Dash Arts Podcast

What is the role of the artist when faced with social and political unrest? This month as protests take place across the world, we've been thinking of the long history between art and protest. Every day this month Georgians, Turks, Americans and Serbians are on the streets speaking out against the country's ruling governments. At Dash Arts we make art that challenges the world we all live in and this month we open our new theatre production, The Reckoning; based on witness testimonies from the Russian war in Ukraine. Join Dash's Artistic Director, Josephine Burton, as she revisits our 2024 interview with critically acclaimed journalist Peter Pomerantsev and catch up with Georgian Artist and Activist Ana Riaboshenko on what it's been like since the Georgian Dream party, widely seen as pro-Russian, maintained its majority in last year's elections. Professor Alan Finlayson also shares his insights from his new book - Our Subversive Voice: The History and Politics of English Protest Songs, 1600–2020.Book your tickets for The Reckoning on the Arcola Theatre's website.In the podcast, we hear from:Josephine Burton - Artistic Director, Dash Arts Peter Pomerantsev - Journalist and AuthorAna Riaboshenko - Artist & one of the Initiators of Culture for DemocracyProfessor Alan Finlayson - Professor of Political and Social Theory at the University of East AngliaOur intro music is Fakiiritanssi by Marouf Majidi Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join us round the kitchen table with acclaimed Ukrainian chef Olia Hercules and Dash's Artistic Director Josephine Burton as they weave together cooking and storytelling in our latest production.Dash's new production, The Reckoning, is a vivid and powerful new play about war, survival and the fragile trust between those who uncover the truth and those who must live with it.Co-writers Anastasiia Kosodii and Josephine Burton created the play from The Reckoning Project's verified archive of witness testimonies of the Russian war in Ukraine. Find out why Olia's insights and beautiful cooking is so vital to our staging of these experiences.To book tickets or to read more about The Reckoning see the Dash Arts website.If you haven't already, you can hear the other episodes of this podcast mini-series on The Reckoning where we explore our process towards production, speaking to author and journalist Peter Pomerantsev on why he shared the testimonies with Dash as well as Rory Finnin, Professor of Ukrainian Studies at the University of Cambridge.In the podcast, we hear from:Josephine Burton - Artistic Director, Dash Arts Olia Hercules - Chef & The Reckoning Food ConsultantZoë Hurwitz - The Reckoning Set Designer Our intro music is Fakiiritanssi by Marouf Majidi and throughout you can hear Tykho feat Syoda by composer of The Reckoning, Anton Baibakov. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does it mean to be at loggerheads with reality?"If a person who is at loggerheads with reality possesses an artistic gift... he can transform his phantasies into artistic creations instead of symptoms."— Sigmund Freud, Five Lectures on Psycho-Analysis (1910)In this episode of the Dash Arts Podcast, Artistic Director Josephine Burton dives into two powerful exhibitions that challenge how we understand women, art, and mental health:

Join us in the rehearsal room as we craft a new epic - an origin story that celebrates and redefines the migration experience. Songs of Solidarity (the current working title for Dash Arts and Projekt Europa's new project) brings together artists, researchers, and refugees to co-create a powerful music-theatre performance.In this episode we look at what makes epics, epic. We explore ancient epics like Kalevala, Gilgamesh, and the Odyssey with academics and then, with migrant artists, asylum seekers and refugees, investigate how we can create new ones rooted in solidarity, displacement, and friendship across time.You can see more in our short film and there's more to come throughout 2025. In this episode we hear from:Josephine Burton - Artistic Director of Dash ArtsProfessor Fiona Macintosh - Emeritus Professor of Classical Reception, University of OxfordMaria Aberg - Artistic Director of PROJEKT EUROPAMarouf Majidi - composer and musicianSabrina Mahfouz - writer and poet Luca Macchi - actor and musician Namvula Rennie - actor and musicianChen Xu - actor and musician Natalia Kakarkina - actor and musicianSurya Chandra - actor and musicianSongs of Solidarity is a PROJEKT EUROPA and Dash Arts co-production. This first phase of R&D was co-produced with the Cultural Programme at Oxford University, in partnership with the Archive of Performances of Greek and Roman Drama at Oxford University, Finnish Institute in the UK and Ireland, and Asylum Welcome. We're particularly grateful to Fiona Macintosh for her support and encouragement. Our gratitude goes to all the wonderful international artists, academics and participants who enriched our project.Find out more at:www.projekteuropa.orgwww.dasharts.org.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How can the arts help us to encounter others? In December 2024, we were part of a fantastic live discussion at the RSA (Royal Society for Arts, Manufactures and Commerce) discussing how the arts can unlock unheard voices. This podcast brings you some highlights from the event with some extra insights and updates from our Dash Arts Artistic Director Josephine Burton. Hosted by Tom Stratton (Chief of Staff at RSA), our Artistic Director and Chief Executive Josephine Burton was joined on stage by Alan Finlayson (Professor of Political & Social Theory, University of East Anglia), Alecky Blythe (Playwright), and Dawid Konotey-Ahulu (co-founder of Redington, Mallowstreet, and 10,000 Interns). Sue Agyakwa whom we met in a speech-making workshop in Newham earlier in 2024, also, kindly, shared her speech live. Josephine and Alan shared what they've learnt from their 18 month long speech making workshop programme across the country that will culminate in Dash Arts' 'state of the nation' theatre production, Our Public House, in 2026. Our Public House is funded by Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), Arts Council England, The Thistle Trust, Three Monkies Trust, and individual giving.You can watch the full event by visiting the RSA's website or their YouTube Channel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“All good art is an attempt to wrestle with truth”In the fourth episode on the journey towards our production, The Reckoning, Dash's Artistic Director, Josephine Burton is in conversation with Author and Playwright Gillian Slovo discussing the power of theatre and the responsibilities involved in bringing real people's stories to the stage. As Dash Arts prepares to produce a theatre production rooted in the testimonies of survivors of the war in Ukraine, Josephine searches for insights into how to create powerful drama whilst doing justice to the people who have lent their stories. Gillian shares her experiences of listening to the survivors of the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017 and looking after their words as she crafted the verbatim drama, Grenfell: In the Words of Survivors for the National Theatre. Support this year's Big Give: Help Bring The Reckoning to Life and Double Your Impact!Help Dash Arts bring Reckoning to life, a powerful documentary-style production based on Ukrainian testimonies. Premiering in 2025 and marking three years of war, Reckoning will spark vital conversations on the impact of war and possibility of restorative justice. Your donation will be doubled during the Big Give Christmas Challenge which is live from Tuesday 3 to Tuesday 10 December. Please help us reach our £5,000 goal!Follow this link for more information and to donate from 3 December Reckoning - a new, groundbreaking work of theatreIf you haven't already, you can hear the other episodes of this podcast mini-series on The Reckoning where we explore our process towards production, speaking to author and journalist Peter Pomerantsev on why he shared the testimonies with Dash as well as hear from Rory Finnin, Professor of Ukrainian Studies at the University of Cambridge.In the podcast, we hear from:Josephine Burton - Artistic Director, Dash Arts Gillian Slovo - Author and PlaywrightOur intro music is Fakiiritanssi by Marouf MajidiThank you to Jonathan Levy and Gabrielle Rifkind for hosting our live conversation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the third episode on the journey towards our production, The Reckoning, Dash's Artistic Director, Josephine Burton