UNIVERSITY NEWS LAST UPDATED : 23 JUNE 2010
Student performers from Birmingham City University have teamed up with national charity The Big Issue to help raise awareness for the plight of the homeless.
The city’s re-opened Midlands Arts Centre (MAC), based at Canon Hill Park, Birmingham, will host a unique set of performances addressing homelessness at the weekend (Sunday, June 27).
The free event is entitled Inside Out and features an exciting mix of monologue, song, rap and dance theatre – and the performance climax will be a dance flashmob at the venue and adjacent park involving Birmingham City University student performers, homeless people who have participated in the project and the visiting public.
“Being part of the Inside Out project has given me a wider view of the lack of knowledge around homelessness,” said Francesca Charlton, a first-year BA Community and Applied Dance Theatre student.
“It has completely opened my eyes to the variety of people who become homeless. I now see anyone could become homeless, including me. Inside Out is an ambitious, brilliant project which I have thoroughly enjoyed both emotionally and educationally.”
Rebekah Gray, a spokeswoman for The Big Issue, said: “Homelessness is a very real issue in our city and it’s crucial that people are informed about how homelessness affects lives.
“We’re really pleased that Birmingham City University has chosen to raise awareness of homelessness issues, and we hope their work leads to greater understanding and empathy.”
Directed by Hannah Phillips, Inside Out will be performed by a group of Community and Applied Theatre and Dance Theatre students from Birmingham School of Acting, part of Birmingham City University, and Birmingham REP’s First Chance Youth Theatre.
The performance has been devised by the group, around a script written by writer Stephanie Dale. There is also a vox pop-style documentary made by We Make Art that will be screened throughout the day, featuring interviews with participants affected by homelessness.
Project partners The Big Issue, SIFA Fireside, Anawim and St Basil’s will all run stands on the day to offer more information about their services.