A Love Letter to Hastings: The Hero’s Journey
Afri-Co-Lab’s The Hero’s Journey is a feat of community passion and excellence. It is also a site-specific promenade show.
Set in 2124 at Hastings Museum and Art Gallery, we travel a hundred years into the future to find Hastings awash with love, joy, and equity. Somehow we made it through, and the show takes us on a tour back to 2024 to meet the Hero, who set the ball in motion to this fairer future world. But as we know, history is selective and time will always uncover the truth.
“To be involved in the creation of something that speaks so powerfully to the heart of humanity’s struggles at this pivotal time of increasing awareness and revolutionary change happening in the world, has been an opportunity I’ll always treasure.”
Ade Thomas, Community Participant
Afri-Co-Lab leads 37 community participants and 11 local and 3 local-ish arts professionals in creating this theatrical magic. The show is experienced on the move, around the grounds of the Hastings Museum and Art Gallery. The action unfolds through a company of actors, show guides, epic set and design with all the audio shared through silent disco headphones.
Community theatre often gets a bad rep as a lesser artistic endeavour. This group of theatre professionals, with experience in big-name productions across London and the country, are redefining the genre. They have created a piece of theatre about a town they now call home that stands up in its own right.
“This show is about all of us, where you may feel you are, where you may feel you aren’t, and taking a chance on ourselves.”
Kim Batty, Community Performer
“We came to it knowing only the title of the show and co-created with the cast, directors and design team. I can’t tell you how much fun it’s been – experimenting,playing around with ideas and creating a truly collaborative event with the community in its very bones.”
Laura Dunton Clarke, Community Performer
The show lasts about an hour and is suitable for ages 12+. It’s a fun and heartfelt love letter to Hastings and all who reside in her. Captions and a number of hearing loops are available at every performance. The show takes place mainly on level ground, with the use of a lift in the main building.
Tickets are available online & at Hastings Museum and Art Gallery, with a sliding scale of £15/£10/£5.
Some free tickets are available for those who find the cost a barrier (email [email protected]). We hope you join us!
Friday 14 June 9pm
Saturday 15 June 5:30pm & 9pm
Sunday 16 June 9pm
At Hastings Museum & Art Gallery
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