Archive Beyond Words: A Performance Lecture with Topher Campbell

Through spoken and written word, music, still and moving imagery Topher Campbell will take you on a journey of discovery in a deeply personal exploration of his life and the rukus! LGBTQ+ Archive where personal archive and life writing meet to enrich our understanding of Black LGBTQ history and culture. 
 
Following his performance lecture, Topher will be joined by multi-disciplinary artist, Harold Offeh, in conversation to discuss the themes of the evening and Topher’s work with the Rukus! cultural archive. 
 
Afro-Queer Artist/Filmmaker Topher Campbell’s output spans film, theatre, performance, writing, and site-specific work. He makes bold and exciting work focusing on sexuality, masculinity, race, human rights, memoir and climate change. Alumni of the Regional Theatre Young Directors Scheme In 2005 he was recipient of the Jerwood Directors Award and nominated for the 2011 What’s On Stage Theatre Event of the Year Award. In 2017 he was longlisted for the inaugural Spread the Word Life Writing Prize for his forthcoming memoir Battyman. In 2000, with photographer Amaju X, Topher co-founded the rukus! Federation archive, a Black Queer arts charity dedicated to presenting the best in work by Black Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer artists.
 
Harold Offeh is an artist working in a range of media including performance, video, photography, learning and social arts practice. Harold is interested in the space created by the inhabiting or embodying of histories. He employs humour as a means to confront the viewer with historical narratives and contemporary culture. He has exhibited widely in the UK and internationally including Tate Britain and Tate Modern, South London Gallery, Turf Projects, London, Kettle’s Yard, Cambridge, Wysing Art Centre, Studio Museum Harlem, New York, MAC VAL, France, Kunsthal Charlottenborg, Denmark and Art Tower Mito. 
 
Co Presented with Black at Sussex.