John Agard / Crosspath
2015
Written and performed by John Agard
Directed by Mark C. Hewitt
Music by Thomas Arnold

Promo shots by François M. Norris
Roll Over Atlantic is a satirical revisiting of the voyages of Christopher Columbus. Whether glorified or vilified, Columbus, by his accidental ‘discovery’ of the so-called New World, gave a kickstart to globalisation, bridging Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas, and joining forever the fates of these separate hemispheres and eco-systems. Fusing elements of calypso, cabaret and the absurd, Agard variously takes on the voices of Columbus, the Atlantic Ocean, a native shaman and The Mighty Mosquito. Written in verse and performed against a background soundscape of Atlantic murmurings and symphonic buzzing, Agard takes his audience on a fantastical, fanatical historic voyage that still bears relevance to contemporary issues. Songs and music for the production were performed by Thomas Arnold and Richard Durrant with vocals by Pam Hewitt.
Read the review from London Literature Festival / Royal Festival Hall »
Read the interview in Prospect Magazine »
Read the interview in Write Out Loud: Cabaret, Calypso, a Cultural Collision »

PERFORMANCES TO DATE
2019
13 & 14 November: Little Angel Theatre, London
2018
16 & 20 October: Tara Theatre, London
6 June: Studio, York Theatre Royal
2017
18/19 Dec: Bloomsbury Theatre, London
13 Nov: Corpus Playroom, Cambridge (hosted by The Marlowe Society)
29 June: Festival on the Close, Rugby School (Macready Theatre)
15 May: Norfolk & Norwich Festival, Norwich Arts Centre
27 April: Peterhouse College, Cambridge (hosted by The Marlow Society)
1 March: StAnza poetry festival (Byre Theatre, St Andrews)
20 & 22 Feb: The Birley Centre, Eastbourne College
2016
27 Nov: Shrewsbury Literature Festival
9 Nov: Nottingham Festival of Literature
14 - 16 Oct: Southbank Centre/Royal Festival Hall. London Literature Festival
9 Oct: Lewes All Saints Centre
7 Oct: Cheltenham Literature Festival
4 / 5 Oct: The Marlborough Theatre, Brighton
27 May: The Old Courtroom, Brighton Fringe Festival (hosted by urbanflo)
Previews 2015
17 Dec: Tristan Bates Theatre, Covent Garden, London
28 Nov: Lewes All Saints Centre (hosted by Lewes Live Literature)
27 Nov: Hastings Museum & Art Gallery
28 Oct: Cecil Sharp House, Camden, London
22 Oct: Square Tower, Portsmouth (hosted by Tongues&Grooves)
17 Oct: Ilkley Literature Festival (Wharfside Playhouse)
10 Oct: Chiddingly Village Hall, Sussex
7 Oct: Shoreham WordFest (Ropetackle Centre)

Above: John Agard as calypsonian The Mighty Mosquito (photo © François Norris)
Below: John performing with ocarina

Below: monitors backstage as audience enters for the performance at StAnza Festival, Scotland, 2017


Above: The Might Mosquito in action (photo © Sara Roque Peres)
Below: the much-admired final scene of Roll Over Atlantic (photo © François Norris)

Above: the much-admired final scene of Roll Over Atlantic