By Carlota Matos
Main image: Hiba Elhindi (Panellist) and Vandna Mehta (Chair) at the Theatre of Migration event. Photo by Chelsey Cliff
On 12th October 2023, we held an event at Trinity Centre in Bristol where Hiba Elhindi – Sudanese-British curator, drama facilitator and educator based in the South West of England – and I presented our work and had a discussion about the ethics of working with migrants in theatre.
We have received very positive feedback and are now pleased to make the film available online and reach more people. (Please note: the subtitles are auto-generated and are currently in the process of being corrected)
For me, Theatre of Migration is theatre that is not necessarily about migration – as that can be reductive – but rather a theatre practice that has migration at its core. It involves a process that is migrant-led and embraces language barriers and different cultures within the work. It recognises, celebrates and platforms the skills and knowledge people have to share.
I recently partnered with Bristol-based charity Borderlands to offer free weekly theatre workshops for migrant women from September 2023. This participatory theatre project addresses language barriers and explores identity and what it means to be a woman in different cultures. Platforma was a great opportunity for us to share some of what we had been doing in the workshops.
Carlota Matos at the Theatre of Migration event. Photo by Chelsey Cliff
As part of Theatre of Migration, participants ran an ice-breaker for the audience and showcased their art, writing, crafts and food recipes. Hiba Elhindi showed a film about project SuFIA and her brilliant work with the Sudanese community and we then had a conversation about the ethics of participation, making theatre from lived experience and working with migrants. The discussion was chaired by Vandna Mehta, who is the community engagement officer for Bristol Refugee Festival, Founder of Vocalise Magazine CIC and co-Founder of Diverse Artists Network CIC.
Hiba has curated a number of art projects involving members of the Sudanese community in Bristol, including SuFIA, Sudafest, Sudanese Youth Theatre, Choir and Games without Borders. She brought unique perspectives from her work with young people into the conversation. We spoke about the importance of migrant-led projects and shared our successes and challenges, with practical examples and case studies. We also discussed the barriers that migrants face in the access to theatre and the Arts, such as language and cultural barriers, lack of confidence and trust, isolation, cost, childcare. The audience contributed to each question with their thoughts and experiences, which made for an extremely rich exchange.
The Theatre of Migration panel event was unique in its consistency to adhere to best ethical practices and high production standards. As a community artist who frequents networking events like Theatre of Migration, it was a breath of fresh air.
Tasnim Siddiqa Amin (Freelance Producer for Counterpoints Arts)
Access was a key element of the event, which was relaxed and had BSL interpretation throughout. There was a breakout space available and children’s toys and activities were provided. We were delighted to be hosted by Trinity, a community arts centre and renowned professional venue in Bristol, only 700ft away from Borderlands, and working to empower communities through arts.
Participating in the panel discussion on the theatre of migration was a truly enriching experience. It provided me with the opportunity to reflect on my practice as a migrant community artist and share insights from the SuFIA project. Collaborating with like-minded individuals, such as Carlota and Vandna, was an exceptional experience. I look forward to the ongoing conversation about the theatre of migration and the continued exchange of ideas with the vibrant community in Bristol.
Hiba Elhindi (Panellist)
I am so pleased to be able to work alongside such inspiring people, and outstanding organisations who bring their expertise to our work together. In my project with Borderlands, I was also lucky enough to work with Ania Varez, a Venezuelan dance and movement artist based in Bristol. We are now looking to raise funds for the next phase of the project, which will include opportunities for participants to develop facilitation skills and research and development for a performance piece. Watch this space!
