Liverpool will premiere a major play to celebrate city’s Windrush Generation

Liverpool will premiere a major new play this week as part of a series of celebrations and reflections about the city’s Windrush Generation.

Home from Home has been penned by city-based playwright Marjorie Morgan and looks at the turbulent recent events of the ‘hostile environment’.

The play tells the story of a Liverpool woman who enjoys a celebrated career in the NHS but also faces the threat of deportation after being caught up in the Windrush scandal.

It will premiere at Liverpool’s Blackburne House on Friday 28 June as part of a weekend of events aimed at celebrating and recognising the huge contributions made to the city by our Commonwealth members.

The Empire Windrush was the first of a number of ships that transported British members of the Commonwealth from the Caribbean Islands and across the globe to London and Liverpool in 1948. More than 70 years on, the city will once again celebrate the newcomers that brought so much with them, through a series of special events.

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Blackburne House

Liverpool City Council’s Mayoral Lead for Race and Equality, Cllr Anna Rothery, has spearheaded a city-wide project to keep the memory of Windrush alive.

Earlier this year, a partnership consisting of Blackburne House, The Steve Biko Housing Association and Writing on the Wall, successfully bid to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government for funding to host the celebration. The award was match-funded by Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson’s City Fund.

Since then the partners have been working on a stunning series of events that will pay a fitting tribute to the Windrush Generation as well as exploring some of the issues they still face today.

On Friday 28 June, there will be the premiere of specially-commissioned play Home From Home, written by Liverpool Biennial writer in residence Majorie H Morgan.

The production will be followed by a celebrated panel discussing the Windrush hostile environment with a question and answer session featuring international commentators.

Whilst on Saturday 29 June, Faulkner Square Park in Toxteth will play host to a special family fun day.

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Falkner Square

The event, which runs from noon to 6pm, promises a feast of live music headlined by the international Queen of Lovers Rock Carroll Thompson. There will also be performances from the likes of Levi Tafari, Steele Pan Duo, Caribbean Regals and Maxine Brown’s Riddim and Roots.

There will plenty of arts, crafts, food, fun and games to keep everyone entertained.

The day will also see the launch of Writing on the Wall’s special musical heritage project – From SS Orbita to Orbital which was one of the sister-ships of the Windrush which arrived in Liverpool. The project looks at the Windrush Generation’s last influence on the British music scene.

Whilst Blackburne House will also launch an exciting new documentary film project entitled Children of the Windrush Generation which traces the descendants of the 68 men from the Windrush who settled Liverpool.

The Windrush Celebrations are free for anyone to attend but places for the Home From Home performance must be reserved in advance by calling Blackburne House on 0151 709 4356 or online via Eventbrite.

More details about the Windrush to Liverpool events can be found on the Writing on the Wall website.

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