Beckford’s Tower and State of Trust announce three new online events

Beckford’s Tower and State of Trust announce three new online events discussing Tacky’s Rebellion and its relevance today, “Cane Warriors” and the transatlantic slave trade

The new events will be funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund as part of the wider “Our Tower” regeneration plan

July 2023 – Beckford’s Tower is pleased to announce three new online events as part of its ongoing collaboration with State of Trust. These events, which will be free for anybody to enjoy via an online livestream, will be based on the important themes of the transatlantic slave trade, Tacky’s Rebellion, and the novel “Cane Warriors” by Guardian Prize winner Alex Wheatle. The facilitator for each event will be renowned journalist and broadcaster, Terry Baddoo.

The event dates, speakers and topics will be as follows:

• Wed 16 August 7-8pm – Dr Amy Frost, Alex Wheatle & Deborah Baddoo: “Beckford’s Tower & Tacky’s Rebellion” – Booking Link
• Wed 27 September 7-8pm – Dr Amy Frost, Amanda Egbe and Rob Mitchell: “Historic Buildings & the Slave Trade” – Booking Link
• Wed 25 October 7-8pm - Alex Wheatle, Michael Joseph & Steve Marshall: “State of Trust’s interpretation of Cane Warriors for dance-theatre”– Booking Link

During each event, online attendees will have the opportunity to ask the panellists questions. The recruitment of panellists is being funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund as part of the wider “Our Tower” regeneration plan.

With the support of Beckford’s Tower, State of Trust are developing an interpretation for dance-theatre of the novel ‘Cane Warriors’, which will launch in March 2024. Initial performances of work in progress will take place at Beckford’s Tower, the University of Bedford and Arnolfini Bristol. Cane Warriors tells the story of Tacky’s Rebellion, an uprising of Akan people fighting for their freedom that took place in Jamaica in 1760, and included enslaved people on a plantation owned by the Beckford family. This ongoing collaboration puts a spotlight on the link between the Beckford family and the rebellion.

The online events this year, as with the in-person performances next year, will encourage all viewers and attendees to engage with one of the most troubling aspects of William Beckford’s legacy: his ownership of enslaved people, which funded his lifestyle and his vast collections. The aim is to build awareness around the effects of enslavement and colonialism on the culture and psyche of modern Britain and improve community relations through greater understanding of the shared history.

Today Beckford’s Tower is owned and run by Beckford Tower Trust, part of Bath Preservation Trust. The landmark, a Grade 1 listed monument, is on the National ‘At Risk’ Register, sparking the major ‘Our Tower’ project to restore the Tower, transform the museum, and open up the landscape thanks to a £3million grant from the Heritage Fund. A second grant of £100,000 is enabling Beckford’s Tower to deliver the Cane Warriors project, that will complement the wider work taking place at the Tower. Built between 1826 and 1827, Beckford’s Tower was intended to house the collections of books, furniture and art that were owned by William Beckford, whose wealth was gained from his ownership of plantations and enslaved people in Jamaica.

Commenting on the new project, Director of Museums Claire Dixon said: “The transparent acknowledgment and portrayal of William Beckford’s ownership of enslaved people is a top priority for us as we prepare our new interpretation for the Tower. His exploitation of human beings directly funded his building and collecting, so it is absolutely vital that we make clear in the new exhibition, and that we engage audiences with these difficult but integral themes ahead of the reopening. Georgian Bath was heavily involved with the transatlantic slave trade, and the story of William Beckford gives us an opportunity to start a conversation about the wider involvement of the city, and the country, as a whole. We’ve approached some really exciting speakers for these new online events, and by making the talks free-to-view and “barrier-free” we hope to attract a wide cross-section of local, national and international communities. 

“I would like to thank the Heritage Fund, and National Lottery players, for their support.”

Deborah Baddoo MBE and Steve Marshall, the Directors at State of Trust and State of Emergency Limited, said: “When Alex Wheatle first approached us, nearly three years ago, with a view to our making a dance interpretation of his novel, we didn’t realise what an uphill struggle it would be to achieve funding. Thanks to Bath Preservation Trust, and the synergy between the story and the history of Beckford’s Tower, we are now able to start working on what we believe will be an important work of African contemporary dance theatre. This production will allow us to pursue a long-term artistic vision, which began with the foundation of State of Emergency Limited in 1986, and to hone our skills as directors and performers. For us ‘Cane Warriors’ is the natural progression of all that has gone before.”

Alex Wheatle, author of Cane Warriors, said: "The real story of Chief Tacky’s rebellion has been passed down through generations of my mother’s family who resided in Richmond, St Mary’s parish in Jamaica – very close to the plantations where Chief Tacky and his Cane Warriors toiled and planned their Easter rebellion in 1760. I was simply compelled to relate this story to the wider world and I’m very proud that State of Emergency will tell the story in the art form of dance. Indeed, the Cane Warriors will be honoured."