Celebrating our 40th anniversary with a Saturday night show at Hackney Empire.

Our shows have often begun or finished their national tours at the Empire. Who can forget the joyous anarchy of Doctor Carnival, supporting London’s pitch for the Olympic Games? On Liberation Street with its stirring tales of resistance, struggles for freedom and independence? The epic portrayal of the decline of European empire in The Golden Road, the Unforgiving Sea, with the sublime BBC Concert Orchestra? Or how the joys and sorrows of migration were evoked so powerfully in Undream’d Shores?

Our 40th Anniversary show features all of our much-loved star performers in a selection of music and songs from our back catalogue.

Our musicians have personal experience of the events portrayed, adding to the impact of the music and performances. They also contribute a wealth of musical styles and techniques, reflected in Tony Haynes’s songs and music: Chinese and Bengali folksong; Indian ragas; South African township music; West African drumming and chant; the infectious dance rhythms of samba and salsa, soca and ska; stunning jazz improvisation.