Strange Fruit World Premiere
16 October 2025To mark Black History Month in October, Company Chameleon invites you to the online world premiere of Strange Fruit, a new and powerful short dance film inspired by Billie Holiday’s song.
Strange Fruit World Premiere
Tuesday 28 October, 17.00 – 17.45 GMT
Online – on zoom
Tickets: £3
Created and choreographed by Kevin Edward Turner MBE, Strange Fruit draws focus to the brutal and dehumanising act of lynching and the historical struggle that people of colour have endured.
Lynching is an act which saw people of colour across the southern United States being publicly killed, often by a mob and by hanging, for alleged offences without legal trial.
The song spotlights a period of history when lynching was rife between the late 19th to the mid-20th century and state and local laws enforced racial segregation.
“Strange Fruit by Billie Holiday is a song that speaks deeply to me and moves me every time I hear it,” says Kevin. “I wanted to create a dance film that transforms the song into a visual and visceral experience through movement and serves as a reminder of this event and its place in our collective history.”
At the heart of the dance film is an electrifying solo performance by dancer Kadafi Mulula, whose physicality and athleticism creates a raw intensity that captivates. Deeply moving, the power of the movement is exemplified by the lyrics and the overarching sounds of the trumpet, saxophone and piano in the song.
Kevin says, “As well as serving as a reminder, I hope the experience of watching the film encourages people to reflect on the parallels to our own time, where we continue to dehumanize and brutalize others, often because of differences. I hope the film encourages people to remember, to feel, and to recognise the past in our present.”
“Southern trees bear a strange fruit, blood on the leaves and blood at the root. Black bodies swinging in the Southern breeze, strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees.”
Strange Fruit recorded in 1939 by Billie Holiday.
Join us online for Black History Month and watch the short film’s premiere followed by a live Q&A with Kevin and Kadafi Mulula, we look forward to seeing you there.
INFO & TICKETS
Strange Fruit world premiere
Tuesday 28 October
17.00 – 17.45 GMT
Online – on zoom
Tickets: £3
Please note: You will be sent the zoom link by email the day before the premiere.
Big thank you to the creative team who made the film.
Film credits
Co-directed by Kevin Edward Turner and Ben Williams
Edited by Ben Williams
Performed by Kadafi Mulula
Director of photography: Ben Halford
Stedicam Operator: Sam Davies
Music: Strange Fruit by Billy Holiday