At some point, I am going to have to work out what I mean by "political theatre." Too often, it gets used to describe the tradition of slightly patronising attempts by a middle-class art form to represent a working class culture (I'm talking about The Angry Young Men of the 1950s) or the self-consciously left-wing scripts of the 1970s. Aside from the mantra that "everything is political," there seems to be such a wide range of plays that do politics - from Rob Drummond's Riot of Spring which names names and sings a song of mockery to the minister for the arts, to the various pieces in Refugee Week (June 17-23).
For example, where does the work of Community Arts North West (CAN) fit?
They are supporting 40 refugee women to share their hopes, dreams and nightmares in a powerful multi-arts performance, Heart's Core. Just because it is in Manchester and not in Scotland, unfortunately, doesn't get me out of the categorisation pickle.
The press release begins with a few serious questions....
Imagine leaving your home country filled with illusion and hope for a new life abroad only to find when you reach your Utopia that you've been sold into a life of prostitution and slavery.
Or being so terrified for your life that you must leave your family to escape to a country where you know no-one, and can't imagine where you will find your next meal.
Look around you, that lady next to you on the bus may have a harrowing tale to tell. But who would ever know? She's one of the "hidden".
Look around you, that lady next to you on the bus may have a harrowing tale to tell. But who would ever know? She's one of the "hidden".
Cheryl Martin, poet and director of Heart's Core added: "The production is immersive in that it actively involves the audience to make them truly understand the experiences of these remarkable women. There are difficult times and these are in the show. But we also share the joy and exuberance from their lives, the good memories they brought from home, the hope, optimism and fun that keep them going. These are the kind of people Hollywood makes films about - heroes."
There are many fallacies surrounding refugee communities, according to Katherine Rogers, the programme's Creative Producer.
"The whole asylum issue is a political hot potato. The British public is pretty tolerant, but the impression is that asylum seekers and refugees get privileges, which isn't true. Most asylum seekers are isolated and living in poverty. They are not allowed to work and their access to benefits is extremely limited with many living on as little as £5 a day. If their asylum claim is refused, many are forced into destitution and homelessness. Women are particularly vulnerable in this process."
"Heart's Core gives women participants the chance to speak their own truth and share stories of joy, hardship and exceptional courage with British audiences. Join them and take a leap into the unknown."
There are many fallacies surrounding refugee communities, according to Katherine Rogers, the programme's Creative Producer.
"The whole asylum issue is a political hot potato. The British public is pretty tolerant, but the impression is that asylum seekers and refugees get privileges, which isn't true. Most asylum seekers are isolated and living in poverty. They are not allowed to work and their access to benefits is extremely limited with many living on as little as £5 a day. If their asylum claim is refused, many are forced into destitution and homelessness. Women are particularly vulnerable in this process."
"Heart's Core gives women participants the chance to speak their own truth and share stories of joy, hardship and exceptional courage with British audiences. Join them and take a leap into the unknown."
Well, this is certainly community orientated theatre, and it has a political dimension. I am wondering whether I can invent a new category: Humanitarian Theatre. It avoids the party political and does the sort of consciousness raising that politicians ought to do, but more often ignore in favour of pandering to the electorate.
Heart's Core is on Saturday, June 15 at the Z-Art centre at 2pm, 3.30pm,5pm,6.30pm and 8pm. Tickets £5.50 and concessions £3.30. Booking: boxoffice@z-arts.org
CAN is grateful for funding support for this production from Arts Council England, Manchester City Council, The Lloyds TSB Foundation for England and Wales and the Network for Social Change.
NOTES:
Community Arts North West (CAN) is a Manchester based arts development organisation, producing work with the people that live in Greater Manchester.
CAN’s work aims to create expression and visibility for the many diverse communities and artists that are based here. Its main priority is to create access to cultural production for people that are excluded from or live on the fringe of mainstream society. This includes the opportunity to explore, express, create, produce and share ideas and creativity coming from the particular and complex narratives that make us who we are.
