Contacting the World 2010 Brochure

JULY 19–26 2010

Contact, Oxford Road, Manchester, M15 6JA

www.contact-theatre.org • 0161 274 0600

www.contactingtheworld.org

Contacting the World is Contact’s pioneering, international theatre festival for young people.

Since the beginning of the year 12 companies from across the world have been randomly paired up to collaborate on new performance pieces. It is an amazing project and as we embark on this year’s festival I think it’s important to reflect it was all born out of one conversation. From that one moment, that one vision, was born this brilliant celebration of young people, cultural exchange and new theatre making. I am honoured to be a part of it and to be once again hosting it at Contact.

This year the focus will not only be on youth art and creativity, but youth leadership as well.

As part of Contacting the World 2010 our Youth Leadership Summit (see page 9) will allow young people from across Europe to get together, meet key policy makers and help shape the arts for the future.

I look forward to welcoming all our guests for a week of passionate performances, workshops, matinees and a shared sense of community. Let me encourage you to join in.

BABA ISRAEL ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, CONTACT, MANCHESTER @babaisrael

In Memory of Noël Greig Noël Greig was the founding father of Contacting the World. The idea, born in a coffee shop in New Delhi, was to create a global twinning project that would bring young people together and let them explore their curiosity, celebrate difference and produce powerful new work. As a playwright every encounter for Noël was full of possibility and learning. He thrived on the thrill of the new, however challenging or scary and encouraged us all to be brave and bold.

This year’s festival will, for the first time, happen without Noël, but his energy and legacy live on through all of us who had the privilege of knowing him and through the ever-expanding global Contacting The World family.

KULLY THIARAI CONTACTING THE WORLD CO-FOUNDER

Contacting the World is an important project for me; my experience as a participant taught me so much about myself and the world as a global community. The vibrant energy that begins at the application stage continues to build throughout the process until it is unleashed in the festival week with smiles, love and theatre.

To be involved in this year’s festival is an honour and having met company representatives and followed everyone’s journey online I’m looking forward to an exciting festival of cultural learning and theatre.

AARON CUNNINGHAM CONTACTING THE WORLD ADMINISTRATOR & FORMER PARTICIPANT

10P MIX UP Manchester, United Kingdom

THE LOST LIZARD Monday 19 July

Welcome to a place where The Beatles jostle with Bhangra and laddoos and toffees are washed down with great big cocktails of lassi and stout. An idiosyncratic look at how India has influenced British culture.

10p Mix Up are the host company for Contacting the World 2010. Nurtured creatively as young people by Contact the company is an eclectic bunch of performers featuring poets, comedians, musicians and even a wrestler.

Workshop: Cranking Out

A look at how individual performance styles like comedy, MCing and physical theatre can be woven together into one unique theatrical experience. www.bit.ly/10pMixUp

UK-India: Connections Through Culture

WORKING TITLE 2.0 Mumbai, India

DIRTY TALK Monday 19 July A man and woman push their way through a world of too much colour.

A boy is born with a blue hand.

Memories and letters float, suspended in a world that permits no flaws.

A vibrant youth wing of an established theatre company, Working Title 2.0 has, for over a decade, explored the rich heritage of Indian stagecraft. Thriving on the passion, ideas and dedication of its members the company encourages everyone to input into the creative process.

Workshop: Silent Disco Explore your inner rhythms and hidden physical instincts in a workshop of dancing, movement and laughter. www.workingtitleindia.blogspot.com

Once upon a time there lived a word, That slept sound in safety, never thinking to be heard, Then came along a very big bad pen, That proclaimed in fury that the words had to end.

THE OUTHOUSE COLLECTIVE London, United Kingdom

A NEON FAIRYTALE Tuesday 20 July Eons ago the planet spun on its axis. Sunrise. Sunset. Men, women and children lived in a symphony of light and dark. Then the Slam happened and knocked the world off-kilter. The Earth stopped.

In the midst of this chaos two weary travellers collide and journey through this newly confusing world, both searching for a new way of life, safety, comfort and — most importantly — answers.

