Once a year our Young Associates have the opportunity to create a performance in response to a topic they want to explore. This year they chose to create something that represented the human side of the refugee crisis, going against what the stereotypical negative story of groups of migrants the media tends to portray. They created a multi-discipline performance entitled, HumanMe.
The production featured three different elements; a short video documentary, a 'Syrian lounge' and a performance by a cast of 9 young people from our neighbourhood, directed by Diyan Zora and Fiona Sowole.
The cast of 9 devised short scenes exploring new and different relationships forged between strangers as a result of the crisis. Many of the stories which featured were influenced from one of the participant's own experiences living in Calais. The group focused on sharing stories from individual refugee's perspectives in an attempt to humanise the crisis and the positive relationships that can form in difficult circumstances.
The video documentary the Associates created featured two interviews with a 16 year old Syrian refugee who discussed his journey and his family who are now spread across Europe and Andrew Connolly, a journalist who helped contextualise the crisis and the issues and hardships refugees are facing day to day.
The ground floor of the community art space Platform in Southwark was transformed into a Syrian styled lounge. The audience were invited to enjoy the space after the performance and to encourage them to talk about what they had watched over some Syrian food and music.
Live music & mint tea at #HumanMe @PlatformSthwrk tonight pic.twitter.com/6BPTDou8Xl
— YoungVic Taking Part (@YVTakingPart)
When asked why the refugee crisis was chosen one of the Young Associates, Fiona explained, 'We wanted to do something that we cared about and something that was important to us. When we heard about the Good Chance Theatre closing down we knew that we wanted to express how important this crisis was to us. We care about what is going on and wanted that to show in our work.'
HumanMe was created by our four current Young Associates. Our associates are young people from Southwark who are learning the ropes for a year in different Young Vic departments, arming them with transferable skills for future employment. Our Young Associates are:
Kate Clement Production
Teniola Osholoye Finance and Fundraising
Fiona Sowole Taking Part and Directors Program
Helen Spincemaille Press & Marketing