is in conversation with Rory Finnin, Professor of Ukrainian Studies at the University of Cambridge. Interspersed by some short performances from the developing script, the two discuss the creative process behind the making of the production, rooted in testimonies taken from survivors from the Russian war in Ukraine. Support this year's Big Give: Help Bring Reckoning to Life and Double Your Impact!Help Dash Arts bring The Reckoning to life, a powerful documentary-style production based on Ukrainian testimonies. Premiering in 2025 and marking three years of war, The Reckoning will spark vital conversations on the impact of war and possibility of restorative justice. Your donation will be doubled during the Big Give Christmas Challenge which is live from Tuesday 3 to Tuesday 10 December. Please help us reach our £5,000 goal!Follow this link for more information and to donate from 3 December The Reckoning - a new, groundbreaking work of theatreIf you haven't already, you can hear episodes one and two from this podcast mini-series on The Reckoning where we explore the beginnings of the piece and later speak to author and journalist Peter Pomerantsev on why he shared the testimonies with Dash.Thank you to our partners and funders Cambridge Festival, Cambridge Junction, the Ukrainian Studies Department at the University of Cambridge, Open Society Foundations, the Fritt Ord Foundation, Goethe-Institut in Exile, Goethe-Institut in London and individual giving.In the podcast, we hear from:Josephine Burton - Artistic Director, Dash Arts Rory Finnin - Professor of Ukrainian Studies at the University of CambridgeSam Kyslyi - PerformerMark Quartley - PerformerUnderscore and sound design by Anton BaibakovOur intro music is Fakiiritanssi by Marouf Majidi Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

More than half the world's population is voting in elections this year. Dash Arts dives into one of those elections, speaking to artists in Georgia about how they are responding to the political turmoil in their country. The ruling party, Georgian Dream, is fighting for an unprecedented fourth term at the end of October 2024 and continues to be accused of silencing free speech, taking control of arts and culture and using fear to intimidate any criticism. As part of Dash Arts' exploration into protest and the public voice, Josephine Burton speaks to three Georgian artist activists who are uniting artists from across the sector, shouting for democracy and pushing for change. In this episode you will hear from:Josephine Burton - Artistic Director, Dash ArtsThomas De Waal - Journalist, author & specialist in Eastern Europe and the Caucasus regionAna Riaboshenko - Artist & one of the Initiators of Culture for DemocracyPaata Tsikolia - Theatre Director and PlaywrightLevan Mindiashvilii - ArtistThanks to Mariam Uberi and musician Aleksandre Kharanauli. Hear his work on Spotify.To hear more podcasts on protest, art and activism by visiting the Dash website.Levani's art - https://levanm.com/ More information (in Georgian) on Culture for Democracy: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556194792093 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“I've long nurtured a dream to get out and finally explore what it was about the forests and seas of Laulasmaa, ‘the land of song', in Estonia that inspired Arvo Pärt and so many musicians.”Join Dash's Artistic Director, Josephine Burton as she travels to the Arvo Pärt Centre in Laulasmaa, Estonia to investigate the mystical musical relationship between nature and the people of EstoniaFrom the Arvo Pärt Centre Josephine wanders the forest, swims in the sea and explores Helikula, ‘the village of sound', where musicians from the Union of Composers were given summer houses during Soviet Times.We started collaborating in October 2020 during the pandemic with a widely celebrated online event with the Arvo Pärt Centre combining a pre-recorded concert and a conversation with musicians Andres Kaljuste, Sophia Rahman and Arvo's son Michael Pärt. You can hear this previous episode here.For more on the trip you can read Josephine's blog and see more photographs of the incredible Estonian landscape on the Dash Arts website.In the podcast, we hear from:Josephine Burton - Artistic Director, Dash Arts Michael Pärt - Composer and Chairman of the Arvo Pärt CentreSophia Rahman - PianistAndres Kaljuste - ViolinistRein Lang - Former Minister of Culture of EstoniaLiisa Hirsch - Composer Kristina Norman - ArtistTitle music by Fakiiritanssi by Marouf MajidiCompositions by Arvo Pärt played by Sophia Rahman and Andres Kaljuste:Fratres Für AlinaSpiegel im SpiegelWith thanks to the Estonian Ministry of Culture and Estonian Cultural Counsellor in London for enabling Josephine's trip. Artwork: A PHOTO JOSEPHINE'S TRIPReference to the previous episode (Jan 2021) - https://open.spotify.com/episode/7pN6oLyNmgxVEqjNjZW8Dg?si=34666bcd1c984ba6 Blog link - https://www.dasharts.org.uk/blog/arvo-prts-inspiration-discovering-the-magic-of-estonias-forests-and-sounds Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On 4th July millions of UK voters will take to the polls. Candidates are vying for our attention through speeches and debates. In this special episode Artistic Director, Josephine Burton, catches up with four former speech-making workshop participants across the country on how they are experiencing the election campaign, and analyses our political candidates and the quality of their speechmaking with Alan Finlayson, Professor of Political and Social Theory at the University of East Anglia, and collaborator on our national workshops.To find out more about our plans for the theatre production go to www.dasharts.org.uk/our-public-house Our Public House is funded by Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), Arts Council England, National Theatre's Generate Programme, Three Monkies Trust, The Thistle Trust, and individual giving.In the podcast we're grateful to hear from:Kate, Max, Devika and Jonathan - Workshop ParticipantsJosephine Burton - Artistic Director, Dash ArtsProfessor Alan Finlayson - Professor of Political and Social Theory at the University of East Anglia Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Whilst the country builds up to a general election, we're in the midst of creating Our Public House, Dash Arts' state-of-the-nation theatre production.Hear from Artistic Director Josephine Burton and playwright Barney Norris on how our play weaves together the ideas and speeches of over 150 voices from across England and the ever shifting political landscape. Plus catch us in the rehearsal room at Theatre Royal Stratford East, performing some of the draft script and songs on stage at HOME in Manchester and in a speech-making workshop with Manchester Deaf Centre as we reflect on the long research and development process behind a Dash Arts production. Our Public House is funded by Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), Arts Council England, The Thistle Trust, Three Monkies Trust, and individual giving.In the podcast we're grateful to hear from:Josephine Burton - Artistic Director, Dash ArtsBarney Norris - Writer, Our Public HouseProfessor Alan Finlayson - Professor of Political and Social Theory at the University of East AngliaCristina Catalina - Senior Producer, Dash ArtsJonathan Walton - composer and musicianNick Pynn - composer and musicianMina Anwar - actor & singerMatt Hill - composer and musicianAnd the participants from the speech-making workshops around the country. