Break, noun
The interruption of continuity or uniformity; a pause in work or during an activity or event.
What is the point of breaks? What happens when we look at the sky, the streets, passers by? What transformations can be ushered in through daydreams?
Sky Breaks an interactive piece of writing produced by Amber Obasi and 皚桐 (Aí Tung), and created in collaboration with Deptford residents. It explores these questions, using benches, bus-stops, low walls, and other public seating areas across Deptford to consider the power of public breaks. Not just as single moments of time, but as interconnected processes in the creation of change.
You are invited to immerse yourself in and be guided by these poems and recordings drawn from and inspired by Deptford.
The walk is based around x locations in Deptford. Amber and Aí have created new poetic sound works, designed specifically to be listened to at each of these sites. To take part, we encourage you to navigate your way to the different locations and listen to the pieces as you stop, reflect, and consider what we truly want when we’re not stuck in “business as usual”. Directions and a map to the locations are included below.
You can also follow the route on Google Maps, or download the route as a .gpx file.
Or download a map and directions, including a transcript of the poems (PDF). Printouts of the map will also be available from the Deptford Literature Festival Info Desk at Deptford Lounge on Saturday 29 March 2025.
Credits
Created and written by Amber Obasi
Production and sound design by 皚桐 (Aí Tung)
If you enjoyed this walking tour, you may also like:
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Dead Men in Deptford an audio guided literary history walking tour of the area by author Anna Sayburn Lane.
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Black History Walking Tour an audio guided walk exploring the Black history of Deptford and Lewisham by historian and author Jody Burton
- Sounding Deptford an audio walk based on new audio-poems created by James Wilkes, Joe Rizzo Naudi and Michael Umney; drawn from and inspired by the sounds of Deptford and its communities
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Published 27 March 2025