Neeta and her crew rise to dancehall fame in North West London’s Caribbean community, in the first Black British musical.
Babymother is a feminist triumph and widely considered the first Black British musical. Anjela Lauren Smith gives an outstanding performance as Neeta, a young mother who nurtures dreams of becoming a dancehall star with her two rude gyal friends. The pageantry of the cast’s outlandish style and rich soundscapes – captured on location in Harlesden – make the film an iconic capsule of 90s British Caribbean dancehall culture.
To complement the film series, renowned photographer David Corio, famous for his iconic images of the jazz, reggae, rock, soul, hip hop, and blues scenes, has curated a special selection of photographs especially for Hackney Picturehouse. These works commemorate the 40th anniversary of the British Reggae Artist Famine Appeal (BRAFA), a landmark event known as Hackney’s own Live Aid in 1986.
Produced in partnership with Hackney Art Week.
Age group: 15+
Ticket price: £9.35 (includes booking fee)
Access information: This is an accessible venue.
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Image credit: Babymother (1998)