An immersive, eye-opening, heart-stirring journey through time.

Directed by Erica Whyman and written by Natty Mark Samuels, Helen Eastman, and Afsaneh Gray.

This is the story of Paulette, who was born in Jamaica, crossed an ocean to expand her horizons and now, in 1966, she is determined to change the world. She hopes you will come along for the ride.

Join us in Blackbird Leys for a warm welcome and the start of a glorious odyssey through the city of Oxford. You will meet remarkable pioneers, passionate changemakers, a patron saint and fellow humans simply trying to survive. You will be invited to hop aboard a bus* to travel back to the 8th Century and forward to the 21st on a quest to find ancestors on whose shoulders Paulette can stand. We will end our journey at the new Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities, with truth in our mouths and hope in our hearts.

*Some walking or wheelchair travel is required, on flat but sometimes uneven surfaces. Please ask us for more information – we are keen to make this experience as accessible as we possibly can within the constraints of some of the oldest parts of the city.  

Production originated as part of The Leys Festival 2026.

For more information on how to book, please visit When The Blackbird Sings, Schwarzman Centre.