Celebrating international migrants day 2019
On the 18th December 2019 D6 presented an evening in celebration of International Migrants Day, showcasing new work, ideas and some of the region's freshest talent, with performance by Hamzeh Al-Hussein with Curious Monkey Theatre, Radikal Queen, Crossing Band, Henna Asikainen, Ali Iravani and Kay Greyson.
It’s the festive season, and what better time to celebrate the rich contribution that migrants make to our city. If your life has taken you across cities or continents, please join us as we return to the Star and Shadow for a night of sharing stories, experiences and cultures. Following on from last year's success, there will be an exceptional line-up of artists, musicians and story tellers, exploring new pieces and performances representing the diversity that makes our communities unique.
Performer Hamzeh Al-Hussein will be scratch-testing a new one man show, Penguin, directed by Amy Golding from Curious Monkey Theatre. It is an autobiographical account of Hamzeh’s life from his village in Syria, to his flat in Gateshead and the moments in between. Hamzeh’s humour and positivity shines through his experiences, some of which he shares in this work in progress.
"I am Hamzeh from Syria who fled to Jordan where I lived in the Zaatari camp for 6 years. During this time, I led a group for children with disabilities to raise the spirits of people living in the camp. I am continuing my work as an actor in the UK through this new venture. My aim is to empower others and show society that people with disabilities can achieve anything. I have done some writing of successful stories with Syrian children. I taught different ages of people in the camp about the theatre, specialising in silent theatre."
Also performing at the event will be Hip Hop artist Kay Greyson, a twenty one year old musician from the North East of England. Since releasing her debut mixtape 'Morning After Music' in 2016 she has performed all across the UK including opening for Akala, KRS One, Pharoahe Monch, Lil Eazy E and DJ Yella. She takes strong inspiration from her influences Chance the rapper and Childish Gambino and she incorporates their fun and interactive performance style into her own. Kay Greyson leads with her personality, telling personal and sometimes dark stories in her lyrics but delivering them with youthful joy and enthusiasm.
Poet, musician and activist Radikal Queen will be performing her unique mix of beat poetry meets blues, funk and soul to help us celebrate. Radikal Queen was created to fill a need for outrageous and unlicensed self expression. For women whose sexy isn’t standardised, for children whose school lessons aren’t enough to clarify, for anyone who has been marginalised.
As a poet and musician, she speaks the blues to music, she has learned how to fuse the beauty of Black music with the grassroots fight for planetary liberation. Her influences include Gil-Scott Heron, Betty Davis, Maya Angelou and Nina Simone.
Radikal Queen has produced and directed theatre across three Continents, funded child-run projects in Indigenous communities, and directly advocates for the freedom of oppressed peoples. She is a mentor, a public speaker, teacher and advocate who leads by example.
Everybody is welcome, and the venue is accessible.
Want to find out more?
This event is part of D6’s current programme There is Beauty is this Journey, which supports artist residencies, events, and commissions that challenge contemporary constructs surrounding migration and cultural heritage, taking place in 2019 and beyond.
Tell everyone you know….
Share the event with friends and family here
It’s the festive season, and what better time to celebrate the rich contribution that migrants make to our city. If your life has taken you across cities or continents, please join us as we return to the Star and Shadow for a night of sharing stories, experiences and cultures. Following on from last year's success, there will be an exceptional line-up of artists, musicians and story tellers, exploring new pieces and performances representing the diversity that makes our communities unique.
Performer Hamzeh Al-Hussein will be scratch-testing a new one man show, Penguin, directed by Amy Golding from Curious Monkey Theatre. It is an autobiographical account of Hamzeh’s life from his village in Syria, to his flat in Gateshead and the moments in between. Hamzeh’s humour and positivity shines through his experiences, some of which he shares in this work in progress.
"I am Hamzeh from Syria who fled to Jordan where I lived in the Zaatari camp for 6 years. During this time, I led a group for children with disabilities to raise the spirits of people living in the camp. I am continuing my work as an actor in the UK through this new venture. My aim is to empower others and show society that people with disabilities can achieve anything. I have done some writing of successful stories with Syrian children. I taught different ages of people in the camp about the theatre, specialising in silent theatre."
Also performing at the event will be Hip Hop artist Kay Greyson, a twenty one year old musician from the North East of England. Since releasing her debut mixtape 'Morning After Music' in 2016 she has performed all across the UK including opening for Akala, KRS One, Pharoahe Monch, Lil Eazy E and DJ Yella. She takes strong inspiration from her influences Chance the rapper and Childish Gambino and she incorporates their fun and interactive performance style into her own. Kay Greyson leads with her personality, telling personal and sometimes dark stories in her lyrics but delivering them with youthful joy and enthusiasm.
Poet, musician and activist Radikal Queen will be performing her unique mix of beat poetry meets blues, funk and soul to help us celebrate. Radikal Queen was created to fill a need for outrageous and unlicensed self expression. For women whose sexy isn’t standardised, for children whose school lessons aren’t enough to clarify, for anyone who has been marginalised.
As a poet and musician, she speaks the blues to music, she has learned how to fuse the beauty of Black music with the grassroots fight for planetary liberation. Her influences include Gil-Scott Heron, Betty Davis, Maya Angelou and Nina Simone.
Radikal Queen has produced and directed theatre across three Continents, funded child-run projects in Indigenous communities, and directly advocates for the freedom of oppressed peoples. She is a mentor, a public speaker, teacher and advocate who leads by example.
Everybody is welcome, and the venue is accessible.
Want to find out more?
This event is part of D6’s current programme There is Beauty is this Journey, which supports artist residencies, events, and commissions that challenge contemporary constructs surrounding migration and cultural heritage, taking place in 2019 and beyond.
Tell everyone you know….
Share the event with friends and family here