By Tyler Ody
As part of Black History Month 2022, a unique performance by Euton Daley& Unlock the Chains Collective, an Oxford based company, comes to the Sheldonian Theatre on Saturday 29 October 2022.
Still Breathing is a potent production combining spoken word, singing, dance and ritual. Come into the church and join the congregation. Hear the preacher. Sing the hymns. Say your prayers. On this day we pay a tribute - with poetry, theatre, movement, music, drumming and song.
Still Breathing is a dynamic, exhilarating, angry, painful eulogy for those who have lost their lives. In the outpouring of grief loud voices rise to admonish, to question and to rally in the struggle for understanding and strength in a cathartic piece exploring the fears and frustrations of the Black community.
That fear of mistaken identity Wrong place/wrong time Born in the wrong skin/ colour Evidently. Being Black is not a death sentence In the era of the Black Lives Matter movement, Still Breathing looks at generations of prejudice in a powerful tribute and remembrance to the fallen and the millions still fighting for a just world.
Writer and director Euton Daley says: “In 2020 the Black Lives Matter campaign became global with the murder of George Floyd in the United States. In this country there were increasing calls for the recognition of historical slavery in so many of our institutions and to teach about it in our schools.
“Here in Oxford students and the wider community demonstrated for the statue of imperialist Cecil Rhodes to be removed from Oriel College. I wrote a short piece of performance poetry Fatigued in response. It received such a positive response that I made Still Breathing as a theatre piece to express how our Black community is affected and continues to suffer.”
Inspired by real life experiences, Still Breathing is an urgent cry In the continual struggle for freedom, equality and justice & This time things can be different Still Breathing is supported by Arts Council England, The Oxford Research Centre in the Humanities (TORCH); Oxford Brookes University, Oxford Playhouse, North Wall Arts Centre, Fusion Arts and Dancin’ Oxford.
Still Breathing Euton Daley& Unlock the Chains Collective Sheldonian Theatre, Broad Street, Oxford OX1 3AZ Saturday 29 October 7pm.
Tickets: £12 full price, £10 over 60s, £8 other concessions
Booking: Tickets Oxford https://www.ticketsoxford.com/ 01865 305305
