Talking History: C.L.R. James and E.P. Thompson December 7, 2016 – Film Screening

June Givanni Pan African Archive programmed its first collaborative film screening with Mayday Rooms on December 7 2016. The film shown at Mayday Room’s screening space was H.O. Nazareth’s ‘Talking Histories’. In the year 1983 H.O. Nazareth of Penumbra Productions, directed and produced, a film conversation between two Marxist historians: the Trinidadian playwright C. L. R. James and E. P. Thompson on topics ranging from popular politics in the United Kingdom, new freedom movements and revolutions in the Middle East, Eastern Europe, international affairs in Africa and atomic warfare at the end of the cold war.

The film was screened to 50 guests from the public. The screening was a special event where the audience were treated to the unique experience of seeing the film in its original 16mm format for the first time in over 30 years. The audience had the opportunity to discuss the film with H.O. Nazereth and chair Colin Prescod of Institute of Race Relations.

Guests at ‘Talking History: C.L.R. James and E.P. Thompson’ film screening at Mayday Rooms screening Room

H.O. Nazareth and Colin Prescod (Left to Right) in conversation