Liverpool’s Capstone Theatre will be alive with music, words and community spirit this October as it plays host to two powerful cultural events that celebrate Black creativity and heritage.
BlackFest will be taking over the Liverpool Hope University venue as part of their annual Liverpool grassroots celebration, first with an evening of spoken word and then a special Samuel Coleridge-Taylor Festival.
The Spoken Word Poetry Night on Friday 3rd October will see four artists explore themes of race, identity, culture, love and survival. The line-up includes Dionne Simpson, an author musician and domestic abuse advocate; Janoma Omene, a queer Nigerian creative writer; and Sabiya, a Liverpool-based poet and singer, with one more artist to be announced.
The Shakespeare North Playhouse team are also collaborating on the event, offering technical, dramaturgical and production support.
An Evening of Spoken Word will take place at The Capstone Theatre on 3rd October in partnership with BlackFest
The celebrations continue on Saturday 11th October with a special Samuel Coleridge-Taylor Festival, marking the 150th anniversary of the birth of Britain’s most celebrated Black classical composer, presented by Tayo Aluko & Friends, in partnership with BlackFest.
Attendees are invited to “bring their voices and instruments” to join in performing a selection of the composer’s orchestral and choral pieces.
In seeking funding for his own festival, Aluko had noted that some commemorations of Coleridge-Taylor’s 150th anniversary didn’t include any Black people prominently in the programme.
Aluko said: “It was an example of well-meaning beneficiaries of existing power structures unwittingly falling short of what is required to truly honour British Black History.”
After most funding bids for the project were rejected, he continued: “I am determined that the lack of funding will not stop such an important event from taking place, and I am grateful to all the musicians who have agreed to celebrate Samuel Coleridge-Taylor nonetheless, and to BlackFest for some seed funding. I am sure that it will be a success, and hope that funding bodies will be more ready to support such projects in the future.”
Aluko’s festival will feature Black musicians front and centre. Among them will be Duncan Beckley, acclaimed conductor and adjudicator in the world of brass music. He will be conducting a short programme by Besses o’ th’ Barn Band, the oldest brass band in the UK, formed in 1818.
Duncan Beckley
Band chairman Tony Rogers said: “Regrettably, and to our discredit, we have not been able to identify any Black musicians in the band’s historical records.”
Confirming that the band will travel to Liverpool from Manchester and play free of charge, Mr. Rogers continued, “I believe the cultural and historical significance of this event transcends financial considerations.”
The band’s membership is also still entirely white, but it has so far identified at least one other Black musician to join its ranks for the occasion, with the hope that others will be forthcoming.
The band will also play a special arrangement of a Coleridge-Taylor song as accompaniment to Rania Bailey, a soprano who boasts a four-octave range and sings opera, jazz and even metal.
The evening will culminate with Tayo Aluko’s acclaimed one-man play, Coleridge-Taylor of Freetown, which weaves songs into a gripping narrative set in Freetown, Sierra Leone, Coleridge-Taylor‘s father’s home city.
The performance will be followed by a Q&A session, opening up space for reflection on the issues raised throughout the evening.
The Capstone Theatre’s Neil Campbell commented on the interactive element of the show: “This is not just a concert, but a joyous opportunity to build community through music, history, and shared cultural pride. Whether you come to perform, to listen, or simply to meet new people, the festival promises an unforgettable evening of connection and celebration.”
The Capstone Theatre
Both BlackFest events highlight The Capstone Theatre’s role as a hub for creativity, inclusivity and artistic innovation in Liverpool. From the raw honesty of spoken word to the soaring beauty of orchestral music, October is set to be a month of unforgettable performances.
Please visit the Capstone Theatre website to book your tickets.
