What causes racism? What causes violence? How do we stop it? When it comes to the some of the most controversial issues perpetuating in our society, the knee-jerk reaction is often to point the finger of blame at young people’s escape routes – music, film and video games. During the past week, the UK government has decided the answer to violence (in this instance, gun crimes) could lie in the censorship of young people’s sources of entertainment.
Meanwhile, in Glasgow, a collaborative initiative between children’s theatre company, TAG, the Glasgow City Council and the Glasgow Anti-Racism Alliance (GARA), attempts to dig a little deeper, and tackle the complexity of issues facing young people in their immediate environment, through a more hands-on approach: education.
Throughout February and March 2003, TAG Theatre’s Playing with Fire – which has been researched and developed since June 2001 – will tour to every high school in Glasgow, (40 in total) playing to third year students.
The idea for the project was conceived when Glasgow City Council and GARA invited TAG to devise a piece of theatre tackling racism, to present in secondary schools. The project builds on the research and development model piloted by TAG in the 2001 production, Stroma, which looked at young people running away from home, and sleeping rough. Commenting on that play’s model, the company’s Artistic Director, James Brining, said: ‘Given the socially realistic nature of the play… by meeting young people at risk and workers in the field, we grounded the play in truth.’
TAG’s Education Officer, Emily Ballard, explains that workshops to research and develop the script for Playing with Fire engaged second year students – from both white and ethnic minority backgrounds – from four high schools across Glasgow. Now, one year later, the same young people will see the outcomes of their work.
‘The young people have built up a real investment in the project,’ Ballard observes. ‘I think it’s been a very valuable experience for them, because [after] all the work they’ve put in, they’ll be able to see it come to fruition.’
Through workshops with commissioned playwright, Maya Chowdhry, children were encouraged to discuss ideas of identity, discrimination and assimilation: Did they consider themselves to be Scottish? Had they experienced discrimination? To what extent should people from culturally diverse backgrounds assimilate into Scottish culture, whilst still enriching it?
The result, Ballard says, is a script which attempts to raise questions about race and identity, rather than trying to solve the problem of racism itself.
The story revolves around the family of 17-year old Dolly, who own a café in Glasgow. Her father is of Indian heritage, while her mother is Scottish. Meanwhile, her cousin’s parents are Scottish and Italian. The play hints that issues of identity do not necessarily arise from visible differences, like colour, while also creating a scenario – through a parallel storyline – that questions whether an attack on the family’s café is in fact a race crime, or merely a random attack.
‘It’s a Glasgow-based project, so we tried to make it as relevant to the city – and the age group – as possible,’ Ballard says. ‘The play… has a lot of references to the city, and hopefully the characters in the play will be recognisable to young people.’
While racial diversity continues to influence arts policy and practice around the UK, in Glasgow, Playing with Fire emerged at the invitation of the City Council and the Glasgow Anti-Racism Alliance. GARA’s Education Officer, Anita Shelton, has shed some light on the current multicultural climate in Glasgow, and explained why such an education project was on the city’s agenda.
‘Glasgow is a multi-ethnic, multicultural community throughout – although this is more evident in some parts of the city than in others,’ says Shelton. ‘This does not mean that racism is less prevalent in parts of the city where minority black ethnic communities are less visible. Indeed, in some of these areas, racism is much more overt, as there is less understanding of the issues, and black residents living in these areas are isolated and often victimised.’
‘In recent years, Glasgow has experienced the additional pressure of being the only community in Scotland to participate voluntarily in Westminister’s asylum dispersal programme. Numbers vary, but it is thought that some 6,000 asylum seekers to Britain, involving approximately 50 language groups, have come to Glasgow since 1999.’
GARA has been involved with the project throughout its development, as well as playing a role in producing a resource pack with TAG, to ensure the play is part of an ongoing learning process. Ballard emphasises the aim of the initiative is not to ‘cure’ racism, but to engage young people in the complexities of a multicultural society.
‘It doesn’t provide any answers. It just raises a lot of questions about identity, and relationships and social interaction,’ Ballard concedes. ‘We’re not attempting to solve racism – that’s obviously a huge issue, and one that cannot be combatted in one project. But we are trying to set up a dialogue in schools… to put across this idea of complexity. Issues of identity affect everybody, not just people of other colours.’
’Playing with Fire’ will tour Glasgow secondary colleges before a special performance at the Tron Theatre. Visit www.tag-theatre.co.uk for further details.
Related Article
BBC NEWS 13.01.03 Violent images inquiry to launch
