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Lung Ha's Theatre Company gets ready for Festival of Politics
18 August, 2006
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 Members of the theatre group in rehearsal |
Holyrood will be home to a unique dramatic event this summer, when a group of disabled actors take part in a specially-written performance for this year's Festival of Politics (23-26 Aug).
The Edinburgh-based Lung Ha's Theatre Company will be performing a piece of 'legislative theatre' designed exclusively for the Scottish Parliament looking at three key issues - accessibility, attitude and education - that effect adults with learning and physical disabilities.
A total of six actors from the 22-year-old company, which is the only theatre company in Scotland with professional production values to exclusively use actors with a learning disability, will begin intensive rehearsals this week to be ready for their performance at the Festival of Politics on Thursday 24 August.
Speaking ahead of the performance, artistic director of Lung Ha's Theatre Company, Clark Crystal, said:
"Traditionally we've been a story-telling theatre so performing at the Festival of Politics is an exciting new development for us.
"Our actors will make the political personal by showing the key issues a person with a disability faces on a daily basis - focusing on accessibility, attitude and education."
Presiding Officer, George Reid MSP, said:
"The Festival of Politics is about engaging with the people of Scotland on topical issues and discovering that politics is for everyone.
"We are delighted that the Lung Ha's Theatre Company will be performing later this month.
"This unique interactive performance will challenge audience perceptions - and increase awareness of the daily difficulties people with learning difficulties face."
Lung Ha's Theatre Company is sponsored by the Disability Rights Commission and will perform at the Parliament in association with the Disability Arts Coalition. Lung Ha is also taking part in Edinburgh 's first Disability Festival which is taking place in various venues throughout the city between 8 August and 9 September and includes Giants, a photographic exhibition by renowned photographer David Hevey.
Taking place between 23-26 August, the Festival of Politics is one of the first of its kind for any Parliament and brings together the worlds of politics, media and the arts through performance, discussion and debate.
Top speakers this year include: newsreader George Alagiah, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell and TV historian Dan Snow. There will also be a unique live performance from three times winner of the 2005 BBC Folk on 2 awards, Karine Polwart.
All of the venues at the Festival:
- Are accessible by lift or level access, although some venues may have a limited number of spaces for wheelchair users.
- Welcome guide dogs or other assistance dogs.
- Are fitted with induction loop facilities.
- In addition, British Sign Language (BSL) interpretation will be provided automatically at come events (see www.festivalofpolitics.org.uk for details). If a BSL Interpreter is required or another form of support service please contact the Scottish parliament on 0131 348 5000 as soon as possible.
Background Notes on Festival of Politics
Full programme details for the Festival of Politics are available at most major Edinburgh Festival venues, from the Scottish Parliament or from www.festivalofpolitics.org.uk.
Top names speaking at the Festival of Politics 2006 include:
- Rachel Elnaugh, star of BBC TV's Dragons' Den, and other top entrepreneurs listening to leading politicians pitch their vision for the Scottish economy;
- George Alagiah, the internationally acclaimed journalist and news presenter talking about his experiences reporting events from around the world;
- Dan Snow, historian and star of BBC TV's Battlefield Britain, analysing the significance of the battle of Culloden;
- Karine Polwart, multiple winner at the 2005 Folk on 2 Awards, performing with her band; and
- Menzies Campbell, leader of the Liberal Democrats, talking informally about his life in politics, his vision for the party, for Scotland and beyond.
Discussion topics include conflict in the Middle East , the Battle of Culloden, Scottish Identity and the health of political democracy and entrepreneurship. Some of the Parliament's leading politicians have agreed to field questions from the public during a special edition of Parliamentary question time.
Tickets can be obtained:
- Online from: www.festivalofpolitics.org.uk. Online booking is available 24 hours up to 4pm on the day before the event.
- By telephone: 0131 473 2000 (calls via RNID Typetalk: 018001 0131 473 2000). Fax: 0131 473 2003.
- By post: to the Festival of Politics, Hub Tickets, The Hub, Castlehill, Edinburgh, EH1 2NE.
- In person at the Scottish Parliament or at the Hub.
Visitors to the Festival will be able to use the free crèche. The crèche opened in 2004 for members of the public visiting Parliament and provides up to four hours free child care for 0-5 year olds. For information call: 0131 348 6192.
To ensure Festival of Politics events are as accessible as possible, please specify requirements when booking tickets. While British Sign Language (BSL) interpretation is provided automatically at some events, it can be requested for any of the others. Assistance dogs are welcome and all venues are accessible for wheelchair users.
For further information contact: [email protected]
Telephone: 0131 348 6852.
For public information/general enquiries:
Telephone 0131 348 500 or 0845 278 1999 (local call rate)
E-mail: [email protected]
More Festival of Politics news
The Festival of Politics is an initiative of the Scottish Parliament.
The Festival of Politics 2006 Partners are:
Standard Life; BAA Scotland; and ScottishPower.
