[sheffield-noborders] Proposal: The Magical Mystery Show

[Benjamin Major]

The Magical Mystery Show


My proposal here is to create a performance based around the Magical Mystery 
Tour that was held in Sheffield recently. The performance will involve the 
participation of young people in Sheffield, including those from minority 
communities in Sheffield and the children of refugees and asylum seekers in 
Sheffield. The performance will take place at next years Peace in the Park 
festival in early June (which I help co-ordinate) with the possibiity of 
other showings elsewhere.

Preperation for the show will involve numerous days of workshops in April 
and May 2006 at which artists and musicians will share their skills with 
young people. I already know people who are willing to give time 
demonstrating Dj-ing skills, tribal dancing, set design; other talents 
needed will be performance art, script writing, photography etc... The 
workshop days will take place at community centres such as the Broomspring 
Centre in Broomhall, the Burton Street Project in Hillsborough, or the 
Matida Social Centre on Matilda Street.

The performance will take the facts on the recently produced Magical Mystery 
Map as a basis, with a series of short scenes displaying each of the stories 
told in the map (for example making the causal connection between the 
invading of a country and subsequent flows of refugees). The excersise will 
closely examine the questions of why do we have borders? Do borders help 
resolve conflict or do they perpetuate it (for a festival that calls itself 
'Peace' in the Park this kind of a question is particuarly important to 
consider), Why do asylum seekers come here? Do asylum seekers enjoy anything 
like the same kinds of rights that we do?

It is worth pointing out that the excerise is intended to be a reflexive one 
in that the themes and questions asked are exactly that; themes and 
questions; the hope being that if the facts are told as honestly and 
accurately as possible then most people will come to the 'right' 
conclusions...

Funding, publicity, overall coordination will be in my hands.

Ben.