Crystal's Vardo

Last updated
Crystal's Vardo
Written bySuzanna King
Directed bySuzanna King
Date premieredJune 28, 2012 (2012-06-28)
Place premiered Pavilion Theatre, Brighton
Original languageEnglish
Official site

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]

Contents

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 [10] and the police. [11] 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] [10] [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

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References

  1. ↑ "Crystal's Vardo back on the road again in June". Travellers Times. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Aiken, Mike (6 July 2018). "Crystal's Vardo Review". The Brighton Source. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
  3. 1 2 "Crystal's Vardo to be made available online for gypsy, roma and traveller history month". Travellers Times. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
  4. ↑ "Play tells story of Romani community". Bridgwater Mercury. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
  5. 1 2 "Crystal's Vardo, Pavilion Theatre, Brighton, June 28". The Argus. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
  6. ↑ "Crystal's Vardo back on the road again in June". Travellers Times. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
  7. ↑ "Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Month kicks off in Hackney in June". Hackney Gazette. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
  8. ↑ "Crystal's Vardo (Closed January 24, 2019) - Off-West End - reviews, cast and info - WhatsOnStage". WhatsOnStage.com. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
  9. ↑ "Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month". Gypsies and Travellers Wales. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
  10. 1 2 https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/43013/html/
  11. ↑ "Police donate hundreds of pounds to gypsy and traveller production". The Argus. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
  12. ↑ http://data.kingston.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/JSNA_GypsiesandTravellersChapter2016.pdf
  13. ↑ "Microgrants". South Cambs District Council. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
  14. ↑ "Coventry University – WEAVE". weave-culture.eu. Retrieved 2023-04-12.
  15. ↑ "GRTS teaching resources - Support for schools and settings". Devon County Council. 27 June 2022. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
  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. ↑ "About Crystal's Vardo". Friends, Families and Travellers . Retrieved 2023-04-12.
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