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the still of a spring night, we journey into the woods with musicians Sam Lee and Jack Durtnall to hear the beautiful and increasingly rare song of the nightingale with a concert and conversation around the campfire. Artistic Director Josephine Burton treads lightly in the footsteps of a historic partnership between the nightingale and humans. The BBC's first ever live outside broadcast was recorded exactly 100 years ago in May 1924 as cellist Beatrice Harrison played alongside a nightingale. Our episode is the start of a new series of Dash Arts podcasts exploring the relationship between art and nature, and part of Dash's current season, Albion; an investigation of modern Englishness in all its complexity. Join us as we travel across landscape and language, digging deep into folk and written histories, oral traditions, music, storytelling, theatre and performance. Visit the Singing With Nightingales website to find out more about Sam's work and to join him on such a magical evening in the woods. In the podcast we're grateful to hear from:Josephine Burton - Artistic Director of Dash ArtsSam Lee - Musician and ConservationistJack Durtnall - MusicianAudience members from Singing with Nightingales Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“In many ways, I owe everything to the band.”It's been over 25 years since two students ran into each other on a street corner in Oxford and decided to set up a band. Oi Va Voi, rooted in Jewish and Eastern European musical traditions, would eventually reach hundreds and thousands of people across the world. Dash's Artistic Director Josephine Burton and Jonathan Walton, also known as Lemez Lovas, knew they needed more people and more instruments. Soon after Sophie Solomon, Steve Levi, Leo Bryant, Nik Ammar and Josh Breslaw joined the band and they began fusing together klezmer, jazz, funk and drum and bass.Last summer, their breakout album, Laughter Through Tears, turned 20 and the band marked it with a celebratory reunion gig at EartH in Hackney. In this episode we hear from the original members of the band and moments from last summer's reunion.As with all enduring families - there have been many moments when both life inside and outside the band got really tough, but Oi Va Voi lives on and this podcast celebrates these stories, the music and the people who made it. Josephine also shares why Dash Arts delayed releasing this episode back in October 2023.In the podcast, we hear from:Josephine Burton - Artistic Director, Dash Arts and former Singer, Oi Va VoiJonathan Walton/Lemez Lovas - former Trumpeter, Oi Va VoiJosh Breslaw - Drummer, Oi Va VoiLeo Bryant - former Bassist, Oi Va VoiSophie Solomon - former Violinist, Oi Va VoiNik Ammar - former Guitarist, Oi Va VoiSteve Levi - Clarinetist, Oi Va VoiKT Tunstall - former Singer, Oi Va VoiMusic:Recorded live at EartH, Hackney on 22nd July 2023. Used with permission of Oi Va Voi.Intro: Fakiiritanssi by Marouf MajidiArtwork:Album Cover taken from an early ep, Odessa, recorded in early 2000. Photo credit lost in the mists of time! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this second episode on the journey towards our production, The Reckoning, we hear from journalist and author, Peter Pomerantsev who co-founded The Reckoning Project and who first shared with Dash the hundreds of witness testimonies from survivors of the Russian war in Ukraine. Dash's Artistic Director, Josephine Burton and Podcast Producer, Marie Horner hear about Peter's motivations for starting the project and why he asked Dash to bring these stories to the stage. The Reckoning Project trains journalists to work with lawyers and analysts to collect stories of the horrors of war, detentions, torture and shelling that can be submitted as evidence in court. Peter and Josephine explore the relationship between the lawyers, journalists and witnesses, and how this has influenced Dash's production. We also hear from Peter's colleagues at The Reckoning Project, Nataliya Gumenyuk and Kostiantyn Korobov, on what has changed since the war began two years ago and what justice could look like for the people they speak to.Peter joined us while he was in London to promote his new book, How to Win an Information War: The Propagandist Who Outwitted Hitler. To find out more visit Faber's website.Josephine will be sharing more about the production in Cambridge on Wednesday 20th March alongside Rory Finnin, Professor of Ukrainian Studies at the University of Cambridge. Get your tickets here.In the podcast, we hear from:Josephine Burton - Artistic Director, Dash Arts Peter Pomerantsev - Journalist and AuthorNataliya Gumenyuk - JournalistKostiantyn Korobov - ArchivistMarie Horner - Podcast ProducerMusic by Fakiiritanssi by Marouf Majidi Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're in the pub for the next stage of Our Public House, a state-of-the-nation theatre production. Hear the show take shape in the studio and how Artistic Director Josephine Burton and playwright Barney Norris are being led by the speeches and writing of extraordinary individuals and communities from across the country. How do you pull together over 120 voices, ideas and stories to lock in a play that will resonate with our audiences?Our Public House is funded by the National Theatre's Generate Programme, Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), Arts Council England, Three Monkies Trust, and individual giving.In the podcast we're grateful to hear from:Josephine Burton - Artistic Director, Dash ArtsMarie Horner - Podcast Producer, Dash ArtsBarney Norris - Writer, Our Public HouseActors Alex Austin, Ed Gaughan, Syreeta Kumar, Mark Quartley, Saroja-Lily Ratnavel, and Sophie Stone Musician - Nick PynnAnd the participants from the speech-making workshops around the country. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“Finding a way to keep the darkness but continue to keep the joy so that there's moments of relief in the theatre, that the actors feel it, that the audience feel it too. That's really the challenge for me - how to make powerful theatre.” Josephine Burton, Artistic Director, Dash ArtsThis year Dash Arts is developing a new theatre production, The Reckoning; based on personal accounts of survivors of the Russian war in Ukraine from the vast testimony archive shared by The Reckoning Project, who has been gathering testimony from survivors of detentions, torture and shelling. Journalists are working with lawyers and analysts to collect these stories that can be submitted as evidence in court. Josephine will be in Cambridge on Wednesday 20th March to share excerpts from the latest version of the production and will be speaking with Rory Finnin, Professor of Ukrainian Studies at the University of Cambridge, about our research on the war in Ukraine for The Reckoning. Get your tickets here.In the podcast, we hear from:Josephine Burton - Artistic Director, Dash Arts Anastasiia Kosodii - Playwright Lou Platt - Psychotherapist and Artist Wellbeing practitioner Cristina Catalina - Senior Producer, Dash Arts Cristina Catalina, Vadym Golovko, Sam Kyslyi, Yulia Litvinenko, Mark Quartley and Olga Safronova - Cast of The Reckoning Research and Development Week (December 2023)Music from The Reckoning by Anton BaibakovOutro music : Fakiiritanssi by Marouf Majidi Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As 2024 arrives we look back on a year of new beginnings for Dash Arts. Join Artistic Director Josephine Burton and Dash's Podcast Producer Marie Horner as they explore what we've learnt and what we haven't learnt…yet. From the persecution of the Crimean Tatars in Crimea 5am, touring England to support the writing and delivery of over 120 speeches with communities in Our Public House and our first steps to create The Reckoning, a theatre show based on personal accounts of the Ukrainian war. In the podcast we hear from:Josephine Burton - Artistic Director, Dash ArtsMarie Horner - Podcast Producer, Dash ArtsMaria Romanenko - Journalist and Performer in Crimea 5amBoris Dralyuk - Poet and TranslatorAnastasiia Kosodii - Playwright and DirectorProfessor Alan Finlayson - Professor of Political and Social Theory at the University of East AngliaHenriette van der Blom - Reader in Ancient History at the University of BirminghamCristina Catalina - Senior Producer, Dash ArtsKayley - Participant and Speech WriterMichael - Participant and Speech WriterIntro music : Fakiiritanssi by Marouf Majidi Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“Grasp the subject, the words will follow.” Attributed to Cato The Elder Artistic Director, Josephine Burton and Podcast Producer, Marie Horner regroup in the studio to reflect on a series of live events in Manchester and London that were the 2023 culmination of this year's Public House project. We heard from speechwriters, activists and academics as we explored the ingredients of a great speech, the power of activism and words, and their ability to change people's minds and lives, along with passionate speeches given directly by some of our extraordinary cohort of individuals from communities across England.Coming in 2024, we'll be creating Our Public House, a state-of-the-nation theatre production, inspired by the speeches and writing of participants from across the country.Our HUGE thanks to all the participants from Underground Lights, Coventry; St Hilda's Community Centre, Tower Hamlets; HMP Styal; The Writers' Block, Redruth; Citizens UK, Brighton; Arbourthorne Men's Social Club, Sheffield; Manchester Deaf Centre and Deaf Explorer; Banbury and Bicester College, Bicester; individuals through Theatre Royal Stratford East, Newham, St Hilda's Community Centre in Tower Hamlets, and