Footsteps To Change: Abolition & Activism

A new walking tour and performance has been developed exploring the city’s connection to abolitionist Frederick Douglass and the slave ship, Zong. The performance which fuses spoken word with music features Ashleigh Nugent and Dorcas Seb is directed by Nathan Powell. On the 19th January 1860, Frederick Douglass spoke at Hope Hall to advocate for the abolition of slavery. The site of Hope Hall is now where the Everyman Theatre stands. To commemorate this, the Everyman will be commissioning a plaque to be a lasting reminder of the struggle for freedom and reform.

The walking tour, curated by Laurence Westgaph, will include three locations in the city centre that Frederick spent time in. Here, Laurence will share more details on his brief time in the city and UK, after fleeing enslavement in America.

On this tour they will also explore sites in the city connected to the Zong slave ship, which was built in Liverpool.

A new play by Giles Terera The Meaning Of Zong  which celebrates the power of the human spirit against adversity, will be at the Playhouse from Tuesday 10 to Saturday 14 May. At the end of the walking tour, the audience are invited to redeem a ticket offer to see a performance of the play.