To & Fro
15th June – 17th August 2019
Join us on a journey through Leeds' side streets ...
A group of women from refugee, asylum seeker and wider Leeds communities worked to document their journeys in Leeds and other cities they have called home. To & Fro was displayed at Sheffield Migration Matters Festival from 15th-18th June, Leeds City Museum from 19th - 21st June and Leicester Journeys Festival from 15th - 17th August. A launch in each location included a short performance, a short film and a chance to meet the creators and curators of the art installation.
“It was exciting to be part of the project and I never thought I would actually perform.”
I want to
Like I want to leave again
Home
Kids talking
Ok… train or bus
I feel great
Energetic
I have missed the couple of weeks before
What did we do?
We took 25 photographs which were displayed as part of the art installation. These resulted from guided walks with Mafwa Theatre and 2 sessions with photographer Belinda Saywell.
A collaboration with film-maker Hope Strickland saw participants take control of the camera to shoot footage. This was beautifully edited into a short film which blended their work with Hope’s artistic vision into an audio-visual collage.
A collaboration with Chapel FM saw participants record their voices reading the spoken work pieces that they created in Mafwa Theatre workshops. Chapel FM edited their words with music to create a compelling audio track, which was also used for the performance.
A 24 page zine was created using participant’s drawings, maps, poems and photographs
A 15 minute live art performance accompanied the installation, presented at the launch in each of the touring venues. It included movement and a game played on a map, with some very confusing rules!
During the course of the project, we met 30 participants from 13 different countries of origin. 87 % were from sanctuary seeking backgrounds whilst 13% hailed from wider Leeds communities.
Most Mafwa Theatre Members had never visited the museum before they attended rehearsals there, widening access to institutions of cultural importance in the city.
Who was involved?
Performers, makers and writers: The strong and powerful ladies of LS9 7SG
Co-Directors: Keziah Berelson and Tamsin Cook
Film-maker: Hope Strickland
Audio track: Verity Watts
Photography mentor: Belinda Saywell
What did people say?
Mafwa Theatre Members said
“It’s easier to talk to new people”
“Performing in front of the audience was a real breakthrough for me”
“It was exciting to be part of the project and I never thought I would actually perform”
“Before this I was 8 months doing nothing, now I come to this group and I make friends”
“I understand more about the relationship between Leeds and Yorkshire”
Audience Members said
“The work that you do is inspiring and it is so great to have the experience to hear people from different places and their experiences of Leeds”
“Amazing performance and energy. Looked incredible. Showed real confidence”
“I loved the performance. It was though provoking, clever and most of all entertaining!”
“Moving, I was transported to a confusing world where the rules didn't make sense, and someone said "go back, go back". Good work transforms. Good work!”
“Challenging - frustrating - and then the penny dropped! Loved it!”
With huge thanks to
Leeds Refugee Forum
Chapel FM
Tim Wheeler
Deborah Dickinson
Ruth Martin at Leeds City Museum
Migration Matters Festival
Journeys Festival
First Buses
Dragons Photos
Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust
Gratefully supported by Arts Council England and Leeds Inspired (Leeds City Council).