residents of Mile Cross, through The Common Lot, Norwich.Our Public House is funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), Arts Council England, Three Monkies Trust, and individual giving.In the podcast we're grateful to hear from:Kayleigh Roach - Participant and Speech WriterMaral Mamaghanizadeh - Participant and Speech WriterCharlie Caine- Participant and Speech WriterEdith Hall - Professor of Classics, University of DurhamRinkoo Barpaga - Artist and Stand-up comedian Zara Manoehoetoe - Youth worker and community activistJosephine Burton - Artistic Director, Dash ArtsMarie Horner - Podcast Producer, Dash ArtsAlan Finlayson - Professor of Political and Social Theory at the University of East AngliaCristina Catalina - Senior Producer. Dash Arts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“Take a deep breath in, now think about the future you want” Heidi in Cornwall. What do you want to change? What do you want politicians to understand?We've travelled over 3000 miles and asked these questions to over 120 people during speech writing workshops across the country. The creative team at Dash Arts and our academic partners gather to reflect on what we've learnt and what's surprised us, and to listen back to some of the incredible speeches from participants who took part in Our Public House.To hear more, book your tickets for Speak Out! - a series of live evening events in Manchester; on Tuesday 21 November we discuss the ingredients of great speech with classicist and cultural historian Edith Hall, and former speechwriter to David Cameron, Jessica Cunniffe. Plus academic Henriette van der Blom and Artistic Director of Dash Arts, Josephine Burton. On Wednesday 22 November we'll explore activism and how we speak out, with artist and stand-up comedian Rinkoo Barpaga, alongside journalist and academic Alan Finalyson and Josephine Burton. This event will be BSL interpreted by Winston Denerley and Samantha Vanterpool. Then we travel to London on Thursday 23 November where you can hear behind-the-scenes insights into the world of politics and speechwriting with Philip Collins, former chief speechwriter to Tony Blair, and Shareefa Energy, poet and activist. They will be joined by journalist and academic Alan Finlayson, and Josephine Burton.Coming in 2024, writer Jude Christian and director Josephine Burton will create Our Public House, a state-of-the-nation theatre production, inspired by the speeches and writing of our national participants.Our Public House is funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), Arts Council England, Three Monkies Trust, and individual giving.In the podcast we're grateful to hear from:Participants from Underground Lights, Coventry; St Hilda's Community Centre, Tower Hamlets; HMP Styal; The Writers' Block, Redruth; Citizens UK, Brighton; Arbourthorne Men's Social Club, Sheffield; Manchester Deaf Centre and Deaf Explorer; Banbury and Bicester College, Bicester; individuals through Theatre Royal Stratford East, Newham and residents of Mile Cross, through The Common Lot, Norwich. Josephine Burton - Artistic Director of Dash ArtsProfessor Alan Finlayson - Professor of Political and Social Theory at the University of East AngliaHenriette van der Blom - Reader in Ancient History at the University of BirminghamCristina Catalina - Senior Producer of Dash Arts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join us on the road as we travel the length and breadth of England to hear what people want to change. In communities across Cornwall, Yorkshire, Norfolk, the North West, South East and the Midlands, we're supporting people to write and deliver speeches on what difference they want to see.Robust public debate and the freedom to make arguments and counterarguments are essential to democracy. Today, however, political dispute is ever more sectarian and angry, fears of misinformation are widespread and political discussion is often confined to groups of the like-minded talking to each other online.Together with our partners at the Universities of Birmingham and East Anglia, we've been exploring this 'crisis of rhetoric' throughout the year with a series of workshops exploring persuasive speaking across diverse communities in England. Our research will eventually lead to Our Public House, a state-of-the-nation theatre production, inspired by the speeches and writing of our national participants, from writer Jude Christian and director Josephine Burton.Book your tickets for Speak Out! - a series of live events in Manchester (21 & 22 November) and London (23 November), where we're bringing together participants from our workshops, speechwriters, activists, politicians and academics to explore speech making's ability to provoke, persuade and empower. In the podcast we're grateful to hear from:Participants from Underground Lights, Coventry, St Hilda's Community Centre, Tower Hamlets, HMP Styal, The Writers' Block, Redruth, Arbourthorne Men's Social Club, Sheffield, Manchester Deaf Centre and Citizens UK, Brighton. Josephine Burton - Artistic Director of Dash ArtsProfessor Alan Finlayson - Professor of Political and Social Theory at the University of East AngliaHenriette van der Blom - Reader in Ancient History at the University of BirminghamCristina Catalina - Senior ProducerMarie Horner - Podcast ProducerJude Christian - Writer and Director Our Public House is funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), Arts Council England, Three Monkies Trust, and individual giving. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How might the stories of a Jewish man, writing in Russian, based in Odesa 100 years ago help us understand what's happening in Ukraine today? Join Dash Arts' Artistic Director Josephine Burton at the very start of an exploration into bringing to the stage the life and work of Isaac Babel.This episode catches up with Josephine as she gathers together artists, writers, composers and translators to venture into Babel's turbulent life and rich writings. We uncover how having a coffee with the artist and performer, Golda Amirova, sparked the beginnings of a music theatre production about this prolific writer Babel, born in today's Ukraine. Translator of Babel's Odessa Stories, Boris Dralyuk, shares Babel's brutal and beautiful Odesa as well as the contemporary resonance of a violent era of early Soviet history through his translation of Red Cavalry. Plus we eavesdrop on the rehearsal room as Josephine pulls apart the imagery and possibilities that can be found in Babel's work with composer Jonathan Walton and playwright Mark Rosenblatt. We don't know exactly how this will end, but this episode uncovers how we've begun.In the podcast we're grateful to hear from:Boris Dralyuk - Poet and TranslatorGolda Amirova - ArtistJonathan Walton - ComposerMark Rosenblatt - Director, Playwright and ScreenwriterMusic : Леонид Утесов – Ты одессит, Мишка // Leonid Utyosov - You are from Odessa, Mishka Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Crimea 5am brings together the voices of extraordinary women, bound together by the Russian persecution of Crimean Tatars in 2014. In this episode, Artistic Director Josephine Burton looks back on how Dash Arts brought together a cast of actors, activists and journalists to stage this unique piece of verbatim theatre in London during January 2023.Through personal stories and testimonies of love and struggle in Crimea today, and combining victim and activist interviews, Crimea 5am highlights the stories of 10 political prisoners and their families. The piece celebrates the sheer determination and activism within this oppressed community, the bravery of the prisoners in documenting abuses, and its defiant women holding the ravaged community together.Since 2014, civil activists and in particular representatives of the indigenous people of the Crimean peninsula, Crimean Tatars, have been persecuted by Russian occupying forces. Obscured by a news blackout, we know little of these events, little of the prisoners themselves, their families and life in Crimea under occupation. In this episode, our Artistic Director Josephine Burton and Podcast Producer Marie Horner listen to archive clips of the performance as well as journalists, academics, activists and the cast. We hear from:Dr Rory Finnin, Associate Professor of Ukrainian Studies, University of CambridgeMaria Romanenko, Ukrainian journalist and Crimea 5am cast memberAnastasiia Kosodii, playwright and co-writer of Crimea 5amNatalya Gumenyuk, Ukrainian journalist and filmmaker Alexandra Hall Hall, former British Ambassador to Georgia and Crimea 5am cast member Music: Ey, Güzel Qırım