A bold and timely new theatre production is set to take over the grounds of the Old Royal Naval College this spring, illuminating the hidden Black histories of Greenwich in a way never seen before. Spirits of the Black Meridian, created by Dervish Productions and directed by Hassan Mahamdallie, will run from 21st to 24th May 2025 and promises to be one of the most compelling outdoor theatre events of the year.
Immersive, site-specific, and deeply researched, this promenade performance invites audiences to walk through time, exploring the overlooked stories of Black individuals who lived, worked, and resisted in the very heart of Britain’s imperial capital. From enslaved people and sailors to agitators, freemen and women, adventurers and colonial subjects, these voices—often omitted from traditional narratives—are brought vividly to life against the dramatic backdrop of the Thames.
Mahamdallie, working closely with historian and cultural advisor SI Martin, reimagines the Greenwich Meridian not just as a symbol of global timekeeping, but as a powerful line of memory and history. Here, the past is not buried—it walks beside us, challenges us, and speaks to the present.
Set across the historic architecture of the Royal Naval College and the old hospital wing, the production draws on geography, astronomy, and untold personal stories to question how space, time and power have been shaped. With rich movement directed by Jeanefer Jean-Charles, a powerful soundscape by Eritrean rapper and composer Awate Abdalla, and visually arresting design by the award-winning Rachana Jadhav, the performance offers a multi-sensory experience that is both poetic and political.
Actors Joe Conteh, Tyrone Huggins, Monique Walker and Fiona Whitelaw lead the ensemble, guided by producer Isobel Hawson and supported by the technical artistry of Mohammed Ali of Soul City Arts and Josh Garner of Inon Productions. The team’s collaboration brings together film, projection, music and live performance to stunning effect.
Spirits of the Black Meridian follows in the footsteps of Dervish Productions’ acclaimed earlier works, including Quiet Rebels and The Crows Plucked Your Sinews, which have toured nationally and internationally, earning praise for their fearless approach to storytelling and historical truth. Critics have described their work as “thought-provoking,” “transformative,” and “essential viewing.”
A previous review by Media Diversified captured the spirit of their mission:
“History told, and retold through digital art and the spoken word – is this the future of British theatre? I hope so.”
Supported by Culture& and funded by Arts Council England, Spirits of the Black Meridian is more than theatre—it is a call to remembrance. It challenges audiences to confront Britain’s shared past and to reflect on whose histories are commemorated, and whose have been ignored. These are the stories that deserve to be seen, heard and felt.
Performances take place from 21st to 24th May 2025 at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich. Tickets are available now.