Cornwallis Cloth is a brand-new film created and produced by Sweet Patootee Arts as part of the IWM 14-18 NOW Legacy Fund.
Inspired by oral testimony and the untold stories of British Caribbean lives during the Second World War, this 20-minute film explores loyalty and freedom and investigates emerging post-colonial identity with dramatic intensity and satirical humour.
Set in a moonlit tropical garden in Barbados in 1942, the film centres around Mrs Bonita Skeete (aka Bonny), a Black woman whose story operates as a metaphor for British Caribbean civil rights during the period of the Second World War. Through sparky banter with stirred up patriots, rebels, Black marketeers, and in-betweens, the film sheds light upon the 1942 U-boat attacks on the SS Cornwallis’, as well as war leaders, the fight for freedom, rationing, and the fate that befalls those found with looted Cornwallis cloth.
The film interweaves 3D sound design, performance, a soundtrack of calypso and colonial anthems, and archive montage to create a captivating and poetic Caribbean comedy melodrama vignette.
The film installation will be presented alongside an exhibition at the Old Royal Naval College exploring the wider themes of the film, and the rich historical significance of uncovering the stories of the past.
Tickets can be booked as part of a Painted Hall ticket or walk-ups welcome for Discover Greenwich tickets available from the Visitor Centre.
About Sweet Patootee Arts
Sweet Patootee Arts is a London-based Arts and Heritage organisation rooted in a passion for storytelling and Britain’s multicultural heritage.
They produce high-quality films and heritage projects using oral testimonies and archive resources as the inspiration. These films then become the catalyst for public engagement in museums, galleries, learning establishments, community hubs, and online.
About the IWM 14-18 Legacy Fund
The IWM 14-18 NOW Legacy Fund is a national partnership programme of over 20 artist commissions inspired by the heritage of conflict. Through the Fund, a total of £2.5 million is being made available to artists and cultural partners across the UK.
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Visitor information
Address
Greenwich, London, Greater London, SE10 9NN
020 8269 4747
Opening times
Grounds open daily, 7am-7pm
Painted Hall, King William Undercroft, visitor centre shop and ticket desk: 10am-5pm
The Chapel will be open on the reduced hours of 10am-2pm for private prayer.
The Victorian Skittle Alley will remain closed until further notice.
Exclusions and safety measures
We occasionally close early for special events. Please check our website for details.
