Moj of the Antarctic Returns to South London

Following a successful run in March 2007, Moj of the Antarctic returns to Oval House Theatre for one week only to launch the production’s British Council-sponsored tour of southern Africa in June/July 2008.

Moj of the Antarctic is inspired by the wonderful true life story of Ellen Craft, a 19th century African-American slave woman who escaped to freedom by disguising herself as a white man. Ellen’s amazing story of race and cross-dressing is one of the forgotten gems of black and trans histories.

Moj of the Antarctic extends Ellen’s life story into a flight of theatrical fantasy where upon arrival in Victorian London, she finds work as a sailor on a whaling ship bound for the Southern Seas. Life on the ship is tough and even stranger is the men’s obsession with Black face minstrelsy. Eventually the ship arrives in Antarctic waters ripe for whaling, and Moj becomes the first black woman to step foot on Antarctica.

This innovative theatre piece incorporates video, words, dance, music, storytelling, song and stunning original photography created for the piece on location in Antarctica by queer visual artist Del LaGrace Volcano.

Moj of the Antarctic is set to tour in summer 2008 to South Africa, Malawi, Zimbabwe and Mauritius, delivering a programme of performances, workshops and artist development by writer-performer Mojisola Adebayo and Oval House’s Head of Theatre Programming, Ben Evans.

Moj of the Antarctic: An African Odyssey
Directed by Sheron Wray
13 – 17 May, Tuesday - Saturday 7:45pm,
Oval House Theatre
Kennington Oval
London SE11
Tickets: £12/£6 concessions
Box office: 020 7582 7680
Online sales: www.ovalhouse.com (no fee)
BSL interpreted performance with Jacqui Beckford: 13 May, 7.45pm
Matinee: 17 May, 3.00pm