Theophilus Alade, Nosiphiwo Samente and Bafana Matea dancing aginst each other in a dark setting with red lighting on them. Cane Warriors cast and performance images ©2023 Richard Budd Photography © Richard Budd

Cane Warriors

28 June-28 June

State of Emergency present a dance adaptation of Alex Wheatle’s award winning novel.

State of Emergency present

Description

“Cane Warriors focuses on a part of world history that has been ignored and understated. It’s time that Tacky and his fellow Cane Warriors are remembered…” Alex Wheatle

Cane Warriors tells the true story of Tacky’s Rebellion, an uprising of Akan slaves which took place in Jamaica in 1760. It was the most significant slave rebellion in the Caribbean after the 1733 slave insurrection on St. John and before the 1791 Haitian Revolution.

Guardian Prize winning author, Alex Wheatle, a.k.a. the ‘Brixton Bard’, is a well-known Brixton figurehead, and is the subject of Steve McQueen’s short film, Alex Wheatle (BBC Small Axe series).

“Alex Wheatle writes from a place of honesty and passion with the full understanding that change can only happen through words and actions.”Steve McQueen, Director (Twelve Years A Slave)

For further information about the company and the project, please visit our website here.

Directed by Steve Marshall with choreography by Deborah Baddoo, Michael Joseph, Nosiphiwo Samente and Bawren Tavaziva. Original soundtrack by Steve Marshall, Kenrick Rowe and Alan Weekes. String arrangements by Mikele Montolli.

Content Warning

This show contains themes of horror and colonial violence, a bass-heavy soundtrack, loud battle sounds, shouting and screaming.

Production Photos

Photography (c) 2023 Richard Budd.

Dancers

For this thrilling and emotional journey, a tale of defiance and courage against all odds, the performers are:

Theophilous Alade

Deborah Baddoo

Michael Joseph

Bafana Solomon Matea

Nosiphiwo Samente

Bawren Tavaziva

Camron Youngsam


With thanks to The National Lottery Heritage Fund via Bath Preservation Trust, Beckford Tower Trust, and State of Trust.

No performances currently available.