The Powder Monkey
A Transatlantic Opera
Composer Errollyn Wallen
In partnership with Opera North
Chukwunenye, an African Igbo boy, is the powder monkey born on a slave ship and one voyage away from buying his freedom. As the slave ship nears port on the ‘middle’ passage there is an uprising by the enslaved and he must choose which side he will take; his people or his freedom?
The Powder Monkey premiered at the National Maritime Museum and toured to Chatham Historic Dockyard and the Albany Empire.
"The performance was stunning! I believe for many people in the audience it was their first experience of Opera. Lots of people were commenting how accessible the performance was. It would be great to bring the performance back to Newham next year."
Mohamed Hammoudan, Director of Resident, Engagement and Participation
London Borough of Newham
Opera North invited us to take part in their Resonance programme in Leeds to work with musicians from the West African and South Asian traditions to develop the score with us and composer Errolyn Wallen.
We were invited by the National Maritime Museum to respond to the problematic representation of enslaved peoples in their Atlantic Gallery so we staged the performance at the centre of the museum, literally putting enslaved voices on the map.