Councillors from the Medway Labour and Cooperative Group have praised the recent performance of The Showman and the Chartist at the Historic Dockyard

The performance was produced by the Medway African and Caribbean Association in association with Mrs Baker’s Medway Theatre Company and explored a hypothetical meeting between two of Medway’s most famous sons, Charles Dickens and Chartist organiser William Cuffay.

Cllr Clive Johnson, Medway Labour and Cooperative Group’s Spokesperson for Children and Young People said: “It was a really enjoyable exploration of Black history, radical history and Medway history, or as it should be called, simply ‘history’. I want to thank everyone who brought this important story to us this weekend.”

Cllr Pat Cooper, Medway Labour and Cooperative Group representative for Gillingham North added: “I am a Trustee of the Medway African and Caribbean Association, and I’m exceptionally pleased with the feedback from all those who have seen this performance of esteemed actors portraying Charles Dickens and William Cuffay. We knew at MACA that this conversation would be thought provoking and bring history to life.”