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Changing Voices
In March 2008, Aspire commissioned performances from Khayaal Theatre Company and Ulfah Arts Company for three high schools in Luton. The Hearts and Minds production has since been nationally recognised as an innovative and challenging play and has now been performed nationally for many schools and other organisations.
Khayaal: Hearts & Minds
This powerful play by Khayaal Theatre Company explored conflicting discourses, loyalties and identities and some of what it means to be young British and Muslim today. It also tackled the issues of stereotyping and racism with a powerful message to students to think about what unites them rather than what divides them.
Applicable to all communities it challenged some of misconceptions widely prevalent and provoked the audience to think about commonly held views about people from different cultures.
Ulfah Arts: ‘Who are You?'
Synopsis
Performed by 4 actors from Ulfah Arts, this performance was a combination of poetry, spoken word and rap. It was a culmination of several pieces written around the issues of identity and diversity . A mock citizenship test was also carried out to try and understand what citizenship meant to the actors. The 30 minute performance ended with a rap by 16 year old Mariam, who spoke about her journey of life in care and drug use, to rising up to attain her goals and turn herself around. She also spoke about the importance of being your own person and rising above labels imposed on you.
What was achieved?
The essence of this project was not merely to present a series of plays to students but to engage them in discussion based on the issues presented to them. The discussion was the most important part of the project.
It was clear from the discussions that the students were thinking beyond the surface of what they had seen and were recognizing many of the complex issues that affected the characters.
The students were very engaging and many had a lot to say. It was very clear that a platform to speak about such issues was rarely available to them and that they wished to take full advantage of it.
It was also obvious that the need for such a platform for respectful debate and exchange was desperately needed and that the safe and informed environment of schools was the ideal place for it.
Some students were particularly emotional about the issues that they had seen and it was obvious that we had only touched the surface in terms of what the students wanted to say.
What they said about the "changing voices" project'
The workshop made me think about issues such as racial discrimination and how individual people can't be blamed for the faults of the world. Issues such as cultural differences and everyone needs to make an effort to understand each other.' Challney High School for Girls Student
‘The workshop made me think about the issue of racial discrimination, the misunderstanding of society by young people, citizenship and the impact of positive thinking. Also about our diverse community.' Denbigh High School Student
‘The workshop made me think about cohesion in society and how we should respect one another.' Luton 6th Form Student
‘The workshop made me feel guilty. It also made me change my mind on how I will do things in my future. My opinions were there and trapped in my head all along but this play was the key to it.' Denbigh High School Student
‘It was a great pleasure to work with ASPIRE. The enthusiasm shown by the children was very encouraging. The children responded well and engaged with the performance, it was great to see them happy to vocalise their feelings.' Shahida Aslam, Ulfah Arts
‘We found the project both immensely challenging and rewarding at the same time. We were very pleased to work with ASPIRE and Ulfah Arts and are thrilled with the success that we have achieved together as evidenced by the mostly positive and complimentary feedback we have received from pupils, teachers and staff at all participating schools. We are in no doubt that for many pupils the experience was memorable and life-enhancing.'
Luqman Ali - Artistic Director, Khayaal Theatre Company
