Experiencing Sudan
from the UK
|
|
On Friday 11 March, the Waging Peace team, as well as some of those from Sudan whom we support, ventured out to the theatre to watch new play, Mohand & Peter, on its press night. For some, it was their first time seeing a performance of this kind, in a leading London theatre, Southwark Playhouse. It made a welcome difference from the boredom you can feel if held in a hotel by the Home Office, with nothing to do.
However, it’s clear to us that not even dreadful housing conditions, and delays in getting an asylum interview, can dampen the creative spirit. The image above featuring a fisherman in Libya is by ‘SD’, who paints using a few donated art supplies in his London hotel room. ‘SD’ attended the performance on Friday with us, and spent the show laughing, but also drawing audience members to keep honing his obvious talent.
The play itself was a beautiful introduction, or re-introduction for some, to what Sudan means, what it feels like to be so far from home, and the powers of homesickness to draw us back to the people and places that matter to us, even when sea, deserts, and the vastness of time now separate us. We cannot recommend it highly enough. But don’t just trust us, below you can read the review of Ms Liela M. Medani, herself from Sudan and who joined us last Friday.
There are free tickets for each performance (from now until 2 April) available to communities from a refugee background, or who do not otherwise have the money to attend. If you are interested, please contact us and we can get you booked in. |
|
Yesterday in an evening that was shaded by tender rain showers, but added some viscosity to the streets pavements, in the cosy Southwark play house, just few steps of the grand Elephant & Castle's station I had the chance to watch a two-person play, Mohand & Peter, It was the ultimate creativity of two young men who bring back memories to life, true memories is the echo of the story telling years,
During which I travelled through the blue atmosphere & out of space, dreaming in the clothes of astronauts so that was the imagination!! returned, and the nostalgia for the motherland, family, clan & and acquaintances, prevailed I moved with them at the speed of imagination above the silvery moon light beam, to the sleepy Sand's land and pyramids of Sudan, passing through the peaceful youth's popular revolution, and ending with the blessed marriage party.
between them is a time of joy, jokes and pleasant teasing & interactions. Added pleasure was the audience interaction, it's a mixed feeling, The content of the play is deep and interesting, makes you calling to go in depth for more details & to learn more about Sudan, the hospitable homeland & its kind, generous, good people.
The majority attendants was non-Sudanese, which makes me optimistic that theatre, music & entertainment are the easiest ways for humane society integration.
Its amazing that some of the audience have had the opportunity to work in Sudan & were saturated with their interest and love for Sudan, how can we not be more loving while our Sudan in our souls, hearts & eyes!!
The play is a realistic emotional journey of agony among those who leave hometown or crosses the deserts, seas, passes through hurdles to reach the dream land, where they were tagged diaspora.
They migrate for different reasons but filled with eternal love & longing to return to the homeland, to embrace the extended affectionate family. It was limited presence of Sudanese, but was distinguished, which added a blending taste to the cosmopolitan city of London.
Well done to the production team. They managed to simplify the transformation between the story lines, & a great performance of two performing artists,
I recommend it to all, to have a laugh, teary eyes & tase of Sudanese greetings,
WELL DONE,
Regards to ALL
Yours sincerely
MS. Liela M. Medani
|
|
|
If you would like to support our work campaigning against human rights abuses throughout Sudan, including Darfur and the Nuba Mountains, and supporting Sudanese refugees in the UK to create meaningful lives, please donate. |
|
|
|
|
