Exhibition and post-show gig celebrates female reggae pioneers
Wed 15 Oct, 2025
“For the first time in my life, everything was silent”
A Hackney Showroom production in association with Royal Court Theatre & Brixton House.
A memory: reggae pioneer Sutara Gayle AKA Lorna Gee hears her radio debut from Holloway Prison. Another: she’s engulfed in the Brixton uprising sparked by the police shooting of her sister. And now she is here, at a silent retreat, seeking spiritual guidance from her brother Mooji and ancestor Nanny of the Maroons, and a moment of transcendence.
Powered by high-octane musical numbers and a virtuoso performance, The Legends of Them is a breath-taking, roof-raising chronicle of Sutara’s singular, extraordinary life – and of the legends that have guided her.
Artwork photography by Jyoti Graziano. With thanks to Stuart Heyes, Gino Ricardo Green, Tony Gayle & Tyler Forward.
Supported by Arts Council England. Developed with support from the National Theatre Generate Programme.
A rollcall of female reggae artists perform live with Lorna Gee plus DJ. Free with a ticket to the 18 Nov performance. For more information click here.
Inspired by Sutara Gayle AKA Lorna Gee’s extraordinary treasure trove of photos, Female Pioneers of Reggae shines a light on the women in the scene: from dancehall to lovers rock, this collection celebrates the selectors, the deejays and singers, and the women who went to the dances.
Curated by the Museum of Youth Culture & Sutara Gayle, the exhibition features rarely displayed photography alongside personal photos from local communities across the UK and is supported by the Heritage Fund.
Dramaturg & Co-Creator
Director & Co-Creator
Writer & Performer
Composer & Musical Director
Video Designer
Lighting Designer
Sound Content (2025 Edinburgh production & tour)
Production Manager
Associate Director
Associate Director
Costume Designer
MAJOR FUNDERS
Principal Partner
Principal Access Partner