Background
The first 2 years - 2006 and 2007
People's
Palace Projects/PPP represent AfroReggae in the UK under the
Artistic Direction of Paul Heritage. Favela to the World
began in 2006 with a tour by AfroReggae to London, Oxford & Manchester.
The show was commissioned by Barbican:bite and created specifically
for the UK - to demonstrate the power and impact of AfroReggae's
work in Brazil. The sell-out performances were linked to training
programmes for young people in schools, PRUs, youth theatres and
other community settings. PPP also ran a parallel series of workshops
for 50 UK artists that enabled them to establish a practice-based
dialogue with AfroReggae. A high-level seminar with representatives
of the police and policy makers in the area of public security debated
the comparatives strategies for arts-based interventions with young
people in Brazil and the UK.
- The involvement of over 10,000 people in the AfroReggae UK story, many of them new to any engagement in the professional arts. Included music and theatre performances, circus, visual arts, workshops, trainings, debates and attendance as audience at events.
- Sell-out performances of Favela to the World at the Barbican, Oxford Town Hall, Contact in Manchester. Five star reviews. The show by AfroReggae was a commission by the Barbican - the first time that a group from a slum/ghetto has performed on any of the Barbican stages. AfroReggae have become an Associate Company of the Barbican.
- From the Favela to our Manor. Translating AfroReggae: the impact and implications of an international intervention in arts work with young people at risk. Dr Richard Ings (ACE/PPP: 2007).
- Youth and the Police Silvia Ramos (PPP Research Bulletin: Nº1. April 2007) in association with the Centre for the Study of Public Security and Citizenship, Rio de Janeiro.
- AfroReggae in the UK Louise Owen (PPP Research Bulletin: Nº4. May 2008).
- From the Favela to Hackney 20 minute DVD by Speak-It Productions showing the impact of AfroReggae's work at Hackney Free and Parochial School.
- Arts projects inspired by AfroReggae now established at 10 sites, many of which are still on-going and will continue their links with PPP and AfroReggae through 2008 and beyond.
Two years into the story, and Favela to the World is now a 12-month programme.
Highlights of recent and current activities through to May 08 include:
Contact, Manchester
Contact have focused on young people who are emerging artists who
want to address issues within their own communities. Five people
trained by AfroReggae have gone on to find their own funding for
cross art-form community-based projects under the title Future
Fires. Future events include performances and showings at the
Young People's Participatory Theatre conference in Liverpool (July
08) and Contacting the World (Contact's pioneering international
theatre exchange project) in Liverpool (July/Aug 08).
Contact will also be hosting a Young People's Symposium (working title) in October 08, which will be an opportunity for showcasing and discussing the outcomes of the AfroReggae UK projects.
Theatre Royal Stratford East
Since the performance by their mini-project in June 07, the young
people have formed themselves into a Youth Advisory Committee for
the Theatre Royal as part of "Agenda for Change". 15 people are
involved in this initiative. In March/April 08 this group will be
doing outreach work in youth and community centres in Newham.
Shoreditch Trust
AfroReggae launched the Blue Hut in 2006 as part of the Shoreditch
Trust's initiative to provide cultural initiatives for young people
not in education, employment and training (NEET). Since then PPP
has worked closely with the Trust to ensure that there can be appropriate
follow-up. Immediate Theatre - who participated in the AfroReggae
training in April and June 2007 - have set up an AfroReggae project
funded by the Shoreditch Trust, and Brazilian artists in London
who undertook training with AfroReggae in 2006 and 2007 have supported
the development of the participants over the last six months.
The young people gave their first public presentation in a tent at the Shoreditch Festival and then performed at the Hoxton Hall in December 2007. The enthusiasm for the outcomes of the project from local police wardens has opened up discussions about the possibility of referrals to the project by the police and other agencies. Workshop sessions also incorporate a healthy eating element. There are currently two groups of young people undertaking weekly sessions: The Blue Hut (16 participants aged 12-18yrs) and Hoxton Hall (16 participants, aged 15-18).
Barbican Education
Four schools have been brought into Favela to the World
by the Barbican Education team: Swanlea, Central Foundation School
for Boys, Elizabeth Garratt Anderson and Morpeth. In 2008, they
will be joined by Lawdale and Oaklands.
The Learning Trust
Hackney Free and Parochial School and Stoke Newington School: Media
Arts and Science College have developed strong, multiple-faceted
projects with their pupils. The groups are identified clearly as
AfroReggae UK, and have given a range of performances inside and
outside school, reaching over two thousand people across the two
projects.
The projects are cross-art form (dance, capoeira, drumming, poetry, digital media) and involve boys and girls. They have designed and produced posters, websites, t-shirts, magazines, notice boards, and school assemblies that promote the message: 'Culture is Our Weapon'. Future plans involve training young people as leaders from within the projects and enabling the groups to visit primary schools to work with Year 6 pupils. They have already formed a strong dialogue with Communities Against Gangs and Guns and Mothers Against Guns, and future joint initiatives are planned.
East Festival
East is a Mayor of London initiative, running for 6 days
in early March. The Barbican offered slots of 3-5 minutes for the
AfroReggae UK project groups to perform on a free stage in the foyer
at lunchtime on 9 March 2008. The intention is to build East
into future annual project cycles.
Further details please contact Rachel Sanger