This production tells the sad and shameful tale of Africans recruited to work for the British in the first world war. It turns out that they are only to be allowed to dig trenches rather than act as soldiers because their ethnicity confines them to a support role. They are to travel to Europe on the SS Mendi and the production recounts the journey which ends with the sinking of the ship after a collision with another under the reckless control of its Captain. He is given a mere year's suspension as a Captain despite drowning several hundred of the Africans.
This tale is told very effectively with a minimum of props and instruments by the Isango Ensemble.
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