Please see below for information on the Great Charter Festival at Royal Holloway University and Egham Street Festival
13th/14th June 2015. We are running a workshop to explore the themes and learn more about festival plans on Monday
3rd Nov 3.45 - 5.15pm at Royal Holloway University. Please pass this on to any school groups who may be interested in
the two opportunities we have available.
Thank you for your help with this.
Aimee
Opportunities for Surrey Performance Groups
The Great Charter Festival, June 2015 - 800 years of the Magna Carta
Surrey Arts and Royal Holloway University London are happy to offer two opportunities for your drama/dance group to
perform as part of the new Great Charter Festival.
A briefing session will be held on Monday 3rd November at 3.45 – 5.15pm at Royal Holloway University – a chance to
learn more about the performance opportunities available and to participate in a creative workshop exploring the themes
of the Magna Carta.
For more information or to RSVP please contact: aimee.fairhurst@surreycc.gov.uk by Friday 24th Oct
1 - call for groups interested in devising their own work for presentation on stage or as part of street performance offer on
the theme of Liberty on Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th June 2015.
2 - call for groups interested in an exciting opportunity to work with a professional Director to explore the story of one of
the eight Magna Carta giants – an opportunity to devise a short performance piece around a central character bring this
to the Great Charter Festival on Sunday 14th June 2015 as part of a site specific promenade show with seven other
groups and their giants.
https://vimeo.com/108200559
Some travel expenses will be available to those who are successful in bidding to the steering group for allocation of
funds.
Background information:
On Sunday 14th June 2015, Royal Holloway and Surrey County Council will stage an ambitious, artistically led, reinvention of the mediaeval fair for the 21st century, to mark the 800th anniversary of the sealing of Magna Carta at the
nearby Runnymede meadows.
In association with Runnymede Borough Council we are also offering groups the chance to perform at the Egham Street
Festival on Saturday 13th June on two stages or as part of a street performance/processional offer.
The theme of the performances will be a celebration of liberty, and the main aim will be to help young people connect with
the importance of Magna Carta today. Activities will explore the following themes:
a)
The natural world and the environment: alongside Magna Carta itself, the Charter of the Forests, issued in 1217,
affirmed the pursuit of freedom and wellbeing, and set out principles to empower communities to access and preserve
their natural environment.
b)
Biomedical research: principles of human well-being were and are at the core of Magna Carta; scientific research
into the protection of human societies from the threat of disease, and the discovery of micro-biological therapies for
immunity, aims to offer freedom from the fundamental threats to life.
c)
Sovereignty, citizenship and autonomy: the legal and political traditions descended from Magna Carta underpin
many constitutions in the world from India to the Americas; these democratic traditions face new challenges in the twentyfirst century with the transformation of a global network of power and protest.
d)
International law, conflict, and security: one of the key issues facing the political cultures of Magna Carta in many
countries, relate to the new security challenges posed by immigration, military operations and international cyber-crime.
e)
Freedom of cultural and metaphysical identity: one of the pressing areas confronting all global state is the
management and regulation of the conflicting demands of freedom of expression and tolerance of diversity; Magna Carta
has persistently been a means for defending the freedom of public expression, and at the same time the rights of
individual conscience.
The Great Charter Festival will offer a broad programme for all the family, including;
music drawing on talents of local young performers
drama and dance from local school, community and professional groups
dress up using the Surrey Wardrobe collection
gaming area, led by Royal Holloway students
food and drink
kids comedy club
art workshops for kids and for adults
craft market
protest songs and debates
Aimee Fairhurst
Drama Development Officer
07989 081383
SURREY ARTS
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14 The Pines, Broad Street,
Guildford, Surrey, GU3 3BH
www.spear-online.com