The Covid Diaries 94 – Greenwich + Docklands International Festival (GDIF)

A review of several events at the 2021 Greenwich + Docklands International Festival (GDIF). Theatre, dance and light installations: merely tasters of the full programme.

Greenwich + Docklands International Festival

I’m so excited that arts festivals have had a slightly easier time getting off the ground this year. Up next after this post is Open House 2021, which is definitely an expanded offering vs. 2020. But today we are here to talk about the Greenwich + Docklands International Festival (GDIF). This is a festival of outdoor theatre and performing arts, with a focus on its local communities. Not just the tourist-friendly Greenwich, but places like Deptford, Eltham and Charlton, too. And most events are free!

I’ve recently moved back to South East London. Not quite into the GDIF catchment area, but not far. So I made an effort to get to as many events as I could. Not too many, in the end, as a week out of London coincided with the festival. But rather than me telling you about my calendar, let’s go take a look at the GDIF events I was lucky enough to see!

GDIF: Family Tree

This was the event I was most intrigued by on the GDIF listings. It was also one of the rare events requiring a paid ticket, but worth every penny. Family Tree is written by Mojisola Adebayo and presented by Actors Touring Company with the Young Vic. The reason I was so interested in it is that it is based on the events surrounding the life and death of Henrietta Lacks.

I read Rebecca Skloot’s book on her several years ago, and her story is incredible. A young African American mother, Lacks died of an aggressive cervical cancer at only 31. Her cells live on even today, however – the so-called ‘HeLa’ cell line was the first scientists were able to keep alive outside the human body. Incredibly important for all sorts of medical advances, but you will probably not be surprised to find out that there was no informed consent for what happened, and it was not her family who profited from HeLa.

Family Tree opens with Lacks’ funeral. This is outdoor theatre, with the audience following Lacks and a handful of other characters through the gardens of Charlton House (also interesting and not somewhere I was familiar with). It masterfully expands out from the exploitative treatment of one Black woman’s body to the treatment of all Black [female] bodies at the intersection of racism and health care. And quite an intersection there is. Family Tree is extremely well-executed and draws you in as the evening grows dark. All actors deserve praise for their skilled and complex performances, treating heavy subjects with compassion and humour: Michelle Asante, Natasha Cottriall, Keziah Joseph and Diana Yekinni.

GDIF: Black Victorians

The Guildhall Yard is a striking (although not very Greenwich/Docklands…?) setting for this dance work by Jeanefer Jean-Charles. Performances at this location end today, but you can catch it in Woolwich (and other festivals as well). Black Victorians draws inspiration from a 2014 exhibition by Autograph* of found Victorian photographs of Black subjects.

Black Victorians is short (at only 35 minutes) but punchy. Dancers start out in staid, Victorian-type costumes and dance together formally. A newcomer is constrained and manhandled into her own crinoline and bodice. This is one of the threads in the work – Victorian costumes and dances denote assimilation, lack of autonomy; while the introduction of African textiles and rhythms comes with an increase in joy and authenticity. (I’m not referring to ‘African’ textiles and rhythms in a reductionist way, by the way, I just haven’t been able to find information on where specifically Jean-Charles and her creative team have drawn from.)

I enjoyed watching Black Victorians unfold. I find historic photographs fascinating, and may just be inspired now to imagine more of the lives behind the images. Plus you can’t help but be impressed by the performers’ physicality and commitment. Well worth a visit to see this live.

*Autograph also hold the archive of photographer Bandele ‘Tex” Ajetunmobi who we learned about here.

GDIF: Borealis

This light installation by Dan Acher is very cool. Taking place first at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich and then at the Royal Artillery Barracks in Woolwich, the concept is very simple. Borealis takes inspiration from the Northern Lights. Coloured lights reflect off smoke sent up from around the venue. Colours dance and shimmer just like the real thing. And a simple soundtrack by Guillaume Desbois adds to the sense of wonder. Since we can’t travel at the moment, this is a nice chance to see something different and get a taster for the real thing. And London even obliged by putting on arctic weather at the end of August (you can hear the wind in my videos!).

Borealis is a nice moment of contemplation, reflection, and togetherness. The organisation was a little chaotic when we were there; free pre-booked tickets were sold out, but we figured it was outdoors anyway so chanced going down ahead of our late night slot to see what we could see. After trying to process a long queue for a while, they opened up access and we were able to immerse ourselves from underneath – the ideal vantage spot. I’m not knocking anyone though – between Covid and unseasonably cold weather it must be hard to judge crowd management right now. I was just pleased to see it up close a little earlier than expected!

On its own merits: 4/5
Implementing Covid measures: 3.5/5

Various GDIF events are on until 12 September 2021 – check out the website for further details

And keep up with more London culture and events by signing up here: