Tag Archives: protest

Artist Spotlight: The Black Smock Band


Daedalus Theatre Company and the Black Smock Band have worked together on many projects. You may recognise our director, Paul Burgess, as one of the members of the band! After years of collaborations, we think it’s time to spotlight the band in their own right. Grab a cuppa and settle in because it’s a read as heart-warming as the band’s music, which incidentally, you can hear live – and sing along with – on Wednesday 22nd April 2026 at Camden People’s Theatre. Book your tickets for QUEER REVOLUTIONARY SINGALONG now:

Tell us about yourself and your creative practice.

Andy Bannister: In addition to being a musician, I’m a visual artist and a tutor working in higher education. I teach on a fine art course where I mainly work with students who focus on sculpture and combined media- this reflects what I do when I’m in my studio. In my current work, I’m exploring the impact of science and technology on culture and society, with a focus on the widespread civil opposition to the nuclear arms race during the Cold War period. There’s a crossover here with my activities as a musician, in terms of my interest in the role of folk music within protest movements and the emphasis on stories of resistance within the folk tradition.

Daedalus returns to Camden People’s Theatre with QUEER REVOLUTIONARY SINGALONG featuring The Black Smock Band

Daedalus returns to Camden People’s Theatre 15 years after their acclaimed immersive documentary drama A Place at the Table, to present QUEER REVOLUTIONARY SINGALONG with ecosocialist folk band The Black Smock Band. 

Join us this April for fiery folk tunes and leftie singalong classics, from ‘Bread and Roses’ to ‘Solidarity Forever’. Bring your singing voice and your revolutionary fervour! There will also be a limited number of floor spots. If you have a song that fits the vibe, and you’d like to share it, get in touch with the band via this link.

Protest Song Exchange

When?

11:30am-1pm, Sunday 6th February 2022

What?

This is an exciting opportunity for musicians and others with an interest in current and historical protest to get together and share songs, music and knowledge. Hosted by Daedalus Theatre Company and The Black Smock Band as part of the Mobile Incitement project, and also connected with the storytelling project East, the session offers an open, creative space for cultural exchange and collaboration, and to develop new skills and ways of working.

This is paid professional development opportunity, not a public event. Places are limited. That said, do get in touch if you’re interested in taking part.

Thanks, Latitude!

In the van, left to right: Sarah Jeanpierre, Payam Torabi and Rhiannon Kelly. In front of the van, left to right: Andy Bannister, Martin MacFadyen, Matt Beattie, Dan Cox and Paul Burgess.

Well, that was amazing. Huge thanks to Latitude Festival  for giving us, along with our project partners Rua Arts and The Black Smock Band, the chance to bring Gerrard Winstanley’s True and Righteous Mobile Incitement Unit (aka ) to the festival. Thanks also to Ovalhouse, who commissioned it in the first place, and to Queen Mary University of London who supported the development of our participation programme. Last but not least, thanks to all the lovely people who joined us in the Faraway Forest and shared their experiences and knowledge. Ye noble Diggers all, stand up now!

SaveSave

SaveSave

#MobileIncitement

A raucous folk gig, a community-centred political gathering and a bold reclamation of England’s radical history… It’s…

GERRARD WINSTANLEY’S
TRUE AND RIGHTEOUS
MOBILE INCITEMENT UNIT

Made with Rua Arts and The Black Smock Band, Mobile Incitement (as we call it for short – #mobileincitement on social media) was commissioned by Ovalhouse and shown at Brixton City Festival. Its participation programme was then developed at Queen Mary uni, prior to a show at Poplar Union. It’s then at Latitude Festival before touring late 2018 into 2019. Get in touch to book us or find out more or, if you’ve seen it, give us your feedback: www.daedalustheatre.co.uk

Mobile Incitement is going to Latitude!

You can find us at the Community Centre in the Faraway Forest

We’re delighted to announce that we’re part of the Latitude Festival line up with our gig-theatre piece Gerrard Winstanley’s Mobile Incitement Unit, made with The Black Smock Band, produced by Rua Arts, developed at Ovalhouse & Queen Mary University of London.

Ye noble Diggers all, stand up now!

 

Mobile Incitement in Poplar – it’s tomorrow!

Yes, it’s tomorrow, May 6th at the lovely Poplar Union! For best results (and free entry) come to the tea party first, hang out with the team, and maybe create some new material for the show. But of course you can just come to the show too.

The E5 Roasthouse cafe, which is part of the venue, is great by the way. And naturally there’ll be time for a spot of luncheon between the workshop and the show.

“OK”, you say, “that all sounds lovely but, in this uncertain and ever-changing world, I need facts and detail.” Well, here you go:

More info and booking (no need to book for the tea party)

How to get to the venue (it’s easy)

Facebook event (because nothing is real unless it’s on Facebook, right?)

The E5 Roasthouse (great food and drink and supporting refugees)

Unsure about about what you’re letting yourself in for? Read about how we work with our audiences.

And if you have any more questions, you can of course just ask!

Stand up now, Diggers all!

After an amazing few months, with a commission from Ovalhouse, followed by performances at Brixton City Festival, and then a residency at Queen Mary uni to develop ways to work with locals to create a bespoke version of the show in each place we visit, here we are, running the whole thing, tea party and all, for the public, for the first time, on our home ground of Tower Hamlets.

And breathe.

Frankly, we couldn’t be more excited.

Booking and info here: https://poplarunion.com/event/gerrard-winstanleys-true-and-righteous-mobile-incitement/

Facebook event here: https://www.facebook.com/events/2094865110749439/

SaveSave

SaveSaveSaveSave

Mobile Incitement: back in Tower Hamlets in May

We’re so excited to bring our Mobile Incitement project, made with The Black Smock Band, to the wonderful Poplar Union in May. Fresh from test-running our ideas with the support of Queen Mary uni, we’re looking forward to hearing local stories of protest and dissent in Tower Hamlets and sharing a bespoke version of the performance.

Key links:

☞ Facebook event here

☞ Info/booking on the Poplar Union website here