The OutHouse Collective is a dynamic young company, developed at the Roundhouse in London, that aims to challenge audiences’ perceptions of theatre.

Workshop: Exploring the Neon Fairytale Focusing on ideas of waiting, searching and exploring, this workshop will lead participants through their imaginations with games, choral work and object manipulation. www.bit.ly/outhousecollective

CUCIOTAK Pasuruan, Indonesia

AROK DEDES Tuesday 20 July Told through traditional Indonesian art forms, the powerful tale of Ken Angrok, King of Java, who is eternally cursed after killing a blacksmith.

CuciOtak are a theatre company located in an area of former conflict, Pasuruan in Indonesia. The company consists of over 90 members made up of Christian and Muslim young people. Incorporating martial arts and physical theatre into their performances CuciOtak seeks to promote traditional Indonesian culture.

Workshop: Indonesian Art Forms An in-depth look at the traditional music, dance and martial arts of Indonesia and a guide to incorporating it in other genres.

JUNGES THEATER BASEL Basel, Switzerland

LAST MAN STANDING Wednesday 21 July

Why is power sexy? What makes strength attractive? Based on Richard III by William Shakespeare, Last Man Standing is a dramatic exploration of being bad and taking the short way to the top.

Since 1997 Junges Theater Basel has provided a space for young people to come together to create theatre. Involving young people in all aspects of the theatre, their work focuses on power structures and society.

Workshop: Theatre Manipulation and Power

A workshop of thought games and exercises exploring mental tricks and intuition. www.jungestheaterbasel.ch

FIRST WAVE HIP HOP ENSEMBLE Madison, United States of America

TURBULENCE: THE EVE OF CRASHING Wednesday 21 July We always remember the beginning and end of relationships, but what about the middle? A Hip Hop production rooted in the voice of American youth, Turbulence: The Eve Of Crashing examines what happens between that blissful point of take off and the moment it all comes crashing down.

Blurring the boundaries of poetry, dance and theatre, First Wave Hip Hop Ensemble is a group of MCs, singers, dancers and actors who attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison. A close-knit, dynamic campus community, the group helps members develop their craft through skill sharing and the tutorage of nationally acclaimed Hip Hop artists.

Workshop: Believing, Writing and Telling your Story A guide to creating and layering collaborative performances through Hip Hop, spoken word and movement. www.bit.ly/first_wave

84THEATER Tehran, Iran

MAGIC MOUNTAIN Thursday 22 July Taking inspiration from an old Iranian epic, this is a fantastical tale about a boy named Stefan who is searching for a magic mountain…in Liverpool.

Established in 2006, 84theater concentrates on plays by renowned Iranian and international playwrights, including Chekov, Mamet and Pinter, which explore socio-political themes. Most members are graduates of Tehran’s University of Art.

Workshop: Conscious Body A look at how our mind and body interact through rhythm, movement and time. www.84theater.com

20 STORIES HIGH Liverpool, United Kingdom

When the skies are black and gloomy…

And the rain doesn’t stop…

Where is your shelter?

Who do you reach for?

What song do you sing?

RAIN Thursday 22 July Tackling depression and the tricky relationship between parent and child, Rain is told through a fusion of Hip Hop, song, poetry, and movement.

Liverpool-based 20 Stories High produce professional theatre and participatory projects.

They create work through collaboration with young people and artists, capturing the imaginations of their audiences with their bold renderings of contemporary tales.

Workshop: Tell Us A Story…

A workshop exploring the things we have in common and what makes us unique. How far can we stretch the truth? www.20storieshigh.org.uk

POETRY CIRCLE NOWHERE Amsterdam, The Netherlands

RE MOVE ALL Friday 23 July Do you feel like you are where you want to be? .start.think.start.think again.start.

Are you sure you are where you should be? .start. Are you really here? .start.re move all.start. Poetry Circle Nowhere invites you to move on. start. re move all.

Poetry Circle Nowhere is a collective of young people who specialize in performance poetry. Dedicated to creating artistic opportunities for emerging artists outside mainstream education their work covers writing, dance, theatre and visual art.

