Crystal's Vardo Explained

Crystal's Vardo
Director:Suzanna King
Place:Pavilion Theatre, Brighton
Orig Lang:English
Web:https://www.gypsy-traveller.org/our-flagship-projects/theatre-for-change/

Crystal's Vardo is an English theatre production written and directed by Suzanna King for children aged 7+, about the impact of being bullied at school on a young Gypsy girl's life.[1] It uses dance, drama, humour and music, in a hybrid of theatre, storytelling, historical reconstruction and political education, to describe the culture and histories of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities.[2] [3] [4] The play "remains entertaining while also raising awareness about the racism and injustice faced by Gypsies and Travellers today."[2]

History

Organised by Friends, Families and Travellers, Crystal's Vardo premiered at the Pavilion Theatre in Brighton in 2012[2] [5] [6] and has continued to play throughout the UK including at Hackney Empire[7] and Ovalhouse in London.[8] Its most recent tour was in 2022.[9] The play's development received funding from the National Lottery Community Fund and the police.[10] It has been put on at theatres, schools, community organisations, storytelling festivals, colleges, youth offending units, prisons, and conferences for people including teachers and pupils, health and police professionals.[2] [3] [11] [12] [13] [14] Resources developed to accompany it are used in teaching.[15] [16]

Mission

According to its website, the artistic vision for Crystal's Vardo is to:[17]

Plot

Crystal "is fed up with the racist bullying at school and is considering flunking lessons. That’s the cue for the vardo to transform into a TARDIS that journeys back in time. We start in AD 400 and follow the Romany’s route of dispossession, criminalisation and extermination: from the Middle East to southern and central Europe. We pursue the trail into discriminatory legislation and practices that still exist in 21st century Britain."[2]

"Narrated by Crystal as she time-travelled in her vardo [. . .] the play skipped through the centuries to an idealised future in which the discrimination finally ends."[5]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2023-04-11. Crystal's Vardo back on the road again in June. Travellers Times.
  2. Web site: Mike. Aiken. 2023-04-11. Crystal's Vardo Review. 6 July 2018. The Brighton Source.
  3. Web site: 2023-04-11. Crystal's Vardo to be made available online for gypsy, roma and traveller history month. Travellers Times.
  4. Web site: 2023-04-11. Play tells story of Romani community. Bridgwater Mercury.
  5. Web site: 2023-04-11. Crystal's Vardo, Pavilion Theatre, Brighton, June 28. The Argus.
  6. Web site: 2023-04-11. Crystal's Vardo back on the road again in June. Travellers Times.
  7. Web site: 2023-04-11. Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Month kicks off in Hackney in June. Hackney Gazette.
  8. Web site: 2023-04-11. Crystal's Vardo (Closed January 24, 2019) - Off-West End - reviews, cast and info - WhatsOnStage. WhatsOnStage.com.
  9. Web site: 2023-04-11. Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month. Gypsies and Travellers Wales.
  10. Web site: 2023-04-11. Police donate hundreds of pounds to gypsy and traveller production. The Argus.
  11. https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/43013/html/
  12. http://data.kingston.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/JSNA_GypsiesandTravellersChapter2016.pdf
  13. Web site: 2023-04-11. Microgrants. South Cambs District Council.
  14. Web site: 2023-04-12. Coventry University – WEAVE. weave-culture.eu.
  15. Web site: 2023-04-11. GRTS teaching resources - Support for schools and settings. 27 June 2022. Devon County Council.
  16. https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/correspondence/2021/03/gypsy-traveller-action-plan-letter-from-scottish-government-and-cosla/documents/annex-b-improving-access-to-public-services/annex-b-improving-access-to-public-services/govscot%3Adocument/Annex%2BB%2B%2528pdf%2529%2B-%2BIMPROVING%2BACCESS%2BTO%2BPUBLIC%2BSERVICES.pdf
  17. Web site: 2023-04-12. About Crystal's Vardo. Friends, Families and Travellers.

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