KINGS is a choreographic and performance research and development project co-created with and performed by Michael Appouh, Khagen Douglas and Samuel Remi Akinwale, outside after dark in Manchester City Centre with a team of local artist collaborators. The work uses movement, gesture, new writing and collaborative costume design to reimagine the city and ownership of space for blackness, created through a research process involving sharing lived experiences.

KINGS

KINGS involved a series of NIGHTWALKS to explore experiences of visibility, masculinity, blackness in city space. The nighttime walks to outdoor Manchester locations involved using this as space to generate ideas, alongside team workshops, residencies and public workshops with Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Men and Non-Binary people at The Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester (supported by Contact Theatre) to create space to share experiences.

The KINGS research process culminated in a live sharing in October 2019 at Depot.Mayfield on the concourse as a work-in-development performance with invited guests.

KINGS is supported using public funding by Arts Council England, Royal Exchange Theatre and Black Gold Arts.