Homes Alive with Dead Earnest at next BME Forum
Interactive theatre company Dead Earnest will be using their unique approach to community theatre at Sheffield Homes’ next Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) Tenants Forum.
Dead Earnest will be performing a special play at the BME Forum on July 31st, to highlight the different ways that Sheffield residents can deal with racism, harassment and disputes. However, this play is very different from traditional theatre …the audience is actively encouraged to stop the play and make changes!
As the play progresses if the audience disagrees with any behaviour performed by the characters, they can stop the play, rewind it and become the director for the scene. The audience directs the play and its performers to create a scene the way they think is the most appropriate way to deal with disputes or harassment.
The theme of the BME Forum is racism and harassment. Dead Earnest will be tailoring their performance to challenge the audiences perceptions to incidents of racism and harassment by focusing on issues surrounding disputes based on cultural differences, isolation.
This is the first time Sheffield Homes has used this type of approach to consulting with its customers about racism and harassment.
Janet Parry, Director of Housing Management at Sheffield Homes said, “We are building on the huge success of the last BME Forum and are looking at new ways to bring communities closer together. We hope this play will make people stop and think about what they see and spark debate about the subject.”
Tenants will be able to take part in a series of interactive workshops around improving community confidence to report incidents and how Sheffield Homes and the Police can make changes to help improve how incidents are dealt with.
Tenants can also use the forum to ask senior staff from Sheffield Homes about a range of housing issues and have a say about improving and developing Sheffield Homes services.
The next BME Forum will be taking place on Tuesday 31st July at Sheffield Wednesday Football Ground, between 6-9p.m. An interpreter service will also be provided on request and travel and carer expenses will be paid. Refreshments and food will also be provided.
Sheffield Homes customers interested in attending can book a place or an interpreter by contacting Jane Lyon on 0114 273 5566 or emailing getinvolved@sheffieldhomes.org.uk