Slave: A question of freedom is the true story of Mende Nazer’s stolen childhood and her fight for survival.
Feelgood Theatre’s 30th anniversary national tour begins at The Lowry, Salford Quays on Wednesday, October 9 with six shows before moving onto Bristol’s Tobacco Factory, Shakespeare North, Prescott and then onto the Riverside Studios. London
This exceptionally important play begins in the 1990s, in the beautiful Nuba Mountains of Sudan, where life is still a good fire around which stories are told. Until the raiders on horseback come. They burn the village, murder, abduct and enslave the children.
Twelve-year-old Mende was one of those children. In 2000, after seven years she was passed on to a diplomat’s family and trafficked to London. She escaped, only to face a new struggle for asylum
Mende’s inspiring story celebrates the ancient Nuba culture, and her indomitable spirit in the face of shattered dreams and is told by an outstanding ensemble of seven international actor-musicians as a feast of storytelling, music and dance. Mende’s voice has a deep global resonance for us in the 21st century as she asks us to consider the essence of freedom.
Updated from 2010 in consultation with Mende and the Nuba community, the play’s creators hope the play will once again make you want to dance with the Nuba, but also rail against the inhumanity of modern slavery in all its forms.
Feelgood artistic director Caroline Clegg will once again be at the helm, fresh from directing the first ever staged production of The Liverpool Oratorio by Sir Paul McCartney in Cincinnati, USA.
The production was awarded the first Anti-Slavery Award (from Human Trafficking Foundation) and in a recent conversation with Caroline Clegg (director) their founder Anthony Steen said: “At a time when myths and misconceptions about human trafficking and modern slavery persist, it is vital to raise awareness of the realities of these dreadful crimes. Theatre productions are able to do just that by engaging an audience, many of whom would not have otherwise been aware of the extent of this issue in Britain and encouraging them to take action.
“We would like to congratulate Caroline Clegg and Feelgood Theatre in continuing their invaluable production, especially considering how greatly awareness of modern slavery still is 12 years after this play received its initial award.”
Slave – A Question of Freedom also won– The Pete Postlethwaite Best New Play at the Manchester Evening News Awards, the North Arts Review Award for Best Director, Best Actress and Best New Play. In 2011 it was performed in the House of Lords in the campaign to establish the Modern Slavery Bill (now enshrined in law).
In parallel to the production Feelgood are working with the Nuba community, the Humanitarian and Conflict Response Unit at the University of Manchester, the Human Trafficking Foundation the Bakhita Centre at St Mary’s University and the William Wilberforce Institute.
Led by Dr Rubina Jasani and Women Asylum Seekers Together (WAST) there will be a round table symposium ‘Experts by Experience’ where they will share their own experiences and people will be able to ask questions before and after seeing the play.
Since 2010, Caroline has continued to raise awareness of the situation in Sudan with the Mende Nazer Foundation and in 2016 Mende and Caroline, travelled together to the Nuba Mountains to experience the reality and also take medical aid. Subsequent work has seen the building of a clinic and installation of water pumps.
You can now book tickets for Slave: A Question of Freedom at the Lowry Salford Quays, opening Wednesday, October 9, with an exclusive two for one offer for Lowry Theatre Club members and tickets start from £19.50.
Suitable for age 10 upwards. Book tickets here: https://thelowry.com/whats-on/slave-a-question-of-freedom/#book
