WAKE UP EU Cultural Partnership Project SIMPLY HUMAN A Youth Cultural Exchange, Bridport and Srebrenica 24 April – 3 May 2012

From Filip Jokanovic (17) Srebrenica “The week in England was a movie that will be in my head for ever. The experience, energy, knowledge and ideas we all got are something special and [...]]]>

WAKE UP
EU Cultural Partnership Project SIMPLY HUMAN
A Youth Cultural Exchange, Bridport and Srebrenica
24 April – 3 May 2012

From Filip Jokanovic (17) Srebrenica
“The week in England was a movie that will be in my head for ever. The experience, energy, knowledge and ideas we all got are something special and irreplaceable.  When we got the chance to show our play, I wanted to show what young people can do independently, what’s going on around us but what I didn’t know is that we are going to be a part of something very important for, not just us but the young people of that town, and to inspire other young people to take part in theatre, culture and part in changing the situation in their town. 

We had the opportunity for our voices to be heard and to share the situation in our town, country, and to find out that the same situation is going on everywhere, we all know that but somehow you don’t think about it and you think everywhere is better than here. And then you meet young people who are full of energy, ideas, will and you can find your self in them, and see that they are trying to change things like we do. This week and the whole project opened doors for many if not all of us, I’ve learned a lot and I know I want to go on with my work and share this with more young people and try to inspire them, encourage them.  If I don’t succeed I still can be proud to know that we are making changes in our town.”   Love Filip.

The creative evaluation by Anna Ledgard http://annaledgard.com/ for this final part of the EU Cultural Partnership Project, Wake Up,  will be available on this web site in a few weeks, both in Bosnian/Serbian and in English. This evaluation will create the groundwork for the next application to the EU Cultural Grants Fund.

Lyme Regis beach after fish and chips

This youth cultural exchange week was magical.  The young people from Bridport and Srebrenica provided inspiring theatre, intelligent and informed debate about democracy and education, spoke with eloquence and courage to Members of Parliament from the All Party Committee on Bosnia and Herzegovina at the House of Commons, as well as participating in a variety of music and creative workshops and enjoying the beauty and hospitality of West Dorset.

Waiting to present their film Candles Against the Night to the All Party Committee
on Bosnia and Herzegovina at the House of Commons, Westminster London

Nela Antonovic and Tina Ellen Lee on the Millennium Bridge London

Tanja, Ben and Tina presenting their ideas on the need for democratic change

“I really enjoyed the workshop which explored democracy, it’s promotion and the influence and importance of democracy on each of our lives. Working with a range of students and people from Bosnia was really interesting – similarities and differences are evident. We learnt more about the genocide that occurred in Bosnia which was still occurring in 1995 – the year I was born – a raw and upsetting matter, which many people my age know nothing about. Although this was central to the workshop, I thought it was good how we talked both about our personal experiences of democracy as well as democracy in general. The workshop explored how democracy can be hindered and enabled, we learnt that many women in Bosnia are still often perceived as being for the ‘home’ and unable to vote, sometimes even selling their vote out of bribery or due to poverty, this developed my realisation that the UK, in comparison is an undoubtedly flawed but to some extent working democracy. I also enjoyed working with other local students, over lunch a couple of the Bosnians asked if there was any poverty in Bridport, me and a fellow local student explained that although Bridport has many great projects going on, in our eyes there is an evident divide in its community – between the poor and middle classes. This surprised them as they weren’t aware of this divide in the community, I don’t think many of the people who visit bridport are aware of this. Finally the workshop was useful to me as it increased my confidence in the effect of my own voice and that of young people on issues such as democracy both locally and globally. Meeting other young people with similar concerns  created a feeling of unity as well new friends and connections that we hope to stay in contact with”.
Elektra Owen 17 Thomas Hardye School Dorchester Dorset UK

Vesna Djukic and Elektra Owen getting to know each other

“There were many other brilliant things that happened during the program, however one has become clear to me and I am sure to everyone else, that art enables and frees people in the way that no other activity can, because all people are artistic and born free, only corrupt systems and manipulations ties them into a closed way of thinking. Art was a liberating process for Fetus, the youth theatre company from Srebrenica, and for many other groups, because it speaks to us all in one language and that is a language of basic humanity and generosity in giving and learning for all. I was astonished with the maturity of the young people of Bridport and Srebrenica working on the global problems of democracy all around the world. It demonstrated the determination of the young people to fight jointly for a better future was far beyond my expectation. What was the most impressive thing is the fact that the young people met just recently and even though coming from different backgrounds and communities they were able to find the mutual common ground, language and to the identify common threads for human voice to be heard and equally represented.”
Tanja Dramac (24) BiH MA in Political Sciences

