TAKE A STAND
NATIONAL THEATRE OF SCOTLAND
LAUNCHES CAMPAIGNING PROJECT
INSPIRED BY THE GLASGOW GIRLS
IN support of Refugee Week Scotland, the National Theatre of Scotland’s TAKE A STAND launch event at the Tron Theatre’s Victorian Bar yesterday (Tuesday 19th June) proved a celebration of the power of activism for positive change, climaxing in an explosive performance from Glasgow rapper and activist MC Soom T, and featuring an introduction from one of the most vocal and powerful campaigning groups in recent Scottish history, the Glasgow Girls.
The event also included contributions from the Scottish Youth Parliament, the Scottish Refugee Council and Cora Bissett, director of the forthcoming musical inspired by the story of the Glasgow Girls.
In 2005, the real life Glasgow Girls, a group of seven teenage schoolgirls from Drumchapel High School, became one of the most successful pro-asylum seeker campaigning forces in the country, appearing in two television documentaries and hosts of interviews.
At the peak of their success, they won a clutch of awards for their appeals, including Best Public Campaign at the Politician of the Year Awards in 2005.
Inspired by the real life Glasgow Girls and by the forthcoming musical based on their campaign, TAKE A STAND invites groups of young people, living in and around Glasgow, aged 13-15, to take action for a cause, to make a positive change in society through creative campaigning.
With support from ScottishPower and in partnership with the Citizens Theatre and the Scottish Youth Parliament, the National Theatre of Scotland is offering five project support packages to groups who can convince the application team of their passion for a cause, and who can propose the most creative, innovative and exciting campaigns.
Successful applicants will receive a grant of £500, ten days’ tutelage from a creative professional, creative campaigning training from the Scottish Youth Parliament, and support and advice from the National Theatre of Scotland.
The project aims to inspire young people to employ a wide range of art forms and media to win hearts and minds for the cause they represent.
The successful campaigns will be showcased later this year at the Citizens Theatre, with all five groups attending a performance of the show.
Groups interested in applying or finding out more about TAKE A STAND should contact Philippa Tomlin, Creative Learning co-ordinator at the National Theatre of Scotland, at philippa.tomlin@nationaltheatrescotland.com or on 0141 227 9232.
The deadline for applications is Friday 27th July.
Alongside the launch of TAKE A STAND, MC Soom T’s performance also previewed the launch of the single from the forthcoming production Glasgow Girls, a brand new life-affirming Scottish musical inspired by the real life Glasgow Girls, brought to the stage by Cora Bissett (director of the multi-award-winning production Roadkill) and David Greig (award-winning writer of Dunsinane, The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart).
Glasgow Girls will feature all original songs from the diverse talents of the musical creative team; featuring electronic grime from Patricia Panther, reggae-dub from Scots-Asian Rapper MC Soom T, folk/rock from Cora Bissett and additional songs from John Kielty (co-winner of Cameron Mackintosh’s Highland Quest for a New Musical).
Glasgow Girls will run from 31st October to 17th November 2012 at the Citizens Theatre, Glasgow.
Tickets are on sale now, available from www.citz.co.uk or on 0141 429 0022.
‘Glasgow Girls – the single’, sung by MC Soom T, will be released on 25th July on a limited edition run of 500 7” vinyl, and available to download from www.renegademasters.org
Philippa Tomlin, Creative Learning co-ordinator, National Theatre of Scotland, said:
“Young people are inspiring, creative and passionate about what they believe in. TAKE A STAND is an exciting opportunity for young people to have their voices heard, campaign for positive changes and do so in artistic and innovative ways.
“I can’t wait to find out if we’ve got a future Banksy or Tom Morello out there – someone ready to use art to grab attention and make some noise about something that matters.”
MC Soom T, co-composer of Glasgow Girls, said:
“Art captures imaginations better than anything and TAKE A STAND provides the perfect platform for young people to make their voices heard. I can’t wait to see and hear the results.”
Gary Christie, Policy and Communications manager for Scottish Refugee Council, said:
“We are delighted to be backing the National Theatre of Scotland’s Take a Stand initiative.
“The Glasgow Girls spoke out on dawn raids – how children and families who had been refused asylum under the UK’s flawed asylum system were treated when they were forcibly removed – and on the detention of children for immigration purposes.
“They were a force to be reckoned with and their campaign ultimately led to real change in how the UK Border Agency treats young people seeking asylum.
“The story of how these young women stood up and challenged injustice is one which cannot fail to inspire young people across Scotland.”
For further information contact
Adam McDougall, Press and Marketing Officer, National Theatre of Scotland
Tel: +44 (0)141 227 9231 / +44 (0)7738 153157 E: adam.mcdougall@nationaltheatrescotland.com
Emma Schad, Press Manager
Tel: +44 (0)141 227 9016 / +44 (0)7930 308018
E: emma.schad@nationaltheatrescotland.com
You can follow the National Theatre of Scotland’s press office on Twitter @NTS_press
NOTES TO EDITORS:
1. TAKE A STAND is open to groups (three-plus members) of 13-15 year-olds living in and around Glasgow. Groups interested in applying or finding out more about the project should contact Philippa Tomlin, Creative Learning co-ordinator, National Theatre of Scotland at philippa.tomlin@nationaltheatrescotland.com or on 0141 227 9232.
For ideas and inspiration on creative campaigning, visit the TAKE A STAND tumblr at http://ntstakeastand.tumblr.com/.
The deadline for applications is Friday 27th July.
To join in the conversation, follow us on Twitter: #TAKEASTAND.
2. The National Theatre of Scotland is supported by the Scottish Government. Since its launch in February 2006, the National Theatre of Scotland has been involved in creating over 160 productions in 125 different locations. With no building of its own, the company takes theatre all over Scotland and beyond, working with existing and new venues and companies to create and tour theatre of the highest quality. It takes place in the great buildings of Scotland, but also in site-specific locations, airports and tower blocks, community halls and drill halls, ferries and forests. The company has performed to over 710,000 people, across three continents.
3. Inspired by a true story Glasgow Girls is a brand new life-affirming Scottish musical conceived for the stage and directed by Cora Bissett, with book by David Greig, music and lyrics by Cora Bissett, MC Soom T, Patricia Panther and John Kielty.
The musical promises to be a celebration of Glasgow and the power of teenagers with a cause.
Glasgow Girls runs from 31st October to 17th November 2012 at the Citizens Theatre, Glasgow – tickets on sale now at www.citz.co.uk and on 0141 429 0022. Glasgow Girls is a National Theatre of Scotland, Theatre Royal Stratford East, Citizens Theatre, Pachamama Productions, Richard Jordan Productions Ltd, production, in association with Merrigong Theatre Company (Australia).
4. ScottishPower operates and maintains an extensive power delivery network and provides energy to over five million homes and businesses in the UK. As part of the Iberdrola Group, it is one of the top five energy companies in the world and a global leader in wind energy.
Understanding and managing the impact of their business in the community and striving for continuous improvement, is a significant part of ScottishPower’s overall approach to Corporate Social Responsibility.
Between 2006 and 2010 the partnership between ScottishPower and National Theatre of Scotland has supported the creation of Transform, 15 large-scale community projects across Scotland. And from March 2010 to March 2012, Creative Communities, three large-scale community projects across Scotland.
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Contact: ADAM MCDOUGALL
Phone: 0141 227 9231
Email: adam.mcdougall@nationaltheatrescotland.com
Website: http://www.nationaltheatrescotland.com
