Culture, Arts and Refugees

Project Focus:

Migrant Voices is a theatre production with an anti-racist theme about the plight of Iraqi Kurdish refugees in the UK. Iranian asylum seekers in the West Midlands and Iraqi Kurdish asylum seekers in Salford, Manchester,were involved in developing the project. It has toured to schools and communities across the UK, and to Canada.

Background:

Banner Theatre is a theatre company focusing on sensitive, political issues faced by disadvantaged and excluded communities. It was founded by the singer Ewan MacColl, Peggy Seeger and radio producer Charles Parker in the 1970s. It devises work through a participatory process with communities and groups affected by the issues, and uses the stories that evolve as the basis for its shows. Migrant Voices evolved from an initiative by Arts Council England North West to explore the impact of globalization on communities.The first version was developed in Salford and subsequently repeated with different participants in the West Midlands.

Participants:

Iraqi Kurdish and Iranian refugees and asylum seekers involved in original project and in devising the show. The theatre production is performed by a culturally diverse group of four British Banner Theatre Company performers and musicians.

Activities:

Initially, short, 20-minute versions of Migrant Voices were produced during residencies with Iranian refugees and asylum seekers in the West Midlands and Iraqi Kurdish asylum seekers in Salford. Interviews were used to draw out stories and instigate discussion with participants. Most of the activities were developed in English with translation as necessary. The subsequent full-length production was developed in partnership with these refugees and asylum seekers,who were asked to provide feedback on the work as it developed. Musical traditions from Britain and the Middle East were combined for the show. The production was initially expected to have 10 performances but by summer 2004 had already received 50 performances and been seen by more than 4,000 people. It led to drama and music workshops in Hull working with mainly poorer young white people to explore the issues.A collaboration with a Canadian company has been developed to enable the transfer of skills on working with refugees and asylum seekers. Other spin-offs from the project have included a series of cultural events for refugees and asylum seekers in Salford.

Outcomes:

• Number of performances considerably exceeded expectations and the tour has been extended.
• Helped education children and young people in schools on the issues of racism and asylum.
• Validated the experiences of refugees and asylum seekers involved in the initial devising process, and helped give them confidence and self-respect.
• Further work is being developed with host communities in Hull using the same methodology.
• Initial workshops in Manchester led to long-term cultural provision for refugees and asylum seekers in the area.
• Commendations have been received from schools, racial equality councils and refugee support groups.
• Company has improved its musical and video skills.
  

Sources:

Research interview by Banner Theatre. Company staff. Questionnaire.

Contact details:

Banner Theatre Company

Address: 23 Endwood Court Road,
Handsworth Wood,
Birmingham B20 2RX
Tel: +44 (0) 121 682 0730
E: office-banner@blueyonder.co.uk
www.bannertheatre.co.uk