sung by the cast from Crimea 5amCrimea 5am was produced at The Kiln in January 2023 as part of the British Council and the Ukrainian Institute UK/Ukraine Season of Culture. The original production of Crimea 5аm was initiated by the Ukrainian Institute and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine as part of the Crimea Platform. The original performance was directed by Dmytro Kostiumynskyi and produced by Dollmen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to Albion. A world with a legendary past, fallen present and hope-filled future. This podcast marks a new season of work for Dash Arts. We're exploring what it means to be English today, searching through workshops, performances, events and podcasts for a way to talk about who we are as a people and as a country, and who we want to be. In this episode, our Artistic Director Josephine Burton and Podcast Producer Rachael Head discover the myths of Albion with guests:Carrolyne Larrington, an author and professor of Medieval English Language and Literature who has featured on the BBC Sounds series ‘The Lore of the Land' about British Folklore. Stephe Harrop, an academic writer and performer who loves telling “English and Scottish fairytales, the fiery folklore of the Anglo-Scottish Borders, and salvaged stories from England's historic and mythic pasts.”Professor Jason Whittaker, who has written extensively on William Blake. His most recent book published in 2022 is titled Jerusalem: Blake, Parry, and the Fight for Englishness.Intro music: Fakiiritanssi by Marouf MajidiImage: William Blake Milton poem Plate 33 copy B 1811 Huntington Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We take a look back on a crazily packed year at Dash Arts, reflecting on the highs and lows of our three productions, Songs for Babyn Yar, The Great Middlemarch Mystery and Dido's Bar and all our podcasts, and look forwards to what 2023 holds, with Dash Arts Artistic Director Josephine Burton and Podcast Producer Rachael Head.Music Credit:Intro music: Fakiiritanssi by Marouf MajidiImage Credit:Ali Wright Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dash Arts' production of Dido's Bar was developed and made in Newham. As part of our year-long programme, we were privileged to work with Community Links, an amazing hub which offers young people advice, employment skills, and the chance to develop their audio skills in their top-notch production studio. We've brought some of these young people into the world of Dido's Bar through our podcast. Dash Producer Cristina Catalina and Podcast Producer Rachael Head worked in the studio with our participants, talking through the universal themes of Dido's Bar and exploring how those themes have affected their lives.Music Credits:Intro music: Fakiiritanssi by Marouf MajidiArtwork and music made by Community Links participants Script excerpts read out are from Hattie Naylor's Dido's Bar.Hosted by Rachael Head, featuring a short conversation with producer Cristina Catalina.With thanks to Amanda Brown, the whole Community Links team and the Royal Docks TeamDido's Bar is produced by Dash Arts with imPOSSIBLE Producing.Dido's Bar is co-produced with the Royal Docks Team, OCM (Oxford Contemporary Music), and Journeys Festival International and co-commissioned by OCM, with additional support from Arts Council England, Backstage Trust, The Foyle Foundation, Projekt, Cockayne – Grants for the Arts, The London Community Foundation, Genesis Foundation, Finnish Institute in the UK and Ireland, The Marchus Trust, TINFO – Theatre Info Finland, Austin and Hope Pilkington, Royal Victoria Hall Foundation, The Leche Trust and individual donors. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In our latest episode: 'Dido's Bar: What Makes a Good Story?' we chat with the Director and Writer of Dido's Bar about the ingredients of a good story. Listen to hear how they tackled telling the story of a refugee and how music has been weaved into the fabric of the performance. Featuring interviews with Dido's Bar Director and Dash Arts Artistic Director Josephine Burton, and Playwright Hattie Naylor. Music Credits: Intro music: Fakiiritanssi by Marouf MajidiMusic from the Dido's Bar Rehearsal room: Rivers and Tides, Panic Boats Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In our latest episode, 'New Mythology: Reclaiming the Story', we chat with artists about how their work makes space for underrepresented gender identities in ancient myths. Listen to explore how storytelling can reclaim lost stories within our mythological canon and how we're rebalancing the gender dynamics in our next production, Dido's Bar.Featuring interviews with Dash Arts Artistic director Josephine Burton; stand up storyteller Alys Torrance; drag artist Len Blanco and Dido's Bar cast member Lola May and some sneaky preview of some of the music from the rehearsal room! Music CreditsIntro music: Fakiiritanssi by Marouf MajidiMusic from the Dido's Bar Rehearsal room: Smokey Nights, 100 Moons, I Know This HeartPlease note this episode is explicit. Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we explore the epic poems, The Aeneid, The Shanameh and The Odyssey, and their relevance today. Delve into the narrative of these epics as we investigate why and how these stories are compelling in their contemporary renditions, as well as how oral storytelling traditions have shaped how we interpret them. Featuring interviews with Dash Arts artistic director Josephine Burton; Kurdish Iranian musician Marouf Majidi; director and former Dash Arts co-artistic director Tim Supple; writer and lecturer Tajinder Hayer; writer and performer Tristan Bernays; and storyteller Clare Murphy. Music CreditsIntro music: Fakiiritanssi by Marouf MajidiMusic from Dido's Bar See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Protest Songs: Bella Ciao In the final episode of our Protest Songs mini-series, we discuss the history and ongoing significance of the Italian protest song ‘Bella Ciao'.Josephine Burton speaks to Professor Philip Cooke about the origins of the song and how its history has been gendered throughout time. Italian singer and songwriter, Virginia Sirolli, speaks of her personal connection to the song and its adaptations, and Composer Orlando Gough discusses how he used it in a recent production at The Globe and its powerful adaptability across multiple cultures and countries. Music CreditsIntro music: Fakiiritanssi by Marouf MajidiBella Ciao Acoustic, Virginia SirolliBella Ciao - Royalty Free Italian Music, Casa De Papel GemafBella Ciao, Grégoire Lourme/abr Título de Música: Bella Ciao (Epic Cover)Bella Ciao in Punjabi, written, performed and produced by Poojan Sahil See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In the third and final episode of Making Middlemarch, the cast and crew reflect on their experience of The Great Middlemarch Mystery.Listen to director Josephine Burton chat to actors Aimee Powell and Ryan Van Champion and podcast producer Rachael Head about the realities of modernising Middlemarch, Otherness and much more. Music CreditsIntro music: Fakiiritanssi by Marouf MajidiWes Finch: https://wesfinch.bandcamp.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The second episode of Making Middlemarch brings you conversations straight from the rehearsal room. Listen to cast members Tom Gordon, Amanda Hurwitz and Ryan Van Champion discussing their characters' fears of change, and how those opinions are realised in the show. Featuring clips of some of the actors reading lines in the rehearsal room and snippets of the show's sound design. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this first episode of Making Middlemarch, discover how the idea of The Great Middlemarch Mystery was conceived and why the source text's author, George Eliot, continues to enchant us today.Delve into the inspirations behind this adaptation and the creator's theatrical visions. Uncover the real life stories from Coventry locals and how they will be woven into the show.Featuring a conversation between creator and director Josephine Burton and co-writer and researcher Ruth Livesey, interspersed with clips from our community workshops in Coventry. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Protest Songs: The InternationaleIn the first episode of our Protest Songs series, we explore the history of 'The Internationale' and how it continues to inspire social change.Josephine Burton speaks to singer-songwriter Billy Bragg, who was motivated by the collapse of communism to rewrite the song and devote an album to it in 1990. Other speakers include historian Robert Service who gives an overview of the history of the song and its many adaptations, including its role as the first national anthem for the Soviet Union and Professor John Street, who discusses his new online resource devoted to English protest songs ‘Our Subversive Voice', and how music can change the world. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