Workshop: Poetry and Performance A workshop exploring how performance poetry can be used to explore other art forms, from drama to dance. www.poetrycirclenowhere.nl

SOPHIATOWN AMBASSADORS Johannesburg, South Africa

UBUNTU-SPIRIT Friday 23 July A young Dutch woman embarks on a life-changing journey to South Africa to see for herself the culture, people and the origins of humankind. Inspired by a dream she connects with a new energy, something she calls ‘releasing the Ubuntu-Spirit’.

Sophiatown Ambassadors aim to engage young people from from across a diverse range of backgrounds to participate in personal development, the arts and leadership skills. Based in Johannesburg their work explores social and green issues.

Workshop: Encountering our Ubuntu-Spirit Exploring the connections we have to people we have never met using poetry, dance, song and music. www.trevorhuddleston.org

JAMAICA YOUTH THEATRE Kingston, Jamaica

GRAFFITI: FROM THE WALL TO THE STAGE Saturday 24 July Inspired by their twin’s passion for street art, Graffiti: From the Wall to the Stage brings the vibrant graffiti of Jamaica alive through dub poetry, music and performance.

Jamaica Youth Theatre is made up of young actors from across Jamaica who share a passion for drama. They create cutting-edge popular theatre targeting young people as a means of social change and are committed to using the island’s indigenous art and popular culture to engage their audience.

Workshop: Understanding Dub Poetry This workshop will look at the background to dub poetry; the original dub poets and the style of this edgy performance genre. www.bit.ly/jamaicayouththeatre

THE RADIATOR FACTORY Copenhagen, Denmark

AROUND THE CORNER Saturday 24 July What’s that around the corner? Using rap, dance, text, parkour and multi-media The Radiator Factory takes you on a trip to a place not far from where you live — a place you would never go alone.

The Radiator Factory is a group of young people aged 15 to 25 who make work that mixes various strands of street culture. Based in the outskirts of Copenhagen they seek to give expression to ignored voices.

Workshop: Around the Corner An exploration of how parkour, rap and street culture can be used to create performance: The Radiator Factory style.

www.radiatorfabrikken.dk

CONTACT INTERNATIONAL FORUM JULY 19 TO 26 A week of workshops, forums and debates for professionals working with young people from across the world to exchange ideas, share learning and build valuable relationships.

For more information please visit: www.contactingtheworld.org

CONTACTING THE WORLD LEADERSHIP SUMMIT 2010 JULY 26 Alternative Agenda: What Happens When Young People Lead?

The festival week of events, informal networking and cultural exchanges will culminate in a one-day summit which will bring young leaders and international decision makers together to explore leadership, creativity, citizenship and empowerment.

Hosted by a team of young leaders from Stockholm, Berlin, Manchester, Amsterdam and Copenhagen the summit has a practical and creative focus designed to encourage debate and dialogue. Participants will exchange ideas, share experiences, create new understandings and look at new models of youth leadership in an international context.

Case studies of innovative and radical programmes of youth empowerment sit alongside creative provocations, facilitated workshops and vibrant panel discussions to explore honestly and rigorously: What Happens When Young People Lead?

What Can We Learn From Young Creative Leaders? How Do They Challenge Our Traditional Models of Leadership?

Participation in the Leadership Summit is by invitation.

For more information please contact: leadershipsummit@contact-theatre.org Leadership Summit 2010 is a key strand of Contacting Europe, a week-long programme funded by Youth in Action. Supporting five companies of young Europeans to participate in a creative intercultural exchange it aims to engage them in dialogue with key policy makers.

MATINEES

A series of afternoon performances by past and present Contacting the World participants including:

84THEATER, IRAN GHOST STORIES Four short dramas by Samuel Beckett exploring the relationship between theatre and painting.

PROJECT PHAKAMA, UK & TEATER TETAS, JAKARTA THE WORLD AT MY FEET A fantastical tale of a wise man who finds the last living seed on Earth.

NINE, UK ?

