On Tuesday 18 June we will be holding an evening of performances from local and international artists, showcasing work that centres on this year’s Nottingham Refugee Week theme of ‘Home’.
What to Expect
We will have an array of performers lined up to celebrate and share stories and reflections of ‘home’ through spoken word, music and poetry.
The evening will include performances from:
David ‘Stickman’ Higgins, A world class, multi-disciplined, drummer and percussionist, also a poet, actor, educator, conceptual artist and father. David is an avid researcher and collector of “The hidden-in-between language of African-Caribbean culture, roots, belonging and heritage.”
Creative Café participants who have been working with David ‘Stickman’ Higgins to develop their own creative responses to the Refugee Week theme of ‘Home’.
Iryna Muha, a Ukrainian-born singer, songwriter, and hurdy-gurdy player. She is the leader of MUHA band, a director of Ukrainian School Band, early music practitioner and a keen collaborator. Based in the UK, she works nationally and internationally, including previous appearances on BBC Radio 3, BBC radio 4 and performances at festivals like Eurovision Liverpool 2023, Latitude, including showcasing at International Folk Alliance in USA. Iryna is also known for her experimentation with digital music, natural sounds and multimedia.
Ahmed Zaidan, an Iraqi-Finnish writer, journalist, TV presenter, and research assistant, originally hailing from Mosul, Iraq, currently residing in Turku, Finland. He has received two literary prizes from the University of Mosul and published his first poetry collection in Iraq in 2009. This will be Ahmed’s first performance in the UK made possible with support from the Migration Institute of Finland.
Andy Willoughby, former poet laureate of Middlesbrough. Andy specialises in working in community arts contexts. He has mentored Ahmed Zaidan as part of his work with refugee projects in the UK and Finland and on the evening they will perform together.
This event is delivered in partnership with Refugee Roots as part of Nottingham Refugee Week.
Timings:
- 7pm-8.30pm (Performance in Neville)
- 8.30pm – 9.30pm (Post Show Drinks in Company 2)
Cost:
The event is for everyone, and is free for refugees and people seeking asylum to attend (please call our Box Office on 0115 941 9419 to claim these tickets). Tickets for everyone else are charged at £5.
This event is a fundraiser for our work as a Theatre of Sanctuary, in particular the Nottingham Playhouse Conversation & Creative Café, where refugees and asylum seekers are welcomed into our building every week for a free hot drink, a chat and to practice their English language skills in a relaxed setting, followed by a creative session led by a local artist.