MASKED WORDS -SCOTTISH YOUTH PERFORMANCE PROJECT

My name is Lisa Williams (of British-Grenadian heritage) and I am partnering with the Festival Carnival this year to run a youth project for young people (14- 25) from Caribbean backgrounds living in Edinburgh. You’ll learn about Caribbean people who have lived here over the centuries and channel their stories through traditional Caribbean Carnival masquerade characters that have elements of speech, drama and lyrical contest, like Midnight Robber and Shakespeare Mas. You’ll get masterclasses from authors, performers and Carnival practitioners of Caribbean heritage, both online and in real life. With access to costumes and a makeup artist, you’ll be shooting some short online films shot on location in various iconic locations around Edinburgh, such as the National Museum and the Botanical Gardens.

We have a professional film maker on board to enjoy two days of filming at the end of June, in a safe, mini Carnival atmosphere with music and Caribbean food. The short films will be screened as part of the online version of the Edinburgh Festival Carnival in mid July. There will be opportunities to link with young people in the Caribbean over Zoom and after June have the chance to take part in some further Caribbean performance, film and Carnival arts projects based in Scotland and internationally later on in 2021 and into 2022/2023.

You could create some responses (poetry, spoken word, rap, drama monologues or duologues) inspired by the style of traditional Caribbean masquerade, or have a go at creating whatever you find exciting, or tells a story that is meaningful to you and your life here in Edinburgh. There’s no pressure to perform and no experience needed. It’s about having fun, being creative, meeting new people and connecting to your Caribbean family heritage and the programme will be very much shaped by your ideas and decisions.

Schedule (May 29 – June 27)

Sat May 29 11:00-1:00 Online Masterclass in spoken work performance and Edinburgh’s historical links with the Caribbean with poet Courtney Stoddart (Barbadian/Scottish heritage) and historian Lisa Williams (via Zoom)

Sat June 5 11:00-1:00 Online Masterclass in creative writing and introduction to Caribbean history in Edinburgh with author/teacher Dean Atta (Jamaican/Greek Cypriot heritage) and historian Lisa Williams (via Zoom)

Sun June 6 11:00-1:00 Online Masterclass in traditional Carnival masquerade with Carnival arts practitioner Ray Mahabir from Trinidad/ (via Zoom)

Weds June 9 5:30-7:30 Performance workshop (voice, movement) with tutor Ethelinda Lashley-Scott (Barbadian heritage) Edinburgh College (in person)

Sat June 12 5:30-7:30 Online workshop meeting Shakespeare Mas practitioners from Carriacou () and feedback on performance pieces

Sat June 19 5:30-7:30 Walk around Edinburgh together to meet, see locations and try out performances

Weds June 23 5:30-7:30 Dress rehearsal/get together National Museum of Scotland (tbc)

June 26/27 Day time Filming across Edinburgh with Caribbean music and food

Permission forms for filming need to be signed, which will be sent out on sign up. Please let us know your full name and contact details, of any allergies, health or conditions or specific access or other requirements and we will do our very best to accommodate you.

Contact details for joining:

Lisa Williams

Email: [email protected] Twitter: @edincarib IG: @caribscot Phone/text/WhatsApp 07429 540849 (if you call and I can’t pick up please leave a message with your name!)