25th September 2024
Ghost Ships was an Icon Theatre, ZooNation: The Kate Prince Company and Amina Khayyam Dance Company Co-Production, supported by The Historic Dockyard Chatham.
This major community theatre production recharted the history of Chatham Dockyard, asking who owns our history and what stories should we tell?
It featured explosive Hip Hop dance from Olivier Award winners ZooNation: The Kate Prince Company and powerful Kathak from Amina Khayyam Dance Company, original live music, and the choral power of a monumental community ensemble. Ghost Ships illuminated true and untold stories of the extraordinary people who built and sailed the ships of Chatham Dockyard around the world.
Ghost Ships explored the waters that connect past with present, borders with belonging, and people with place, looking at the impact of the Dockyard from its involvement in slavery and abolition to the loss and legacy of its 1984 closure and beyond.
Inspired by newly uncovered research from people working at the Dockyard in its final days, Ghost Ships was made with the communities of Chatham and featured an ensemble of over 150 young people, residents and professional dancers performing together live on stage.
Performed in the fortieth anniversary year of the Dockyard’s closure, this production had startling contemporary relevance.
All performances of Ghost Ships were sold-out, winning praise from the media and audiences.
★★★★ “Quite unlike anything you’ve seen before… irresistible… The crowd was
The Telegraph
rapt throughout.”
WINNER: Diversity Award, Medway African & Caribbean Association
SHORTLISTED: The Stage – Community Award
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Museum & Heritage’s Community Engagement Programme of the Year
It was spellbinding, amazing, and totally thought-provoking. This history is not always well understood and needs a wider audience.
Audience feedback
Headline statistics and impact
- 4 Performances with an audience of 2,080
- 400 Free tickets for young people who would not have otherwise been able to attend.
- 230 People took part
- 131 Performers, including 67 Young People.
- 70 Freelance Artists and support staff employed.
- 31 Volunteers in backstage, making and front-of-house roles.
- 4 Local Schools participated.
- 3 Early Career Artists in paid roles.
- 2 Backstage and Technical Trainees.
- 13 Partner Organisations collaborated.
- 83 Workshops in schools and communities
- 168 Costumes (100% recycled, reused, or donated to charities).
It was such a moving show that shined the light on some very sad and important stories globally and also with the impact of the dockyard closing. It was hopeful and joyous about multiculturalism and Medway’s future.
Audience feedback
For full information about the production, its themes and full credits, please read the full programme here:
Read the full programme for Ghost Ships
Creative Team & Cast
Creator and Co-Director Nancy Hirst
Co-Director and Choreographer Kloé Dean
Choreography ZooNation: The Kate Prince Company led by Dannielle ‘Rhimes’ Lecointe and Kloé Dean, and Amina Khayyam Dance Company led by Amina Khayyam.
Choreographer Amina Khayyam
Associate Choreographer Cherilyn Albert
Composer and Sound Designer Serge Sainte Rose
Music Director Tania Holland Williams
Set and Costume Designer Sarah Jane Booth
Lighting Designer Callum Macdonald
Projection Designer Matt Powell
Sound System Design Matt Pearson and Simon Foster
Dramaturg Hardial Rai
Costume Supervisor Evelien Coleman
Assistant Choreographer Will Pascua
Assistant Composer Sarah Victoria
Historian Suchitra Chatterjee
Dramatherapist Wabriya King
Company of Dancers: Jane Chan (R&D Dancer), Savannah Daly, Robert Dunkley-Gyimah, Abirami Eswar, Jackie Kibuka, Rab McColl, D’jon McTernan, Kesha Raithatha, Shaq Shadare, Mohika Shankar, Jalpa Vala, Kyle Ralph-Walker.
Cast Performed by our Community Cast, Community Choir, Icon Young Company, Participating Schools and Company of Dancers.
Production Manager Dave Sherman
Stage Manager Leah Butterworth
Deputy Stage Manager (on book) Lauren Wedgeworth
Ghost Ships was developed through a collaborative process with local Medway-based communities and groups including Sahara Foundation and Medway African and Caribbean Association.
An Icon Theatre, ZooNation: The Kate Prince Company and Amina Khayyam Dance Company Co-Production, supported by The Historic Dockyard Chatham.
Icon Theatre is supported by Medway Council and using public funding from Arts Council England.