The right of artistic expression is a first guarantee of human rights. CAN believes that access to cultural production is critical to a healthy and vibrant society and should be the entitlement of all.
Managed by CAN, Exodus is a dynamic programme of participatory arts production working with refugees and host communities across a range of traditional and contemporary arts forms. Since 2005 Exodus has been significant in creating a voice and cultural presence for refugees new to the region.
Exodus aims to impact on the cultural landscape of Greater Manchester through developing partnerships with Greater Manchester's creative and cultural sector, artists and groups amongst refugee communities, and the wider Greater Manchester population.
The Programme
CAN has successfully accessed funding from Arts Council England, Manchester City Council, Lloyds TSB Foundation for England and Wales and the Network for Social Change to run a theatre programme for refugee and asylum seeker women over a two-year period. This will include drama workshops, as well as writing, directing, music, dance, story-telling and singing workshops depending on the interests of the participants.
Each annual workshop programme will lead onto a high-quality performance event in one of Manchester’s key cultural venues which will increase the profile of Greater Manchester refugee and asylum-seeking women, give them a voice and advocate for their needs.
The project aims to engage with 25 Greater Manchester-based women asylum-seekers and refugees per year providing the opportunity to:
Increase confidence & self-esteem
Develop creative/performance/public speaking/communication skills
Give voice to women’s stories, needs and concerns
Increase a sense of well-being and quality of life
Work together, develop understanding, friendship and mutual support
Raise awareness of the plight of refugees and asylum-seekers
Increase the profile of refugee and asylum-seeker women in Greater Manchester and highlight the positive contribution that they make
Heart's Core is on Saturday, June 15 at the Z-Art centre at 2pm, 3.30pm,5pm,6.30pm and 8pm. Tickets £5.50 and concessions £3.30. Booking: boxoffice@z-arts.org
CAN is grateful for funding support for this production from Arts Council England, Manchester City Council, The Lloyds TSB Foundation for England and Wales and the Network for Social Change.
NOTES:
Community Arts North West (CAN) is a Manchester based arts development organisation, producing work with the people that live in Greater Manchester.
CAN’s work aims to create expression and visibility for the many diverse communities and artists that are based here. Its main priority is to create access to cultural production for people that are excluded from or live on the fringe of mainstream society. This includes the opportunity to explore, express, create, produce and share ideas and creativity coming from the particular and complex narratives that make us who we are.
The right of artistic expression is a first guarantee of human rights. CAN believes that access to cultural production is critical to a healthy and vibrant society and should be the entitlement of all.
Managed by CAN, Exodus is a dynamic programme of participatory arts production working with refugees and host communities across a range of traditional and contemporary arts forms. Since 2005 Exodus has been significant in creating a voice and cultural presence for refugees new to the region.
Exodus aims to impact on the cultural landscape of Greater Manchester through developing partnerships with Greater Manchester's creative and cultural sector, artists and groups amongst refugee communities, and the wider Greater Manchester population.
The Programme
CAN has successfully accessed funding from Arts Council England, Manchester City Council, Lloyds TSB Foundation for England and Wales and the Network for Social Change to run a theatre programme for refugee and asylum seeker women over a two-year period. This will include drama workshops, as well as writing, directing, music, dance, story-telling and singing workshops depending on the interests of the participants.
Each annual workshop programme will lead onto a high-quality performance event in one of Manchester’s key cultural venues which will increase the profile of Greater Manchester refugee and asylum-seeking women, give them a voice and advocate for their needs.
The project aims to engage with 25 Greater Manchester-based women asylum-seekers and refugees per year providing the opportunity to:
Increase confidence & self-esteem
Develop creative/performance/public speaking/communication skills
Give voice to women’s stories, needs and concerns
Increase a sense of well-being and quality of life
Work together, develop understanding, friendship and mutual support
Raise awareness of the plight of refugees and asylum-seekers
Increase the profile of refugee and asylum-seeker women in Greater Manchester and highlight the positive contribution that they make
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