Roma families from across Oldham, Blackburn and Bolton will bring music, theatre, dance and memory to the Whitworth Art Gallery in Manchester tomorrow (Saturday)- and they are asking for your help in bringing it to life.
Over recent days and weeks, families have been coming together in the evenings to prepare for The 600 Roma - a bilingual English and Romani musical drama based on the true stories of their own relatives connected to the Roma resistance of May 16, 1944 at Auschwitz-Birkenau.
Children, parents, grandparents, musicians and dancers have all taken part voluntarily, despite the financial pressures and challenges many families are facing. No institutional funding supported this production.
Everything has been carried through community effort, trust and belief in the importance of Roma voices, Roma memory, and Roma art.
Organiser, Juice Vamosi said: “At a time when antigypsyism continues to affect Roma families across Europe, and when Roma stories are still too often ignored, erased or spoken about by others, this moment matters deeply to us.
“Through live music, authentic Roma dance, theatre and family testimony, we are trying to create a space where Roma people speak for ourselves with dignity, honesty and humanity.
“This year marks the second consecutive year that the Whitworth has created space for Roma art and culture. Last year the gallery hosted the internationally celebrated work of Małgorzata Mirga-Tas, and this year it hosts the deeply thought-provoking exhibition of Delaine Le Bas, alongside a full afternoon of Roma cultural programming.”
The programme runs from 1 pm to 4 pm and includes: an interview connected to the Delaine Le Bas exhibition, poetry by Gemma Lees and a live musical drama performance from 2:30 pm, featuring authentic Roma music, dance and theatre.
The event is open to all, and free tickets can be booked here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/romani-resistance-day-with-delaine-le-bas-juice-vamosi-and-gemma-lees-tickets-1983774387595
Support The 600 Roma by visiting: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-the-600-roma-live-in-manchester-16-may
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