Projects

The World in Hackney

Details

• 11th October 2011

Chaz is a metre high rod puppet operated by five young people from Immediate Theatre’s ‘Youth Board’.

Chaz, a young visitor from another planet is here to learn about diverse and vibrant Hackney and will visit  15 community groups as part of an innovative performance project called the World in Hackney,  from June 2011 until the 2012 Games.
Chaz will entertain groups and ask two different questions:

• What would your organisation/group like to contribute to the central cultural event in Hackney in July 2012 which will welcome the Games?

• How does your organisation welcome strangers and newcomers, such as Chaz?

Chaz is collecting stories about welcoming strangers which will build into a major outdoor performance event which will be Hackney’s way of welcoming the world in 2012.

Hackney Council’s 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games Unit is working in partnership with Kinetika and Immediate Theatre on this innovative project. As part of this project we will involve 15 local organisations to help showcase Hackney’s diversity

How can you get involved?
Chaz is happy to attend your community events, be part of youth group activities, meet with older groups, visit mother and toddler sessions, play games and lots more!

How can I arrange for Chaz to visit?

Contact Helen Goodsell at the Hackney 2012 Unit to set up the introductory visit with Ali Pretty, who will be able to answer your questions and make a plan that suits you.

Contact details for Helen Goodsell:

Tel: 0208 356 3975  Email:.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Helen Goodsell
Hackney 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games Unit
Hackney Council
2 Hillman Street
Hackney
E8 1FB

What happens in a visit?
At the introductory visit Ali will work with you on ideas for how Chaz can learn as much as possible about your community. So far, groups she has met have welcomed her in a whole range of ways; sharing stories, inviting her to take part in their regular activities, welcoming her with song and dance performances or making something that represents themselves.

Chaz will be accompanied by Ali Pretty and/or Tony Gouveia, Immediate Theatre’s Associate Director and five young people.

They will introduce Chaz and themselves and invite the group to share their stories and experience of welcoming strangers.

Chaz will then spend some time meeting individuals and sharing ideas about how the group can continue to get involved in activities leading up to the Olympics.  The length of the visit will depend on your groups usual session time .

So far Chaz has visited

• The Teddy Bear’s picnic in Daubney Park
• People’s kitchen at Passing Clouds
• Homerton Hospital
• Shoreditch Festival
• Woodberry Down Funday
• Huddleston youth centre
• Turkish folk Dance and Drama group
• Forever young (over 50s group
• Hackney One Carnival (accompanied by Atom, her very tall older brother)

WATCH OUT FOR MORE CHAZ VISITS AROUND HACKNEY