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Artwork Bry Leighton

When the Blackbird Sings

An immersive, eye-opening, heart-stirring journey through time
Presented by The Schwarzman Centre and Erica Whyman, in collaboration with Creation Theatre
23 Sep 2026 - 11 Oct 2026
23 Sep 2026
-
11 Oct 2026

Please note this event begins in Blackbird Leys and mostly takes place on a bus through to the centre of Oxford with stops along the way, ending at the Schwarzman Centre. There will be a shuttle bus leaving 15 minutes after the show finishes going back to Blackbird Leys. The starting venue will be announced soon and communicated to all bookers.

 

An immersive, eye-opening, heart-stirring journey through time.

Directed by Erica Whyman and written by Natty Mark Samuels, Helen Eastman, and Afsaneh Gray.

This is the story of Paulette, who was born in Jamaica, crossed an ocean to expand her horizons and now, in 1966, she is determined to change the world. She hopes you will come along for the ride.

Join us in Blackbird Leys for a warm welcome and the start of a glorious odyssey through the city of Oxford. You will meet remarkable pioneers, passionate changemakers, a patron saint and fellow humans simply trying to survive. You will be invited to hop aboard a bus* to travel back to the 8th Century and forward to the 21st on a quest to find ancestors on whose shoulders Paulette can stand. We will end our journey at the new Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities, with truth in our mouths and hope in our hearts.

*Some walking or wheelchair travel is required, on flat but sometimes uneven surfaces. Please ask us for more information - we are keen to make this experience as accessible as we possibly can within the constraints of some of the oldest parts of the city.  

Production originated as part of The Leys Festival 2026.

 

Before You Arrive

This is a promenade production, meaning the performance takes place across several locations in Oxford. Audience members will travel between locations primarily by bus, with one short walking section of approximately 0.75 kilometres.

The performance begins in Blackbird Leys, the starting venue is to be confirmed. Here tickets will be checked on arrival before the show begins.

Please avoid bringing large or heavy bags with you. The performance will last 2.5 hours and there will be some drinks and snacks incorporated.

 

 

During the Performance

Once the show begins in Blackbird Leys, audience members will board a bus which forms part of the performance itself. The route travels through Temple Cowley, Cowley and into Oxford city centre.

All audience members will have a seat on the bus, and headphones will be provided so you can hear the performers clearly throughout the journey.

While we will do everything possible to keep the performance running to schedule, there may occasionally be slight variations to timings due to traffic conditions on Oxford’s roads.

The bus will stop on Oxford High Street for a short walking section of the production. One of the locations visited during this section is a faith building (a church). After this, audiences will reboard the bus for the final journey north along Woodstock Road to the Schwarzman Centre (OX2 6GG), where the performance concludes.

 

 

After the Show

At the end of the performance, you are welcome to leave directly from the Schwarzman Centre.

For anyone who has parked a car or left a bicycle at the starting point, there will also be the option to take the bus back to Blackbird Leys after the show. We’ll make sure you can return easily to where you began your journey! This is not include in the running time of the show.

 

 

Accessibility

If you have any access requirements, please contact the box office in advance to discuss your needs. There is a maximum number of wheelchair spaces available on the bus for each performance, so it is important that you let us know if you will be travelling with a wheelchair.

The walking section of the production is flat, and there is an alternative route available that avoids cobbled surfaces.

If you have any further questions, our box office team will be very happy to help.

 

 

Artwork: Bry Leighton

 

Duration:
120-150 minutes (2-2.5 hrs)

 

Age Guidance:
Recommended 12+

 

Access shows:
BSL Interpreted
Friday 9 October, 6.30pm

Credits

Directed by Erica Whyman
Co-Directed by Helen Eastman
Written by Natty Mark Samuels, Helen Eastman and Afsaneh Gray
Dramaturgy - Pippa Hill
General Management – Creation Theatre
Artwork - Bry Leighton

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