We're thrilled to announce our exciting programme of free, fun youth and family participation activities on at CLF Arts Café in Peckham and Arcola Theatre in Dalston, this Oct half-term.
Pandora's Box returns for UK tour
With its family storyline, the play drew many African-heritage audiences (children and their parents) into theatre for the first time. As importantly, it drew them in AS families, often three generations visiting the theatre for the first time together. We wanted to build on this!
PROGRAMME
So we’ve developed a set of theatre and cultural events and workshops exploring the issues and themes of the play (migration, heritage, dual cultures). They're run by expert practitioners, and aimed at young people, elders, parents, family groups, theatre-lovers ...anyone with an interest in African arts and culture.
Pandora's Box returns for UK tour
They're for people of all ages and levels of interest to become more actively involved in theatre. You can engage in artist-led projects inspired by the show, attend artist talks, learn some Yoruba language, have a go at gele-tying, enjoy drop-in family story-telling/music workshops, or join one of our play devising or youth personal development programmes.
Pandora's Box returns for UK tour
The Play in a Week Devising Workshop will be run with professional writers and directors. Teams from Iroko Theatre, Numbi Arts and Usifu Jalloh, the Cowfoot Prince will deliver the family-centred events.
Sign up now at sporaparticipation@yahoo.com, stating the name of the venue, workshop and date you’d like to attend.
All activities are free and we gratefully acknowledge funding from Arts Council England, Awards for All and The Unity Theatre Trust in making this possible.
CLF ARTS CAFE, Peckham
Monday 27 - Friday 31 October - Play in a Week Devising workshop
10.30 - 1.30 every day - ages 11 - 18.
Monday 27 October - Friday 31 October Out of the Box young peoples' workshop
10.00 -1.00 every day, ages 11 - 18.
Monday 27 October
11.00 - 12.45 - Yoruba language workshop with Ogbeni (Mr) Kola
1.00 - 2.00 - Gele Tying with Tomi Ogunjobi
Tuesday 28 October
10.30am - 12.30 -Funmi Adewole - Dance & Storytelling
1.00 - 2.30 - Funmi Adewole - Poetry writing
Wednesday 29 October 11.00 - 12.45 - Yoruba language workshop
1.00 - 2.00 - Gele Tying
Thursday 30 October
10.30 - 12.30 - Usifu Jalloh - Travelling Trunk
1.00 - 2.30 - Usifu Jalloh - Jukebox Journey
Arcola, Dalston
Monday 27 - Friday 31st October - Play in a Week Devising 2 - 5pm every day, ages 11 - 18.
Monday 27 October
1.30 - 3.30 Yoruba language workshop
Tuesday 28 October 1.30 - 3.30pm - Pa Ogunlana's Yoruba Love Stories -readings and interactive storytelling 4 - 6pm - Creating Characters Workshop
Wednesday 29 October
1.00 - 3pm Funmi Adewole Dance & Storytelling
4.00 - 6pm - Funmi Adewole poetry workshop
Thursday 30 October
1.30 - 3. 30pm - Yoruba language workshop
4 - 6pm - Gele tying Workshop
Friday 31st
1 - 3pm - Usifu Jalloh - Travelling Trunk
4 - 6pm Usifu Jalloh - Jukebox Journeys
PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS
JUKEBOX JOURNEY
Jukebox Journey is an inter-generational storytelling project aimed at African elders and young people. The aim of the project is to facilitate a meeting point and a sharing across generations. Both groups will be brought together to share a particular record, favourite song or story. Elders will be encouraged to tell their migration stories and memories. Young people will be encouraged to take part in the dialogue, listen to these stories and connect with their history. The project will facilitate a meeting point and a sharing across generations, with the purpose of:
- Young people learning about their history
- Elders passing on important life stories.
- Young people gaining storytelling and drama skills and using music to explore connections.
- Elders developing storytelling and drama skills and using music to explore connections.
- Breaking down barriers of fear and mistrust between the old and young.
- Raising self-esteem and respect between the young and old.
TRAVELLING TRUNK
An African-themed, family friendly, drop-in learning workshop, offering a wonderful opportunity for the African community to celebrate its heritage and a space for multi-cultural, multi-generational participation.
Adults and children will be inspired by objects to create new stories together. Guided by skilled storytellers, they'll dive into an imaginative journey by telling stories and singing songs prompted by a series of objects that appear from a giant suitcase or travel trunk - a Pandora's Box of treasures and surprises. They'll experience the music, costumes and food of Africa through singing, drawing, dance and storytelling in an enjoyable, creative experience for children and the young at heart alike.
OUT OF THE BOX - Personal Development workshop
A series of enabling workshops for young people, exploring self-identity and cultural heritage. Out of the Box explores alternative positive images and role models available to young people.
Young people responded enthusiastically to the issues of Pandora’s Box, with the central character of a teenager sent to Africa against his will. This project will give them the tools to answer the crucial personal questions, such as: what do I want to do in my life? What do I want to be? What do I love? What do I identify as my heritage? What groups do I identify with?
Youth-group sessions will creatively explore their response to the issues confronting the teenage boys in the play Pandora’s Box. Through a series of exercises, the workshop explores:
• Self-identity
• limiting stereotypes - exploring media representation of young black people
• Issues and challenges of family relationships among dual heritage African and Caribbean diaspora families
We are all part of something, whether it be a family, a class group at school, a music band, a football team. How do these loyalties sit with parent aspirations for young people from diaspora backgrounds? The workshop will look at issues of parent-child relationships in UK African families and conflicts, addressing concerns that are central to Pandora’s Box (as dramatically played out with the dilemma of British-born teenager, Timi, being left in Nigeria against his will to improve his education and behaviour). The workshop empowers the young people to recognise effective expression and to communicate in ways that will make them heard, understood and respected.
The sessions will include:
• Themed discussions using stimulus from newspapers, online info, books, magazines, photography, art work, music.
• Writing sessions – encouraging participants to develop their unique voice through spoken word, music, writing and storytelling.
Through the exercises, the young people will build up their own dossier and develop a clearer insight into ways to approach some of the pressing concerns of their young lives.
PLAY IN FIVE DAYS - DEVISING
Participants explore the themes from the play and then create their own material in response to set tasks. The workshop will spark your imagination and encourage a collaborative approach to creating and performing a new ten-minute theatre piece. This workshop is led by Ade Solanke and a guest director.