Horizons Collective Showcase

Horizons Collective is delighted to support BESEA-led projects by artists in north west England, helping them to develop their projects and ultimately present their pieces in front of an audience.

The Horizons Collective Showcase is a warm hello from the community of British East and South East Asian* Creatives, and will feature three stories proudly representative of our cultural and ethnic diversity.

We are delighted to present:

I AM. AM I by Louiseanne Wong

I Am. Am I is a human story told through dance, circus & bilingual voice. Exploring social norm struggles, displacement of home, unlearning systemic conditions.

The evening will also feature special 15 minute work in progress performances from two micro-commissions. They are:

Jasmine White, Rose Red: Folk Pantomime by Oxbow Theatre Co (Work in Progress)

A folk pantomime about two sisters on a whimsical journey accompanied by original folk music inspired by South East Asian and British folk songs and dance.

Scenes From Childhood by Edane Ng and Maria Luc (Work in Progress)

Embark on a nostalgic journey of childhood memories with artist-pianists MariaLucNagashima and E-da-nee NG.

Horizons Collective’s micro-commissions are generously funded by Arts Council England, with support from Lowry and New Earth Theatre.

About Horizons Collective

We’re here because…

Culture needs ethnic diversity to tell stories representative of our audiences on our stages. We are a community of British East and Southeast Asian creatives/theatre makers based in Salford, Greater Manchester and the north west of England. With resilience and joy, we are a network of BESEA artists/theatre makers/creatives/dancers/filmmakers/photographers taking up space.

Welcome and a warm collective hello from the BESEA creatives you will be meeting on this site - continuing to make work to inspire and to be enjoyed when our stages are ready. Find out more about previous projects: https://nw-besea-creatives.uk/

*We use the term British East and Southeast Asian to mean people of the following descent: Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, China, East Timor, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Mongolia, North Korea, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam and their diasporas. These people remain severely underrepresented in the arts in the UK.

See below to find out more about each of the artists and their projects.

Jasmine White, Rose Red: Folk Pantomime (Work in Progress)

by Oxbow Theatre Co
 
Inspired by South East Asian and British folk music, stories and dance. This whimsical pantomime fuses the two cultures and embellishes it with original songs. Jasmine White and Rose Red are two sisters on an adventure to save their family Bawang Flower Shop. If they can agree to get along that is. Can they settle their differences and work together to save their family flower shop? Join them alongside the Canopy Critters to defeat a boo-worthy villain threatening to deplete the beautiful Tree Dame.
 
Written by Oxbow Theatre Co. 
Produced and Directed by Nadia Anim

Scenes From Childhood (Work in Progress)

by Edane Ng and Maria Luc
 
Embark on a nostalgic journey of childhood memories with artist-pianists MariaLucNagashima (‘destined to achieve great things’) and E-da-nee NG (‘an exceptional artist’). Celebrate childhood memories through a performance of poetry, music and animation.
 
Drawing upon a series of migrant community workshops delivered by Maria and E-da-nee in collaboration with Community Arts North West, a unique multi-disciplinary performance is formed, fusing the creative forces of migrants with artists.
 
Breaking the boundaries of what classical music can offer, Schumann’s Scenes from Childhood is performed on piano by Maria and E-da-nee, intertwined with poetry written by Maria and animation assisted by E-da-nee.
 
With thanks to: Community Arts North West, Anna Vu Thompson, Michelle Udogu, Aida, Godfrey Pambalipe

I AM. AM I

by Louiseanne Wong
 
I Am. Am I is a live and intimate solo, a human story told through movement, dance, circus and bilingual voice. Louiseanne explores their struggle with social norms, displacement of home, and unlearning how they were ‘conditioned’ in Hong Kong. The work questions labelling theory, some given, some self-identifying (e.g. from-from, foreigner) and visually represents this by peeling off layers to show ‘who I am'. Addressing themes of East Asian diaspora, shining light on issues relating to racial language, disguised forms of racism and the impact on one’s demeanour.
 
Aiming to raise awareness of social inequalities and celebrate the beauty of cultural differences using a customised fridge, layers of sloganised t-shirts and garments, and urban forms like parkour, art du deplacement and krump.

Creator and performer - Louiseanne Wong

Sound Designer - Sharon Tsang

Dramaturg - Naomi Sumner Chan

Set Designer - Barnz Munn Movement Director - Aline David

Krump Mentor - Amanda Pefkou 

Stage Manager - Isabel Chan
 
Supported by: TURN Prize hÅb + Company Chameleon + DCNW + Project Auske, Lowry, Crying Out Loud, Esprit Concrete, Kakilang Arts, The Place, On Your Side UK.