Tanja inspired

 ”For me, the most incredible thing about meeting the handful of young people from Srebrenica was that; whatever I though I knew about Bosnia & Herzegovina was only one side of the story. Its so inspiring to have met a group of young people who were so passionate for democracy and all the components of democracy when here in the UK we take it for granted, or very often completely apathetic towards it. I found it was an experience that couldn’t have possibly been taught in the classroom, and something that we need more of. I became aware of the fact that in order for change to be made, we must have an understanding of what it is that the people care about and Opera Circus has definitely fulfilled that for both Thomas Hardye students and from what I saw, the young people of Srebrenica. It’s been a privilege to get to work and learn with a room full of passionate young people, when it would have been so much easier to not care. I endeavour to share the work of Opera Circus (and the EU’s Wake Up initiative) across my school and relate it to many different aspects of the school to highlight the importance of democracy and the importance of understanding one another.”
Rory Newbery, 16, Thomas Hardye School, Dorchester, Dorset UK.

 Rory, on the right, and Elektra Owen making name tags

“I had the pleasure to be a volunteer for the EU funded program “Wake Up” in their final event called Simply Human in Bridport, UK and I would like to share my experience in the program……. Maybe we can find new ways to help each other establish better relations and increase peace for our respective countries. Thank you to Tina Ellen Lee for putting together this wonderful program. I hope in the future you will be able to expand on Wake Up as this is a great alternative to the worn-out methods of rehabilitation used in the past. As a U.S. citizen I have always been exposed to only the negative concerning Bosnia and Herzegovina. As I spend more time, interacting with more and more Bosnians, learning their culture and their passions the more barriers I break. Exposing different countries to each other’s culture is the most crucial part to sustain peace and understanding between countries. Thank you for this experience.”
James Jiries (26) MA Student Central European University Budapest Hungary

 James

International Day of Youth Theatre
Bridport Arts Centre, 28 April

There were four thought provoking and accomplished youth theatre productions.

 The Chosen Ones Wake Up by Teater Mimart from Belgrade, Serbia.

Land Above Us All by FETUS, Srebrenica’s first independent youth theatre, Bosnia

Wake Up by BACStage Youth Theatre, Bridport,Dorset.

An extract from Vinegar Joe, the play by Carol Churchill by Thomas Hardye’s Drama Group, Dorchester

The subject’s ranged from lack of democracy to women’s rights and were superbly produced and performed.  There was a call at the end of the day to consider creating an International Youth Theatre Festival linking Bridport and Srebrenica.

Malcolm French the President of Rotary Club of Bridport with Nada Markovic and Nedeljko Simic present and past Presidents of Rotary Srebrenica, Milena Nikolic, President of the Youth Council Srebrenica and Tanja Dramac who translated for the meeting and lunch held at Highlands End, Eype, near Bridport, Dorset.  the Rotary also very kindly helped to support the Simply Human week in Bridport.

More photographs to come and more information about other events during Simply Human, including Brain Child, the Neuroscience and Education day led by Dr. Paul Howard Jones and Professor Nigel Osborne with singer Darren Abrahams and pianist Anthony Ingle.

 THANKS

We would like to thank the following people and organisations for making Simply Human possible and not in any order:- Anna Ledgard, Rosie Russell, David Powell, Franny Owen, Ines Cavil, James Ward-Rice and Harry, Andrew Dickson, Kate Adler, jeweller, Councillor Ros Kayes, Elektra Owen, George Nickson, Kate Wilson, Polly Gifford Director of Bridport Arts Centre, Jyoti Fernandez and daughters, Peter Hitchen and Lindsay, Richard Cooper MD of the Bull, David Herbert, Deputy Head of Sir John Colfox School, Malcolm French President of Rotary of Bridport, the Mayor of Bridport,Dave Rickard, Tess Dickson, Niki McCretton and Marc Parrett, Darren Abrahams, Emily Bolton (Reprieve), Lauren Glover, Peter Snelling, Subatha Subramaniam Choreographer and Artistic Director of Sadhana Dance, Deputy Mayor Maggie Ray and Leader of the Town Council, Martin Ray, Bob Gillies, Town Clerk, Anthony Ingle, Nigel Osborne, Nela Antonovic, Tanja Dramac, Tina Dramac, Vesna Djukic, Caroline Magne, Robert Golden for all the brilliant photographs and film http://www.robertgoldenpictures.com/ and Alan and Bernie our marvellous drivers.

