Get on stage this summer with Tribes
16 July 2007
The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) and Birmingham-based sampad South Asian Arts are collaborating for the first time for an inspirational education and performance project, Tribes.
Tribes teams up young people from across Birmingham with professional storytellers, dramatists, dancers and musicians. The aim of the project is to share the intercultural heritage of India, the Caribbean and the UK found in today’s cities and explore common themes of identity found in Shakespeare’s plays. Participants will get the chance to create their own performance piece through a series of workshops, and present it at professional venues in Birmingham and Stratford in August.
Artists from both sampad and the RSC are currently leading taster sessions in schools and youth groups in Birmingham. Interested young people will then join the workshops taking part at the end of July.
The project is inspired by sampad’s new dance-theatre production, Motherland, which marks the 200th anniversary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act, touring the UK in autumn 2007. Motherland uses art forms from Africa, the Caribbean and South Asia in homage to the cultures affected by the Slave Trade.
The Tribes initiative also encompasses the RSC’s current season of History Plays, whose themes of nationhood and identity complement the twenty-first century multi-culturalism reflected in Motherland. The conflicting loyalties of the Shakespearean royal courts reflect the multiple, almost tribal identities experienced by many South Asian and Caribbean young people as they move between school, friends and home, 21st century urban culture and traditional family and religious values. Tribes participants will have the opportunity to attend the RSC’s Henry IV Part 2 at the Courtyard Theatre as part of the project.
Fiona Ingram, the RSC’s Head of Young People’s Programmes said: “We are really pleased to be working with sampad on such an innovative project. We hope that the ingredients of the summer school will create an exciting piece of theatre for audiences and families in Birmingham and Stratford. Additionally it will be a great process for the young people and artists involved as they share their cultural heritage and explore themes of identity found in modern cities and in so many of Shakespeare's plays.”
Piali Ray OBE, Director of sampad said: “This is an exciting arts project and collaboration between sampad and the RSC. Tribes not only brings together stimulating art-forms and engages young people, but also explores how societal boundaries have shifted over time, yet observes how cultures of the past resemble modern society.”
The workshops will take place from Monday 23 to Tuesday 31 July from 10am to 4pm at mac in Birmingham. They are open to all 14-18 year olds, and are free of charge. Anyone wanting to find out more on how to take part should contact Parminder Naga at sampad on 0121 446 4312.
Performances take place on 1 August at mac and on 2 August at The Dell, Stratford-upon-Avon.
Further information
For more information about Tribes please contact;
Nada Zakula on 01789 412622
(nada.zakula@rsc.org.uk) in the RSC Press Office.
Dean Asker on 01789 412660
(dean.asker@rsc.org.uk) in the RSC Press Office.
Helen Stallard at sampad on 0121 446 4312
(helen.stallard@sampad.org.uk)
Notes for Editors:
About sampad: Since 1990, sampad has been a leading cultural organisation that has helped to establish South Asian arts within mainstream culture in Birmingham and across the U.K. Through production, promotion, performances, advocacy, education and outreach activity using the diverse artforms originating from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, sampad nurtures and supports British Asian Arts and communities. Recent projects involving young people include MyGrations, working with Creative Partnerships, a cross artform, cross curricular project exploring journeys and origins and Fame Academy Bollywood, a music project that developed singing, songwriting, performance and recording skills.
About the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC): The RSC is one of the world's best-known theatre companies. Every year the Company plays to over 600,000 theatregoers at performances staged across the world. The RSC’s mission is to connect and help others to connect with Shakespeare; to work through the principles of ensemble; and to engage with the world.
The RSC is now half way through its journey to stage Shakespeare’s History Cycle with one company of actors. The Henry VI trilogy and Richard III were performed in Stratford in 2006 as part of the company’s Complete Works Festival, and the next plays to open are: Richard II and Henry IV, Parts 1 and 2 followed by Henry V. Then all eight plays will play in repertoire together, with 34 actors playing around 264 roles.
