Barbados Community College (BCC) students delivered a powerful performance at the recently held Confronting Codrington Conference, bringing the experiences of slaves to life in Michelle Hinkson-Cox’s most recent cultural production.

Performed at Codrington College on October 15th, the cast was composed of first- and second-year BCC Theatre Arts students who showcased their skills at the three-day conference.

Theatre Arts Coordinator, Michelle Hinkson-Cox wrote the script and explained that the piece used actual archival documents, such as runaway slave ads and minutes of meetings from the 18th century, to create a theatrical interpretation of what our ancestors endured during enslavement in Barbados.

Entitled “Spoken Silences”, the historical fiction draws on actual events that occurred in Barbados’ past, with Hinkson-Cox integrating archaeological and historical stimuli in the performance itself.

Directed by Nala and choreographed by Danico Martindale, Hinkson-Cox hopes she will have the opportunity to develop it further, maybe even offering a public staging during the BCC’s Theatre Arts Portfolio.

The October event hosted several local and global experts, examining the history, nature, and contemporary landscape of reparative justice for transatlantic slavery.

Organisers invited the BCC to prepare the cultural showcase on the conference theme, ensuring the conference featured diverse voices and perspectives across ages and countries.