit, Grenfell and May.

Join Jay Bernard, winner of the 2017 Ted Hughes Award, as they explore this important history using poetry, archive film and audio.

Produced by Speaking Volumes Live Literature Productions.

Followed by a conversation with Jay about their work and the themes explored.

14+ accompanied by an adult.

Before the performance, join us for a drink at our opening reception, from 18.45 in the CCA Atrium, generously sponsored by Drygate Brewing Co.