Arts Council England, Awards for All Big Lottery, DepArture Arts and Dorset County Council, West Dorset District Council, Sir Graham Watson, MEP, the Mayor of Bridport and Bridport Town Council, Dorset Vehicle Hire, the All Party Committee on Bosnia and Herzegovina, Houses of Parliament, Organisation for the Security and Cooperation in Europe, BiH, BACStage, FETUS, Teater Mimart, Thomas Hardye Drama Group, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Jerwood Space, London, (OSCE), British Council BiH, British Embassy, BiH and Serbia, the Bosnian and Serbian Embassies UK, Peter Hitchin and Symondsbury Manor, The Bull Hotel, The Electric Palace, Bridport Arts Centre, Niki and Marc and The Lyric, Bridport, the Youth Services and the Youth Centre Bridport, The Rotary Club of Bridport, Fivepenny Farm, Beeline Taxis, Bsharp in Lyme Regis, BACStage, The Thomas Hardye School, Sir John Colfox School, The Director of the High School Centre, Srebrenica and The Dialogue Centre, Srebrenica.

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We are also delighted to welcome [...]]]> As part of the EU Cultural Partnership Programme “Wake Up”, a group of 20 people from Srebrenica in Bosnia and Herzegovina will be visiting Bridport for a cultural exchange programme from 24 April to the 2 May 2012.  The group includes 15 young cultural leaders from Srebrenica, Suceska, Bratunac and Zvornik.

We are also delighted to welcome Nada Markovic the President of Rotary, Srebrenica, Nedeljko Simic, the Associate Professional working with the Municipality for Returnees and the President of the Youth Council and current Director of the Youth Centre, Srebrenica.

For full information click on the following SIMPLY HUMAN

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Photo: Robert Golden

Nadine Mortimer Smith, soprano, at the work in progress rehearsal at Opera North, Leeds, Autumn 2010.

In January a small team from Opera Circus will visit India in January 2012.  These are the first steps in developing a real collaboration between artists from the UK and from India to create this new chamber [...]]]>  

Photo: Robert Golden

Nadine Mortimer Smith, soprano, at the work in progress rehearsal at Opera North, Leeds, Autumn 2010.

In January a small team from Opera Circus will visit India in January 2012.  These are the first steps in developing a real collaboration between artists from the UK and from India to create this new chamber opera, Naciketa.  The music is being written by Nigel Osborne and the libretto has been written by Ariel Dorfman. David Pountney helped with dramaturgical support during a visit to the Bregenz Festival in Austria in August.  We are very grateful to the British Council for covering the costs of this research trip and to many people who have contributed with introductions and have opened doors to the myriad of possibilities that this new work could hold.  We would especially like to thank Nelson Fernandez, Sanjoy Roy, Divya Bhatia and many others.  We will print a full list at the end of our journey.

The hope is that the premiere of this new work will be held in India in 2013 followed by a tour of the continent and then to London and an UK tour.

Prakriti Dutta

A documentary will be made following the meetings and events of this journey through to the residency, sharing working practice which we hope will be later this year and finally the creation of the production, the rehearsal period and the first night.

Nigel Osborne

We have been working with the Udayachi schools run by the Godrej family just outside of Mumbai, India where one of the graduates of Nigel Osborne’s Music in the Community course at Edinburgh University has been developing innovative teaching ideas with 96 children from the ages of 7 – 12 with the support and involvement of their teachers. This process will continue and we hope develop.  Meetings have been arranged with several charities and foundations in India working with disadvantaged children and young people with the aim of sharing the company’s skills in the various uses of music when working with children.

Ariel Dorfman will be speaking at the Jaipur Literary Festival between the 20th and 25th January and Nigel Osborne will travel from Jaipur to DAVOS where he has been invited to speak.

If you wish to donate to this work and the development of the opera please go to our Big Give web site – the link is - http://new.thebiggive.org.uk/projects/view/12336

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Nigel Osborne led this year’s summer music camp in Blagaj near Mostar with the Los Rosales orphange and as guests of the Ulysses Theatre on the indescribably beautiful island of Veliki Brijuni with the Centre for Children with Special needs in Pula.

In total [...]]]> July Summer Music Camp for Children with Special Needs – Mostar and Brijuni.

Nigel Osborne led this year’s summer music camp in Blagaj near Mostar with the Los Rosales orphange and as guests of the Ulysses Theatre on the indescribably beautiful island of Veliki Brijuni with the Centre for Children with Special needs in Pula.

In total 90 children took part from Mostar and Pula, 32 volunteer students from the University of Edinburgh and 10 students of music, psychology and medicine from the regional universities of Croatia, primarily Pula and Rijeka. The Petrojvic Blasting Company, the extraordinary street band from Los Angeles provided great music.

The primary aim of the first camp in Mostar was to offer the children and young people from Los Rosales an enjoyable holiday and an exciting and therapeutic creative experience. The second camp supported the work of one of the main centres for special education in Istria.

The Music Department of the University of Edinburgh has been involved with therapeutic work in the Centre for Children with Special Needs in Pula since 1994, and the summer camp has become an important part of ongoing work. The objectives, amongst other things, are to help build towards social cohesion, communication, trust, reduction of fear, self-confidence, creativity and motivation.

