Get stuck into a hip-hop lyric writing workshop with Baba Isreal and Keisha Thompson, all from the comfort of your own home!

Join us via Zoom and build your skills one bar at a time.

About Baba Isreal

Baba Israel is a Hip Hop/theatre artist, poet, educator and consultant raised in New York by parents who were core members of the Living Theatre. He has toured and developed projects in thirty-four countries, often working as a cultural ambassador. Baba is part of Bronx Banda with Arturo O'Farrill and has shared the stage with artists such as KRS ONE, Lester Bowie, Outkast, Bahamadia and Medusa. He is a teaching artist in the areas of Hip Hop, music production, spoken word and theatre. He works with City Lore and organizations such as BAM, Piano Slam, and Arts Horizons.

He is a core member of Hip Hop/Soul project Soul Inscribed who recently completed the American Music Abroad program and released their second album Tune Up on Tokyo Dawn Records. He holds an MFA in Interdisciplinary Arts from Goddard College where he studied with Daniel Alexander Jones and is the Artistic Director of the Performance Project based at the University Settlement. His newest production co-created with Grace Galu Kalambay, premiered in 2022 produced by HERE at the Ellen Stewart Theater at La Mama.

The Big Banquet

Every day is a party at Contact. But, this summer, we’re bringing you something extra special.

From 28 - 29 of July, we’re lowering the drawbridge and throwing open the castle doors for a weekend full of festivities!

“For 50 years, Contact has proven what can be achieved by putting the future first. I’m so excited to mark this remarkable legacy with The Big Banquet and can’t wait to share the beautiful Contact energy with our audiences, artists, visitors, friends and family over one incredible weekend. After a year at the helm of this magnificent organisation, I know one thing for sure: there’s nowhere in the world like Contact” - Keisha Thompson, Contact's AD and CEO

Join us in the castle on Oxford Road as we wrap up our 50th birthday celebrations with The Big Banquet, and feast on a range of extraordinary cultural delights.

From morning raves to poetry slams and fashion shows, we can’t wait to celebrate 50 years of changing the face of UK culture with you.

Learn more here!