Champion of Diversity to inspire Hackney youth

The young people of Immediate Theatre’s weekly Estate Based Youth Theatre (EBYT) program in Hackney will have the opportunity to do just that: to tell a story about themselves as a gift to the other-worldly visitor called, ‘Chaz’, known as the ‘Champion of Diversity’. Immediate Theatre, an award-winning charity established in 1996, works in partnership to produce pathways which enable young people at high risk of exclusion, to participate in the arts.

‘Chaz’, an intricately crafted, four foot tall rod puppet, is the brainchild of Ali Pretty, Artistic Director of Kinetika, specialists in outdoor performance, and is operated by five people, giving Chaz the ability to display a seemingly unlimited range of human-like gestures and emotions. ‘Chaz’ (short for Chandrika, which means ‘moonbeam’ in Hindi), belongs to a ‘family’ of similar puppets who are all part of ‘Imagination Our Nation’, a five year national project inspired by the core Olympic values of Welcoming The World, Celebrating Diversity and Inspiring Young People. This award-winning contemporary and collaborative arts programme, initiated and incubated by Kinetika, has inspired tens of 1,000’s of young people over the last five years.

Chaz is on a mission to meet people from as many different communities and nations in Hackney as possible, and to listen to their stories – she’s relying on young people to help make that happen.

Immediate Theatre’s Estate Based Youth Theatre actors have completed preparations on the short plays for Chaz to be performed 13, 14 & 16 Dec (see times and locations below) which will reveal a narrative about their lives and in so doing, will reinforce the value of Hackney’s extraordinary wealth of diversity.

But Chaz’ visits won’t stop there. Chaz, her fellow puppets and their young friends plan to drop in on schools, community events and businesses from January 2011 right up to the time of the Olympics in 2012 when they will come together in Hackney for a massive celebration bringing with them hundreds of young people to join the ‘World’ party. Groups are encouraged to contact Immediate Theatre to discuss the possibility of a visit from Chaz.

• Monday, 13 Dec 2010
   EBYT Sharing – New Kingshold Hall
   Ainsworth Road, Hackney E9 7JE
   16:30 – show starts

- The show: A devised show about dreams, performed with choreographed movement

- Visit from Chaz, the Champion of Diversity

• Tuesday, 14 Dec 2010
   EBYT Sharing – Lea View House Community Hall
   Springfield, upper Clapton E5 9DX
   18:00 – Show starts
   - The show: What happens in a perfect day! A promenade performance using the whole
      space at Lea View House Community Hall

- Visit from Chaz, the Champion of Diversity

• Thursday, 16 Dec 2010
EBYT Sharing – Woodberry Down
Robin Redmond Resource Centre

   17:00 – Show starts
    - The show: An Anansi the Spiderman pantomime, telling the traditional African Caribbean
      folktale with songs, dance and over-acting.

- Visit from Chaz, the Champion of Diversity

- Bakesale. Delicious, home-baked goodies for sale in support of the Estate Based Youth
Theatre costume fund. Buy some to enjoy at the event or take them home to enjoy later.

- Immediate Theatre Merchandise will also be on sale. Promote and support your youth theatre.

• Kinetika partner web links: www.kinetikaonline.co.uk www.imaginationournation.co.uk

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