This year 12 young people from Srebrenica, Potocari, Bratunac and Zvornik were invited to join the camp. This was made possible through the funding and organizational support of Opera Circus with the great help of Bauern Helfern Bauern in Austria and the OSCE in Sarajevo, BiH. The young people participated fully in the work with the children, being praised by Professor Osborne for their hard work and commitment. One of the highlights of the trip was a lunch hosted by Rade Serbedzije and Lenka Udovicki. The opportunities this summer camp provides will hopefully be offered to a wider group of young people in 2012.

Opera Circus is the lead organiser of an EU cultural programme called Wake Up, which is in its second year. The aims are to develop cultural partnerships and to promote cultural activity in particular youth leadership through music and theatre as well as to help influence national cultural policies. The other partners in Wake Up include The Institute of Music for Human and Social Development at the University of Edinburgh, UK, Teater Mimart of Belgrade, Serbia and Musicians without Borders both in BiH and the Netherlands. The Youth Council in Srebrenica is an associate partner.

Photograph by Lidjia Antonovic

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Dominic Gray, Director of Projects, Opera North.

Montage: Seamus Conlan/Robert Golden

With affiliated partners Opera North and collaborating with the Hebrides Ensemble, Opera Circus presents four work in progress [...]]]> “‘Opera North is thrilled to be involved in the development of this important and vital new work”

Dominic Gray, Director of Projects, Opera North.

Montage: Seamus Conlan/Robert Golden

With affiliated partners Opera North and collaborating with the Hebrides Ensemble, Opera Circus presents four work in progress performances of a new commission, Naciketa – a musical epic/opera.

Music by Nigel Osborne and libretto by Ariel Dorfman.

I love it that, in the final scene of our epic/opera, even Death sings along; I love it that all the characters join Naciketa in that concluding, conclusive chorus. Because music was there at the start of our humanity, was there, some say, at the origin of language, as the first agreement with the elements that our species needed, the first understanding of how w are to survive.  Some would say, and I would concur, that music was there before humanity rose and sang of sunsets and sunrises. Some would say music was there at the origin of the sun and the stars that make the universe turn. Some would say that it was in the hope that there would be music that the universe created itself. So it would not be lonely. So we would not entirely die. Ariel Dorfman, May 2010

Performances – all at 7pm/19.00

29 Sept  Howard Assembly Room, Opera North Leeds Box Office: Invitation only  www.operanorth.co.uk

1 Oct Reid Concert Hall, Edinburgh (box office details to be advised)

3 Oct Clore Studio, Royal Opera House (box office contact to be advised but invited guests please confirm on tina@operacircus.co.uk)

4 Oct Bridport Arts Centre, Bridport, Dorset. Box office: 01304 424 204 or www.bridport-arts.com

On the 5th October Nigel Osborne and Ariel Dorfman will be in conversation about their work as artists and as human and civil rights activists at the Bridport Arts Centre at 10.30 am. Tickets £5 from Bridport Arts Centre.

There is no charge for the work in progress performances but Ariel and Nigel with the company look forward to discussing opinions about the extracts of the proposed new work with the audience after the 70 minute performance.  Please call the box offices of the relevant venues to reserve a seat as we expect to be full for each evening.

We would like to thank all our sponsors and supporters to date:

ACE, Foyle Foundation, PRS Foundation, RVW Trust, Britten Pears Foundation, Tony Mackintosh, the Groucho Club, Wanda Kim, Kay Ellen Consolver, Leche Trust, The Radcliffe Trust, The Bridport Arts Centre, University of Edinburgh, ROH2 in association with the Royal Opera House and especially Opera North and the Hebrides Ensemble and the Opera Circus Board of Trustees who provide huge support and encouragement to us all.

Click on projects and then Naciketa for further details. Also please view the short film further down on this page and see Nigel and Ariel talking about the beginnings of their work together on Naciketa.

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(Please hit play for the film to load)

In January Ariel Dorfman, the great Chilean/American writer, and Nigel Osborne, the eminent Scottish composer came to London to work on our new opera or musical epic, Naciketa.  Here is a short piece of film about the birth of the work.  We are raising funding in [...]]]>

(Please hit play for the film to load)

In January Ariel Dorfman, the great Chilean/American writer, and Nigel Osborne, the eminent Scottish composer came to London to work on our new opera or musical epic, Naciketa.  Here is a short piece of film about the birth of the work.  We are raising funding in order to develop a work in progress performance of about an hour of the opera.  This will be shown in Leeds, Edinburgh, London and Bridport Dorset between the 29th September and the 5th October 2010. For more information about the project look at the Naciketa page on this site.  With thanks to everyone who has helped us get this far (a full list on the project page).

(This film is for promotional and fund raising use only and is not for broadcasting. It will take a few seconds to start so please have patience.)

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