‘We - the universe - come up for air from the dank cavern of non-existence” - Black Holes 2018

 

Weaving together poetic text and movement, Alexandrina Hemsley and Seke Chimutengwende come together to retell the history of the universe from the big bang through to the universe’s death.  

 

Speculating on how to be with their bodies that carry histories of marginalisation and anti-blackness, Seke and Alexandrina combine elements of Science Fiction, and personal narrative to propel the personal and the mythic onto a cosmic scale.

 

Alexandrina and Seke began working together in 2016. Exploring the potentials and problematics of Afrofuturism shapes their collaboration. They situate their bodies inside shifting and imagined landscapes, searching for hopeful possibilities amidst the harshness of past and present dystopias.

 

 

Choreographed, written and performed by Seke Chimutengwende and Alexandrina Hemsley

 

Dramaturg - Season Butler

Set Design - Rosie Elnile & Eleanor Sikorski

Sound Design - Xana

Lighting Design - Simeon Miller

Costume Designer - Annie Pender

Producer - Rachel Rogers

 

 

Performances:

 

12th November 2016

Scratch: Camden People's Theatre

 

23rd November 2017

Lecture performance 'The Age of the Forgetful Galaxies': Stuart Hall Library, Iniva

 

26th May 2018

Preview: WATCH OUT Festival, Cambridge Junction, Cambridge

 

21st June 2018

Premiere: The Place Theatre, London

 

7th September 2018

Bildmuseet, Umea, Sweden

 

19th - 25th August 2019

ZOO, Edinburgh Festival Fringe, British Council Showcase

 

5th October 2019

Unity Theatre, Liverpool, Merseyside Dance Initiative

 

11th October 2019

Studio Session at NottDance, Dance4

 

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Black Holes Installation

 

25th February 2024, 6pm

Lavanderia a Vapore, Turin, link

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Black Holes Audio Book

An adaptation of the stage show into an audiobook with a new, immersive sound world designed by Xana, hosted by Deptford X. Listen here

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Facebook page

 

Website  

 

Black Holes was Co-Commissioned by Cambridge Junction, The Place and Chisenhale Dance Space. Supported initially by a 2016 Seed Commission for BAME artists from Camden People’s Theatre and supported using public funding by Arts Council England. Additional support from Trinity Laban and Greenwich Dance