The Long Walk, the AffinityPlus Crop Over Folk Concert
- 14 hours ago
- 3 min read
The story of Barbados is one of resilience, determination and constant evolution. It is a story that did not begin with Independence, nor end with the transition to Republic status. It is a journey that continues to unfold with each passing generation.
That ongoing national journey forms the heart of The Long Walk, the AffinityPlus Crop Over Folk Concert, which takes centre stage on Sunday, July 26, at Golden Square Freedom Park as part of the Crop Over Festival's commemoration of the Day of National Significance.
Written and produced by acclaimed Barbadian playwright Michelle Hinkson-Cox, the original theatrical production examines three defining moments in the nation's history – the 1937 Riots, Independence in 1966, and the establishment of the Republic in 2021 – weaving them together through music, movement, and drama to explore what freedom has meant, and continues to mean, for Barbados.
The idea for connecting those three periods, however, was not her own. Hinkson-Cox explained that the concept originated with National Cultural Foundation Chief Executive Officer and Crop Over Festival Director Carol Roberts.
"The three time periods were the brainchild of the Festival Director, Carol Roberts. Once she said that she wanted a play that connects those significant moments, I started working," Hinkson-Cox said. The playwright hopes audiences will leave recognising "the similarities across generations" while appreciating "our growth as a people."
Rather than simply recounting history, The Long Walk examines the nation's development through the experiences of women, placing their voices at the centre of the story. For Hinkson-Cox, that creative decision was an easy one.
"Women have always been the backbone of our society," she said, explaining that it was important to tell the national story from their perspective.
The production is a theatrical experience that remains firmly rooted in Barbadian culture.
Integral to that experience is the ensemble cast and chorus, which becomes the crowd, the witness, the conscience and, ultimately, the nation itself. Hinkson-Cox said her approach reflects both her own creative philosophy and a long-standing Caribbean theatre tradition.
"My work in theatre, and certainly as a playwright, reflects the ensemble experience where the process is driven by the collective team. This is also a feature in a lot of Caribbean theatre work," she said.
That collaborative approach allows the chorus to take on multiple roles throughout the production while drawing audiences into the performance. As Hinkson-Cox explained, "the chorus is able to play different roles, engage the audience, and bring a powerful dynamic to the stage performance." It also drives much of the music, with audiences encouraged to listen for both new and familiar songs and, as she puts it, "feel free to join in!"
Although The Long Walk borrows from established musical theatre traditions, Hinkson-Cox stressed that every aspect of the production is unmistakably Barbadian.
"The different performance styles work together in the same way that they would in a musical theatre show. However, the music, language and movement in The Long Walk all have a distinctively Bajan flair, using we culture to tell we stories."
Adding another layer to the production is an excerpt from Cyndi Celeste's powerful poem, We Ain' Done, reinforcing the central message that nation-building is not a completed task, but an ongoing process.
That philosophy is perhaps best captured in the production's title. Hinkson-Cox described The Long Walk as "a reminder that we are still in the process of defining who we are as a nation and also in the process of carving our place on the world stage." She hopes audiences leave reflecting not only on 1937, 1966 and 2021, but, as she said, "also to have hope as we chart our path forward."
Directed by Nala, with musical direction by Ryan Boyce, choreography by Danico Martindale, costume design by Alicia Edwards and stage management by Renesha Lawrence, The Long Walk promises an evening that is both commemorative and thought-provoking.
Beginning at 6 p.m. on Sunday, July 26, at Golden Square Freedom Park, the AffinityPlus Crop Over Folk Concert invites Barbadians to celebrate the nation's past while planning for the future still being written, reminding audiences that Barbados' story, and the long walk towards defining its identity, continues.
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