Becoming British durational performance
Becoming British is a durational performance looking at national identity and belonging from the perspective of 1st generation migrants.
The project is inspired by my own lived experience of migration and acquiring British citizenship. It is fueled by interviews in the community, socio-political research and previous creative iterations including the eponymous exhibition presented at Bloc Projects in 2022 (more info here).
A cross between an installation, live art performance, and a broadcast, Becoming British portrays in often metaphorical ways the demands put on us as migrants. It highlights the relationship between "becoming" and time, celebrating the quirks of Britishness we are ready to embrace and highlighting the uncomfortable truths that are part of it too.
How much do we change when we move? Can we really, one day, become "truly" British? What does that even mean? The only way to find out is to stick it out until the end...or is it?
A 6 hour work in progress performance was shown as part of Migration Matters Festival 2024
The installation can stay behind for several days/weeks and allows for a greater number of visitors to engage with the project.
Developed with & performed by - Denis Boyer, Leonor Estrada Franke, Lora Krasteva, Isabella Leung, Christina Tsoutsi
Soundscape - NikNak
Producer - Claire Gilbert for LVK ltd.
With thanks to Migration Matters Festival, Andy at Yellow Arches, Alex Kelly, Amina Atiq, Morgan Bailey, Kashish Gaba, Michelle Kelly, Jovana Backovic, Tommo Fowler, Roger Williams, Aisha Seriki, Chris Cambell, NikNak, June Bellebono, Tony Ola, Christina Vaughan, Daisy Grant, Livia Barreira, Rachel Newman, Tommi Bryson, Becka, O, MR, Ruba and all the interviewees who choose to remain anonymous; Rob Fellman, Uzma Rani, Chris and Julie at the Necessity Fund, Sheffield Theatres, Stand and Be Counted Theatre, ROAR, Bloc Projects, Theatre Deli, Centrala, Arts Council England, the South Yorkshire Combined Mayoral Authority and European Alternatives.
Previous development
From December 2022 - February 2023 weworked with a team of 9 artists (poets, choreographers, actors, dramaturgs, sound designers). The artists range from first generation migrants (like myself) to those whose families migrated through to white British. I ran two workshops - one in Birmingham at Centrala, and one in London at Theatre Deli in April to further test my ideas.
This research and development period was supported by Arts Council England, Sheffield Theatres & Necessity Fund.
Before this R&D I curated a static exhibition which you can read more about here.