One man’s story of resistance to enforced censorship told through poetry and Indian dance.

AL HARAH, PALESTINE DISCOVERY A drama about transformation and change based on the experiences of young Palestinians.

CONTACTING THE WORLD 2010 STREET PERFORMANCE On Sunday 25th July Contacting the World 2010 will take to the streets with a celebratory carnival in Manchester City Centre.

The event will be an explosion of colour, dance and energy, featuring performances from the Contacting the World companies who will then join with Urban Moves International Dance Festival for professional dance performances from around the world. www.contactingtheworld.org www.urbanmovesfestival.co.uk

PROGRAMME Monday 19 July Performance 7.30pm

THE LOST LIZARD 10P MIX UP DIRTY TALK WORKING TITLE 2.0

Workshops

FIRST WAVE HIP HOP ENSEMBLE JUNGES THEATER BASEL

10am & 2pm Noon & 4pm

Tuesday 20 July Performance 7.30pm

AROK DEDES CUCIOTAK A NEON FAIRYTALE THE OUTHOUSE COLLECTIVE

Workshops

POETRY CIRCLE NOWHERE SOPHIATOWN AMBASSADORS

10am & 2pm Noon & 4pm

Wednesday 21 July Performance 7.30pm

TURBULENCE FIRST WAVE HIP HOP ENSEMBLE LAST MAN STANDING JUNGES THEATER BASEL

Workshops

JAMAICA YOUTH THEATRE THE RADIATOR FACTORY

10am & 2pm Noon & 4pm

Thursday 22 July Performance 7.30pm

MAGIC MOUNTAIN 84THEATER RAIN 20 STORIES HIGH

Workshops

10PM MIX UP WORKING TITLE 2.0

10am & 2pm Noon & 4pm

Friday 23 July Performance 7.30pm

UBUNTU-SPIRIT SOPHIATOWN AMBASSADORS RE MOVE ALL POETRY CIRCLE NOWHERE

Workshops

POETRY CIRCLE NOWHERE SOPHIATOWN AMBASSADORS

10am & 2pm Noon & 4pm

Saturday 24 July Performance 7.30pm

AROUND THE CORNER THE RADIATOR FACTORY GRAFFITI JAMAICA YOUTH THEATRE

Workshops

84THEATER 20 STORIES HIGH

10am & 2pm Noon & 4pm

All workshops will take place at: The John Thaw Studio, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road

Booking

Home Productions

To book tickets for performances or workshops:

Every company taking part in Contacting the World 2010 will also be performing in their home countries. For details please check out their individual websites.

+44 (0) 161 274 0600 www.contact-theatre.org In person: Contact, Oxford Road, Manchester, M15 6JA Our box office is open Mon to Fri 10am to 6pm, Sat 12pm to 6pm

Team General Manager Jo Topping Project Manager Devina Kumar

Tickets

Project Administrators Aaron Cunningham Anna Cahill

Performance Tickets £8/5 Matinee Tickets £5 Workshop Tickets £5 Weekly Pass (all evening performances and one workshop a day) £50

International Development Associate Ruth Adkins

Group Discount Buy 10 tickets for one event get one free.

Contacting the World Ning Since the beginning of the year the Contacting the World 2010 companies, alongside previous participants, staff and members of the public, have been creating a vibrant online community.

Explore their creative collaborative process; join in stimulating discussions and check out their videos and photographs at: www.contactingtheworld.ning.com

JULY 19–26 2010

Leadership & Summit Co-ordinators Kully Thiarai Chris Sudworth Consultant Julia Turpin Artist Facilitators Adam McGuigan, Andre Pink Artist Mentor Diane Thornton Interns Kate Benfield Katie Liana Riley

Contact, Oxford Road, Manchester, M15 6JA

www.contactingtheworld.org • www.contact-theatre.org • 0161 274 0600 Contact is grateful for the support of the following partners for Contacting the World 2010.

Project Supporters

The Zochonis Charitable Trust UK-India: Connections Through Culture

Contact also receives core funding from

Design: www.markbrownstudio.co.uk