1985 planting saplings in the barren, baking hot, school yard
SEYAL SORIA
1999
The school yard is transformed with trees
An emotional return 14 years on
In December 1999 Ann Shrosbree and Bill Hamblett returned to Sudan after 14 years to attend a conference hosted by the University of Khartoum.
Conference title "African Civilization into the 21st Century - Drama for Peace Culture"
The Creative Exchange Network asked Ann to present a keynote speech 'Culture and Creativity: a Pathway to Peace'. Small World Theatre(SWT) also delivered a short drama workshop. Rachel Rogers from the Centre for Performance Research(CPR) Aberystwyth and Bill & Ann of SWT made public presentations at the British Council, Khartoum about their respective work. During the conference the subject of using theatre and drama for peace was discussed. A meeting with the Minister for Peace and Security officials provided the opportunity to ask questions about the Sudanese commitment to finding peaceful solutions to the long running civil war. Suggestions on the use of cultural mediums and theatre to open a dialogue for peace were also investigated at this meeting. Small World Theatre wish to pursue opportunities to work with Sudanese partners, in developing a programme of work exploring the use of participatory theatre, possibly with a large puppet as intermediary, to create dialogue between conflicting communities.
The conference was a fascinating mixture of culture, history and contemporary issues, with field visits to ancient Meroitic temples and cultural displays of dance and music in the desert near Shendi. This afforded us the opportunity to visit the town and more importantly our dear friends and colleagues involved in the 1985 community forestry project. The project ended 4 years ago in the 56 nearby villages but the community still manage and maintain the forests planted. The women's project was still running but under threat of closure. Because we found that they were still using and adapting the puppet skills we had shared we spent two days making new puppet heads together.
Most of the villages still, to date, maintain wells and the pumps, plant trees and harvest them. Shelter belts of Mesquite trees, have halted the desert encroachment, self seeded and even created some problems. While mending a puncture in Nurab,( mesquite thorn!) a group of women, (on hearing that they were talking to the original puppeteers / trainers), recounted the whole story of the show from 14 years before.
Over 1 Million trees & memories.
Ann Shrosbree and Bill Hamblett and Biggles first traveled to Sudan in a convoy of 6 Landrovers in 1981 with Green Deserts a Suffolk based charity. What an amazing adventure. We took a few puppets and a puppet fit up / booth as a try out. Extraordinary meetings with remarkable people led us to experiment with the medium. A fantastic little show was produced with the help of Sudanese foresters and it was micro toured. What happened next is partly documented on another page
Sudan 1981 to 1986oftheatre for development
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Small World Theatre, Canolfan Byd Bychan, Bath House Road, Cardigan, Ceredigion, Wales, SA43 1JY
Tel: 01239 615952 Fax :01239 615835
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