Post tsunami relief work in Sri Lanka
In December 2004 the Tsunami disaster in Sri Lanka took over 30,000 lives and left another 1,000,000 people displaced and living in refugee camps.
I made two trips to the South of the island in 2005 and 2006 in order to contribute, in my own way, to the relief effort. My first trip was as a self funded volunteer working with funforlife. My second trip was with a theatre project funded by The Arts Council
I made two trips to the South of the island in 2005 and 2006 in order to contribute, in my own way, to the relief effort. My first trip was as a self funded volunteer working with funforlife. My second trip was with a theatre project funded by The Arts Council
funforlife
funforlife is an educational theatre and arts organisation that empowers young people and their communities, particularly those disadvantaged through sickness, war or poverty, by teaching them vital life skills and inspiring them with a passion for life-long learning.
Theatre Project - New Theatre Works - "What to do?"
“What to Do?” Dec 2006-April 2007 was a devised piece of theatre designed to tour Birmingham and West Midland Primary Schools and small enough to be packed away and flown to Sri Lanka to tour the tsunami-affected areas of the South Coast. I was part of a professional team of actors, that could operate in three languages, Sinhala, Tamil and English. I also designed the movable sets and co- facilitated the workshops with my colleagues.
This enchanting piece of theatre explores the elephant/human conflict, which in turn became a metaphor for saving the jungle and the recycling of rubbish and planting of crops. The show included a mornings acting, mime, music/dance and mask-making workshop with up to 40 children who learned the “Pera hera” national dance; greetings in Sinhalese (“ What to Do?” is a well known phrase used in Sri Lanka used in the face of adversity) and the children became a very important part of the performance in the afternoon.
This enchanting piece of theatre explores the elephant/human conflict, which in turn became a metaphor for saving the jungle and the recycling of rubbish and planting of crops. The show included a mornings acting, mime, music/dance and mask-making workshop with up to 40 children who learned the “Pera hera” national dance; greetings in Sinhalese (“ What to Do?” is a well known phrase used in Sri Lanka used in the face of adversity) and the children became a very important part of the performance in the afternoon.
