Production Photography
(Scroll down for Rehearsals and Portraits)
Rockets and Blue Lights
by Winsome Pinnock.
Directed by Landé Belo
June 2025
At the Tower Theatre, Stoke Newington.
They used to have the slave codes, and now they have equality guidelines….
Tell me what you see … A contemplation of a beautiful, yet grotesque painting, thus begins this sweeping tale of interlocking timelines, exploring identity, heritage, and the haunting legacy of slavery.
It’s 2007, the bicentenary of the abolition of slavery. Hollywood ‘A Lister’, Lou, is back in England, starring in a film about the transatlantic slave trade, featuring Turner’s painting, The Slave Ship. With each re-write of the script, her part is diminished, the focus shifting from the events depicted in the painting to Turner himself….. In 1840, sailor Thomas yearns for that one last voyage…but at what personal cost?
Rockets and Blue Lights is a celebration of intergenerational strength, courage and resilience and rescuing stories from historical erasure. Its empowering message of hope will resonate with all audiences.
All photographic images © Pau Ros 2025
Cast
Lou/Olu: Tiffany Ola
Essie/Lucy: Rinré Olusola
Trevor/Thomas: Akeem Maull-Nicol
Reuben/Caesar: Nvaron R. Anderson
Pearson/Benjamin/Clarke: Renford Warmington
J.M.W Turner/Roy/Peter Piper: Paul Kristovic
Johnson/Decker/Ruskin: Matteo Caporusso
Danby/Mary: Nina Sprigge
Meg/Vonnie: Fiona Makia
Billie: Daniel Ooko
Jeanie/Jess: Fiyin Ifebogun
Boy/Overseer/Sailor: Gareth Foynes
Production Team
Director : Landé Belo
Set Design : Jacqueline Knight
Costume Design: Laura Coulton
Lighting Design : Rob Hebblethwaite
Musical Director and Composer : Isabelle Ajani
Sound Design : Rob Ellis
Rehearsals
Portraits
