Inua Ellams' MIDNIGHT RUN Comes to Brixton This Fall

The highly anticipated Midnight Run will take place in Brixton on Saturday 23 September and Saturday 7 October 6pm until 12am. The dusk to dawn interactive event takes strangers and local artists on a walking tour through urban spaces. This is a unique experience that informs, entertains and brings city dwellers together.

Established in 2005 The Midnight Run was created by award winning artist Inua Ellams in order to reclaim the streets of a city and dispel the idea of there being danger after dark. People are encouraged to discover, participate and enjoy new cultural experiences. The Midnight Run provides a platform for established and emerging artists to come together in a range of creative activities including life-drawing, choral singing, puppetry, wrestling, cocktail making and tai chi, all whilst exploring a city. There have been over 50 Midnight Runs both nationally and internationally including, Rome, Madrid, Berlin, Paris and Barcelona.

The Brixton Midnight Run is presented in partnership with Ovalhouse and Black Cultural Archives (BCA) and gives audiences a chance to discuss and explore the rich and complex history of Brixton in an imaginative, creative and participatory way. Inua Ellams will lead with exercises to help audiences process some of the thought provoking historical information on offer; Kelly Foster, a certified London tour guide and Brixton Historian, will explore and discuss some of the political and social aspects of Brixton - from the Windrush Generation, to world leaders visiting the area, to the riots in the 1980's and the Scarman Report and changes that the area has seen over the past 50 years. There will be site specific workshops and other artists taking part.

'The Midnight Run's sole purpose is to encourage audiences to explore, create and play in their own cities; with as much wonderment and invention as a child does a maze.' Inua Ellams

Midnight Run leader Inua Ellams was born in Nigeria in 1984 he is an international touring poet, playwright, performer, graphic artist & designer. He has published four books of poetry: Candy Coated Unicorns and Converse All Stars, Thirteen Fairy Negro Tales, The Wire-HeadEd Heathen and '#Afterhours'. His first play The 14th Tale was awarded a Fringe First at the Edinburgh International Theatre Festival and his fourth play Barber Shop Chronicles sold out its run at the National Theatre. He is currently touring An Evening With An Immigrant and working on The Half God of Rainfall - a new play in verse.

Kelly Foster is a pubic historian and London Blue Badge Guide specialising in community history. Alongside delivering tours of London's more familiar visitor attractions, she uses oral histories and archival research to delve into the social history of London's neighbourhoods. She works with both visitors to the city and residents giving an inclusive understanding of London's past and the ever changing 21st century. Kelly regularly works with Black Cultural Archives, Lambeth Archives, the Museum of London and London Walks.

Listings Information: The Brixton Midnight Run - departs from Black Cultural Archive Saturday 23 September and Saturday 7 October from 6pm until midnight

Ovalhouse is a lively theatre and arts centre on the Kennington Oval, opposite the famous cricket ground. For the past 50 years, Ovalhouse has been part of the London fringe, providing development and performance space to experimental, radical and overlooked artists. Building work for Ovalhouse's new home will be completed in 2020. The new venue will offer two theatre spaces plus seven multi-use accessible studios - for rehearsal, participatory work and community activities - and will comprise a significant suite of cultural workspace, bringing jobs and opportunities for small and medium sized enterprises and supporting the already strong cultural sector in Brixton.

Black Cultural Archives is a national heritage centre dedicated to collecting, preserving, and celebrating the histories of people from the African diaspora in Britain. Founded in 1981, Black Cultural Archives is the UK's only dedicated space championing the Black presence in British history and its unique collection includes documents, photographs, ephemera, oral history testimonies, and an eclectic range of objects dating from the second century to the present day. Many artefacts have fascinating stories that contribute to the historical narrative of British people. Our work recognises the importance of broader historical narratives and promotes dialogue that encourages everyone to learn, explore and become inspired by a shared British history. Black Cultural Archives is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and London Borough of Lambeth.

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