After its genesis in Berlin and its London premiere, our initial journey of Songs for Babyn Yar culminated in a performance in Kyiv, Ukraine, on 7 December 2021 - the city in which more than 100,000 people were massacred in the ravine of Babyn Yar during Nazi occupation. In this podcast episode, the three artists involved and its director reflect on this climactic performance, and the emotional and creative journey it took to get there. Ukrainian musicians Yuriy Gurzhy, Svetlana Kundish and Mariana Sadovska, alongside director Josephine Burton, discuss their experiences of performing such a raw, personal and emotionally demanding work in their country of origin, to an audience who live in the long shadows of the Babyn Yar massacres. The musicians explore their shared grief, its catharsis, the impact the production has had on audiences worldwide, and the questions it has raised.Songs featured: 'Lullaby for Babyn Yar', 'Mipney Ma', 'Live' and 'Vald' from Songs for Babyn Yar All music was created and recorded in the rehearsal room with Yuriy Gurzhy, Svetlana Kundish and Mariana Sadovska for Dash ArtsIntro music: Fakiiritanssi by Marouf Majidi See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The second in our mini-series of episodes about our Dido's Bar project delves into the creative process of the three artists at the heart of this production.Hear about how director Josephine Burton, playwright Hattie Naylor and composer Marouf Majidi crossed paths and came to collaborate on this project, and how our recent music and creative writing workshops with communities in London and Oxford have inspired and fed into the production.Dido's Bar is an immersive multi-lingual gig theatre production that reimagines Virgil's Aeneid planned for Autumn 2022 in London, exploring this timeless tale of migration through the lens of the current migrant crisis. Music creditsIntro music: Fakiiritanssi by Marouf Majidi See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

80 years ago this autumn, Nazi occupying forces murdered more than 33,000 Jews in the ravine of Babyn Yar in the suburbs of Kyiv, Ukraine, over just two days. In the following two years of Nazi occupation, Babyn Yar became the site of over 100,000 deaths.This month, Dash Arts marks this anniversary by premiering a new music theatre production, Songs for Babyn Yar, in London and Ukraine with a work-in-progress sharing in Berlin. This performance sees three Ukrainian musicians explore the legacy of these massacres, drawing on survivors' testimonies, traditional Yiddish and Ukrainian folk songs, poetry and storytelling, and asking how we can move forward.This podcast episode reveals the story of the making of the show, its vision and the creative journey we have experienced as we explore how to commemorate atrocity through the medium of performance. Featuring interviews with the show's director Josephine Burton; musicians Yuriy Gurzhy, Svetlana Kundish and Mariana Sadovska; and Dr Uilleam Blacker, Associate Professor of Comparative Russian and East European Culture at UCL.Music creditsSongs featured: Mipney Ma and Rabbi Yuriy's Dance from Songs for Babyn YarAll the music was created and recorded in the rehearsal room with Yuriy Gurzhy, Svetlana Kundish and Mariana Sadovska for Dash ArtsIntro music: Fakiiritanssi by Marouf Majidi See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Welcome to the first in a mini-series of podcast episodes dedicated to the creation of our upcoming show Dido's Bar, planned for autumn 2022.Dido's Bar is an immersive site-specific gig theatre production set in a cabaret bar on the borders of Europe that reimagines Virgil's Aeneid, exploring this timeless tale of migration through the lens of Europe today.In this podcast episode, discover the myth of Aeneas, his dramatic flight from Troy, his doomed love affair with Dido and his founding of Rome, and how the myth has retained so much resonance and significance in the context of the questions facing society today. Delve into the inspirations behind the production itself, its origin story and its theatrical vision.Featuring interviews with Josephine Burton, Dido's Bar creator and director; Shadi Bartsch, Guggenheim Laureate and award-winning translator of Penguin Random House's edition of The Aeneid; Liv Albert, creator, host and producer of popular Greek and Roman mythology podcast Let's Talk About Myths, Baby!; and Kurdish Iranian musician Marouf Majidi, Dido's Bar composer whose migration story partly inspired the production. Music creditsMusic from Dido's BarLyrics by Hattie NaylorMusic was created and recorded in the rehearsal room with Marouf Majidi, Samira Brahmia, Tuukka Leppänen, Riku Kantola and Josephine Burton at Meidän Festivaali with Globe Art Point for Dash Arts.Songs featured: Love Spell; Sour CherriesIntro music: Fakiiritanssi by Marouf MajidiLink notesThe Aeneid, translated by Shadi Bartsch: https://shadibartsch.com/books/the-aeneid/ See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In the final episode of The Identity Series, our investigation into what happens to identity during moments of great national change brings our attention to Brexit and its impact on our own national identities in the UK. What does Europe mean today? What do we want from Europe, post-Brexit? This podcast series forms part of EUTOPIA, our multi-year project that emerged as a direct response to the 2016 EU Referendum; as the UK voted to leave the EU, we felt the need to explore what it means to be European.Speakers include Maria Alberg, founder and director of theatre company Projekt Europa, which makes work by migrant theatre makers in the UK; author and academic Timothy Garton Ash, Professor of European Studies at the University of Oxford; and David Furlong, theatre director and Artistic Director of Exchange Theatre, who presents an excerpt from his monologue Un-Settled.LinksFind out more about and participate in European Moments: https://europeanmoments.com/momentsMusic creditsAlger Alger, by Samira Brahmia (before David's Un-Settled monologue) See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this third episode of The Identity Series, we deepen our investigation into fractured national identity across Europe, through one of its most contemporary and violent examples: the collapse of Yugoslavia and subsequent wars that ripped across the former country.Hosted by Josephine Burton, a range of artists and historians discuss the tensions leading up to the collapse and its heartbreaking aftermath. Together, we explore how this shaped the artists born out of it and changed the artistic output of a nation, what Yugoslavia meant to its artists and how that spirit endures today. Speakers include Milena Dragićević Šešić; professor of cultural policy and cultural management and former president of the University of Arts, Belgrade; Alma Ferovic Fazlic, a Bosnian singer and music producer; Maja Milatovic-Ovadia, a theatre director from former Yugoslavia and PhD researcher on devised comedy theatre in the context of post-war reconciliation; and Albanian-born Rigels Hallili, a lecturer in modern history and Balkans culture at Warsaw University's Centre for East European Studies.Srebrenica by Fun-Da-Mental FEAT. Alma Ferovic Fazlic See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this second episode of The Identity Series, we delve into the fraught and complex topic of empire, examining the decline and collapse of various empires across Europe, their aftershocks and their impact on the identity of their citizens.Speaking to experts and artists from a range of backgrounds, we discuss topics including the legacy of empire, the impact of colonisation, how different cultures and nationalities have shaped British music, and the power of music to shape identity and express displacement.Speakers include Sathnam Sanghera, journalist and best-selling author of Empireland: How Imperialism Has Shaped Modern Britain; Lloyd Bradley, one of the UK's leading black music experts and cultural commentators; and Samira Brahmia, a French-Algerian musician. