Venue plea for play about Burnley riots (From Lancashire Telegraph)
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Venue plea for play about Burnley riots
11:00pm Wednesday 12th August 2009
By Peter Magill »
THE company behind a ground-breaking play dealing with the social tensions in the aftermath of the Burnley's race riots is looking for a venue in the town to host it.
Director Max Stafford-Smith based new production Mixed Up North on conversations he had about cultural integration in Burnley over the past two years.
And the end results, backed by his company Out Of Joint, will take centre stage at the Octagon Theatre in Bolton for an extended run from September 10 to 26.
But the company has set its heart on performing the piece in Burnley as well.
While Out Of Joint has lined up a series of activities locally from October 19, the showcase event five days later, at Burnley Youth Theatre, has hit an obstacle, leaving producers facing a search for a new home.
Deputy producer Chantelle Staynings said: “We were going to perform the play at the youth theatre but sadly they had to cancel the performance recently because it clashed with preparations for an event they are running soon after.”
She said the play had been designed to tour with minimal set and lighting, and could be performed in a school, community centre, club or even a church.
The play, starring Nelson-born actor Muzz Khan, focuses on a Burnley youth group, putting on a show about mixed relationships, with an underlying mission to bring harmony to the town.
But as props go missing, speakers broken and a cast member walks out, the themes of hardship, self-esteem and violence come to the fore.
A question and answer session with the audience follows.
Chantelle said: “We’re very keen to perform it in Burnley.
"We’ve raised funds to tour it in schools and community spaces in the area during the week of October 19.”
If you can assist with a venue email Chantelle on chantelle@outofjoint.co.uk
Comments(12)
boycott
says...
12:35am Thu 13 Aug 09
Faithless
says...
11:30am Thu 13 Aug 09
DavidBurnley
says...
2:32pm Thu 13 Aug 09
1. Not that many people in Burnley are in favour of this play being produced here - there is a real fear it would spark old divisions and inflame things again.
2. Turf Moor is likely to be rather full this next year as you can't get a ticket for love nor money to see a clarets match - unlike some football clubs. By the way, are Rovers still offering cut price tickets to try and drag the punters in?
Darren Reynolds
says...
6:42pm Thu 13 Aug 09
DavidBurnley wrote:
1. Not that many people in Burnley are in favour of this play being produced here - there is a real fear it would spark old divisions and inflame things again.
It's a fair point. Those in favour say you need to see the play first, but the problem is the mere fact that the above article has been read by a few thousand people who aren't going to see the play is enough of a raw nerve of itself.
Then there will be plenty of articles in the local press in Bolton and anywhere else this play is going to show.
Sometimes the past is best just left there, so we can get on with the future, the Premiership and happier times.
Old Timer
says...
9:58pm Thu 13 Aug 09
I would go and see Max Stafford Clark's production... I don't know where the LT found the name Smith from?. Good old Media Studies.
DavidBurnley
says...
9:57am Fri 14 Aug 09
I live in Burnley and have spoken to lots and lots of people about this and am yet to find someone who a) thinks showing this play in Burnley is a good idea and b) would actually go and see it.
For those of us that lived through this time we would rather leave it in the past and get on with the future. I recognise there is a place to talk about historical events but not in the place it happened when the underlying tensions that caused it are still as strong today as they were then.
I honestly beleive it would be folly on behalf of the producers tot stage this play in Burnley at this point. I don't say they should not have written or produced it anywhere but just now and just here - it would probably do far more harm than good.
RAyzer
says...
10:50am Fri 14 Aug 09
Burnley student
says...
11:49am Sun 16 Aug 09
I hope the show does come to town and have emailed the production team with a place they will be able to perform in.
DavidBurnley
says...
9:31am Mon 17 Aug 09
That's how we should be promoting Burnley and not raking up the past. I hope the venue you claim to have found refuse the allow this play to be shown - it could be responsible for reigniting things that should be left in the past.
Out of Joint
says...
12:44pm Wed 19 Aug 09
I think there is some confusion about the play - it's not actually about the Burnley riots, but set in Burnley today. The play has been created as 'verbatim theatre' with only the real words of real people, formed by the acclaimed and very experienced playwright Robin Soans into a piece of drama. In fact, the view largely expressed in the play accords with the view of people commenting in this paper that the so-called 'race riots' don't represent the reality of life in Burnley at all. I think anyone who comes to see it will find there are lots of different opinions expressed in the play, and it's a positive stimulus for discussion rather than a negative re-opening of old wounds.
We really hope people will come to see it in either Burnley or Bolton, and will come away realising that it's a sensitive, thought-provoking play that tells the stories of young people all over the UK today.
http://www.octagonbo
lton.co.uk/MixedUp.a
sp
jaypeebee
says...
4:42pm Wed 19 Aug 09
It's about a kind, headstrong woman trying to get a lot of funny, sweet, gobby kids to get along together and put on a show - and yes, she does this to try and get people from different ethnic communities to get on with each other.
FLARE-UP: A publicity shot for the play
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snitch says...
11:26pm Wed 12 Aug 09
Belfast on a visit from the cast to display how tensions can be eased. The focus was based on the results of a BNP ruling. The difference with your play is a little more real where voilence breaks out and you can actually bring together the difference of opinions from the audience, so all I can say is good luck and I hope you get your venue.