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this first episode of The Identity Series, we explore the meaning and power of identity through the fascinating case of Polish-Lithuanian Nobel Prize-winning writer Czeslaw Milosz.Born in Lithuania, Milosz survived the Nazi occupation of Poland, became a member of the Polish Foreign Service under the communist regime, and was then exiled for being a strong critic of communism. His famous collection of essays, The Captive Mind, reveals his struggle with his own sense of identity and belonging as an artist under a communist regime and became symbolic of the Baltic-Eastern European cultural, national and geopolitical ‘borderlands'. We also explore other artists who were affected by the shifting of national boundaries during the first decades of the 20th century.Speakers include British singer-songwriter Katy Carr, known for her songs about Polish history; Katia Denysova, a researcher on the influence of socio-political factors on Ukrainian art in the early 20th century; Professor Clare Cavanagh, specialist in modern Russian, Polish and Anglo-American poetry and a biographer of Milosz; and Rigels Halili, lecturer in modern history and Balkans culture at Centre for East European Studies at Warsaw University. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this episode recorded from our online Dash Café in May, we return to the iconic 2009 Estonian documentary Disco and Atomic War and the topic of borders, propaganda and censorship.Audiences enjoyed excerpts from the film and conversation from speakers including Estonian TV journalist and Disco and Atomic War co-producer and co-screenwriter Kiur Aarma; Soviet-born British journalist and author Peter Pomerantsev; former ambassador of Finland to Estonia Kirsti Narinen; and political analyst and Counterpoint director Catherine Fieschi.Playful and provocative documentary Disco and Atomic War (Winner of Best Documentary at Warsaw International Film Festival) by Jaak Kilmi recounts the Soviet Union's repressive grip of Estonia in the 80s. Much of Soviet power derived from its ability to censor cultural life. Rock and roll was but a rumour and the only television shows on the air were dreary propaganda – until one day, a few miles across the border in Finland, a huge television antenna was built broadcasting Western signals into the heart of Tallinn, the Estonian capital.With thanks to the Embassy of Estonia in London and the Finnish Institute in the UK and Ireland for their support of the live event featured in this episode. Part of Dash Arts' EUTOPIA series, investigating what it means to be European. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The fourth and final episode of our podcast mini-series, Breaking Silence, explores issues of censorship, self-censorship and cancel culture in the creation of art.Artistic Director Josephine Burton speaks to arts consultant Manick Govinda, who co-founded Brexit Creatives, about what he sees as the art world's censorship or 'cancelling' of pro-Brexit views; Samuel Beckett scholar Dr Jackie Blackman on Beckett's use of silence in his plays as a form of self-censorship; journalist Mayssa Issa, about the silencing of artists during the coronavirus pandemic with arts being considered 'non-essential'; and Turkey's 'standing man' Erdem Gündüz, whose 2013 silent protest against the Turkish government went viral.Through conversations with a range of acclaimed speakers across a range of disciplines, Breaking Silence explores ways in which voices, stories and cultures have been silenced both in current times and recent history, when silence can be a positive force for change, and what role the arts can play in breaking silences.LinksWatch the music video for Danser Encore: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyBEMRyt6QgBuy Beckett and Ethics: https://uk.bookshop.org/books/1605839840_beckett-and-ethics/9781441151179 Find out more about Brexit Creatives on their Twitter @brexitcreativesPhoto creditErdem Gündüz, standing in Istanbul's Taksim Square in June 2013 as a silent protest against the Turkish government. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The third episode of our podcast mini-series, Breaking Silence, looks at the silencing of cultural identity across national, ethnic and religious borders and ways in which international artists are unearthing these issues in their work.Artistic Director Josephine Burton speaks to theatre-maker Krzysztof Czyzewski, whose Borderlands project aims to revive the multicultural heritage of Poland’s Sejny region in the aftermath of war; Kurdish singer Nawroz Oranari, who was forced to flee his homeland of Iraq for his politically-charged music and eventually seek asylum in Europe; and theatre director Athina Kasiou about the Cypriot endeavour to claim authorship of its own identity and how her work and that of her fellow artists navigates this.Through conversations with a range of acclaimed speakers across a range of disciplines, Breaking Silence explores ways in which voices, stories and cultures have been silenced both in current times and recent history, when silence can be a positive force for change, and what role the arts can play in breaking silences.LinksCitizens of the Word Choir: https://www.citizensoftheworldchoir.org/ Photo creditCast members in Borderland Foundation's 2008 production The Sejny Chronicles at La MaMa Experimental Theater Club in New York as part of the Borderlanders: Finding Their Voice festival. Photography by Jonathan Slaff. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The second episode of our podcast mini-series, Breaking Silence, features writers and practitioners who are addressing the silencing of women and giving voice to female experience through artistic mediums. Dash Arts' Artistic Director Josephine Burton speaks to theatre-maker Lucy Dear (All in Your Head); screenwriter and playwright Rebecca Lenkiewicz (Ida; Her Naked Skin); theatre director Athina Kasiou (A Thousand Ships); and art therapist Diane Waller. Topics range from hidden stories of domestic abuse and coercive control, to the forgotten experiences of suffragettes, to the marginalised women of classical literature, to the power of theatre to give voice to those that have been silenced. Through conversations with a range of acclaimed speakers across a range of disciplines, Breaking Silence explores ways in which voices, stories and cultures have been silenced both in current times and recent history, when silence can be a positive force for change, and what role the arts can play in breaking silences. Don't forget to rate, review and subscribe to help boost us in the charts!Content warning: this episode contains conversation about domestic abuse and mention of suicide, so please take care while listening.LinksLucy Dear’s play All In Your Head: http://www.lucydear.com/#all-in-your-head Project Sezon, Athina Kasiou’s theatre company: https://www.project-season.org/ Rebecca Lenkiewicz’s film Ida: https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/ida-a-film-masterpiece Rebecca Lenkiewicz’s play Her Naked Skin: https://www.theguardian.com/stage/theatreblog/2008/aug/08/hernakedskinagutreactionMusic creditsIntro music: Fakiiritanssi by Marouf MajidiOutro music: On the Edge of your Spring by Sasha IlyukevichPhoto creditA still taken from the 2013 film Ida, co-written by Rebecca Lenkiewicz. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In the first episode of our four-part podcast series Breaking Silence, we examine Pacto del Olvido, Spain's 'pact of forgetting' - a collective decision to forget the thousands of crimes against humanity under Franco's 40-year dictatorship. Many of those who committed atrocities have still not been prosecuted and held to account, and Franco's victims continue to seek justice to this day.Dash Arts' Artistic Director Josephine Burton speaks to filmmakers Almudena Carracedo and Robert Bahar about their multi-award-winning documentary The Silence of Others, Executive Produced by Pedro Almodóvar, which reveals the struggle of Spanish activists to organise a groundbreaking international lawsuit.Speakers also include film director Manuel Huerga, whose film Salvador is based on the life and death of Salvador Puig Antich – the last person to be executed by garrote under Franco's regime; and author Aaron Shulman, whose book The Age of Disenchantments brings to life the regime's devastating impact through the eyes of one family and the works of poetry and art that they lived by.Through conversations with a range of internationally-renowned speakers, Breaking Silence explores ways in which voices, stories and cultures have been silenced both in current times and recent history, when silence can be a positive force for change, and what role the arts can play in breaking silences. Don't forget to rate, review and subscribe to help boost us in the charts!LinksThe Silence of Others: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/silenceofothers The Age of Disenchantments – The Epic Story of Spain’s Most Notorious Literary Family and the Long Shadow of the Spanish Civil War: https://aaronshulman.com/the-book/ El Mirador De La Memoria: https://zm.lavilladusoleil.com/11056-el-mirador-de-la-memoria-the-monument-to-the-victims.html Manuel Huerga: http://manuelhuerga.com/salvador/ Music creditsIntro music: Fakiiritanssi by Marouf MajidiOutro music: On the Edge of your Spring by Sasha IlyukevichPhoto creditAlmudena Carracedo © Semilla Verde Productions, from documentary The Silence of Others. Description: María Martín sits by the road which covers the mass grave containing her mother’s remains. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this episode of the podcast, we delve into the remarkable history of 59 Brick Lane in London’s East End. With the Dash Arts base in East London’s Toynbee Studios and events regularly hosted at Rich Mix London, this ever-evolving building has long been our neighbour.A spiritual and communal home to thousands over the centuries; 59 Brick Lane was born as a Huguenot church, later becoming a Methodist church, then a synagogue, and is now home to the Brick Lane Mosque. To get to grips with this building’s huge legacy, host and Dash Arts Artistic Director Josephine Burton is joined by the Vice Chair of the Brick Lane Mosque Harmuz Ali, author Rachel Lichtenstein, who researched the building as part of her book On Brick Lane, architect and co-curator of the UK’s architectural pavilion at this year’s Venice Biennale Shahed Saleem, architect Dan Leon (who worked with Shahed on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday multi-faith architectural project), director of the Swadhinata Trust Ansar Ahmed Ullah, academic and curator Rosalind Parker, who has written about faith in the public space, and Rebekah Coffman, an American academic at NYU whose research focuses on architectural reuse.If you enjoyed the podcast, don't forget to rate, review and subscribe! It helps to boost us in the podcast charts and reach more people.See Rachel Lichtenstein's online project A Memory Map of the Jewish East End hereTo buy Rachel Lichtenstein’s book On Brick Lane click hereFind out more about the Friday, Saturday and Sunday multi-faith architectural project hereFind out about the Swadhinata Trust hereSee the Brick Lane Mosque website hereListen to more Dash Arts Podcasts hereMusic credits:Umbra Sumus - Jah WobblePagamenska - Oi Va Voi See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In October 2020 we hosted our first ever Digital Dash Café EUROPEANS: ARVO PÄRT to celebrate Estonian composer Arvo Pärt’s 85th birthday, and were overwhelmed and delighted to be joined by almost 300 screens from 25 countries. Due to popular demand, we’ve turned the event into a podcast, with some new, bonus content for our listeners. We were joined by son of the composer and Chairman of the Arvo Pärt Centre, Michael Pärt, violinist Andres Kaljuste and pianist Sophia Rahman to listen to Pärt’s music and discuss his life and work. Hosted by Josephine Burton, hear snippets of Spiegel im Spiegel, Fratres, Für Alina and Estonian Lullaby played at the Arvo Pärt Centre in Laulasmaa, Estonia, with brand new questions posed to our guests.With thanks to the following organisations and individuals for supporting this event: Riin Eensalu and the Arvo Pärt Centre; Kersti Kirs, Kadri-Liis Turton and the Estonian Embassy in London (principal funders), Tammo Sumera, Kaupo Kikkas, Rebecca Dawson, Universal Edition and Deirdre Bates at MDS / Schott Music.
Compositions by Arvo Pärt played by Sophia Rahman and Andres Kaljuste:
Fratres Für Alina Spiegel im Spiegel
Estonian LullabyListen to more Dash Arts Podcasts at www.dasharts.org.uk/podcasts See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

As we release our final podcast of 2020, we're still muddling through Brexit in the UK, with the nation holding its breath to see what this momentous change will mean for us all In timely fashion, we're revisiting our live event Art on the Brink of Brexit, recorded in 2018, which hosted a panel of first and second generation migrant artists working in the UK, to discuss what Brexit would mean for them, and what it would mean for the future of the arts in Britain. We were joined by Bojana Janković from theatre collective There There, a performance company which is 50% Romanian and 50% Serbian, Victor Pãtrãşcan, a comedian originally from Romania, and theatre maker Miriam Sherwood, whose cabaret Rendezvous in Bratislava is inspired by her Slovak grandfather. We discussed the impact of the EU referendum on their work, how art can cross cultural divides and help heal the fractures caused by Brexit, with some very lively audience discussion on the differences between an expat and an immigrant and whether or not offensive comedy is worth the laughter. A huge thank you to all of our listeners this year and to all of 2020's guests, who kindly contributed their time to bring the Dash Arts Podcast to life. Despite the loss of our live events, it was a pleasure to engage with our audiences through 16 incredible podcasts that we loved making. You can listen back to all of the Dash Arts Podcasts by searching DASH ARTS on all major podcasting platforms, or on our website here Song Credits:Valentina by Dynamite IslandIs the Party Nearly Over? by Dynamite Island Hear more tracks from Rendezvous in Bratislava hereFind our more about Miriam Sherwood and her company Dynamite Island hereFind out more about Victor Pãtrãşcan's comedy hereFind out more about Bojana Janković and ThereThere here. Also discover Bojana's latest project Temporary Works here See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Can trauma be healed through art? Does it pass from generation to generation and how can we break the cycle? In this episode of the podcast, we look at memory, family history and inherited trauma through the eyes of artists and thinkers from around the world, who have investigated the impact of these issues in their work. Hosted by Artistic Director Josephine Burton, with award-winning filmmaker Mark Rosenblatt, twice Booker-nominated Nigerian writer Chigozie Obiama, theatre director Maja Milatović-Ovadia (originally from former Yugoslavia, now based in the UK), Russian actress and filmstar Oksana Mysina, Berlin-based Argentinian artist Silvina Der Meguerditchian, poet Stephen Watts, clinical psychologist Dr Sarah Lack and William Peterfield Trent Professor of English and Comparative Literature at Columbia University Marianne Hirsch. Don't forget to rate, review and subscribe to help boost us in the charts! Watch the trailer for Mark Rosenblatt's short film GANEF here. The film is currently available to watch online at: Norwich Film Festival (online) until November 29th https://watch.norwichfilmfestival.co.uk/film/ganef/ Flickers' Roving Eye International Film Festival on November 30th, alongside many other films exploring issues raised by this podcast. http://www.film-festival.org/RovingEye_JewishExperienceFALL2020.php Music credits:Intro music: Fakiiritanssi by Marouf MajidiOutro music: On the Edge of your Spring by Sasha Ilyukevich Listen to more episodes of the podcast at www.dasharts.org.uk/podcast See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

At Dash Arts, we are in the process of developing our brand new production The Great Middlemarch Mystery, a site-specific production in Coventry based on writer George Eliot’s classic Middlemarch, one of the greatest novels written in the English language.In this episode we return to our February Dash Café on George Eliot, hosted at Warwick Arts Centre by Artistic Director Josephine Burton with collaborator Professor Ruth Livesey and guests Martina Hall, producer of 2019 BBC Arena documentary Everything Is Connected – George Eliot’s Life, artist Redell Olsen, and writer Anna Lawrence, with an update from Josephine and Ruth on how our production was born and how it’s progressed since this event. We explore what happened when Europe and Middle England’s philosophies and ideas met, how Eliot brought this to life in her novels, and why her radical work is still important today.Listen to The Choir Invisible by Amy Kakoura hereRead Anna Lawrence's short story Quarry hereRead more about The Great Middlemarch Mystery hereListen to more episodes of the podcast hereDon’t forget to rate, review and subscribe to help boost us in the charts! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.