How do we create an inclusive society where those who are marginalized because of their physical disability, their social alienation or their lack of income are included? Is a Just Society one that actively works towards inclusion and how can this be done?

On July 19th 2010 we will be holding a meeting in the House of Commons on “an inclusive and just society.”

This will be hosted by David Burrowes the MP for Enfield Southgate who has been appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to Rt Hon Francis Maude MP, Minister for the Cabinet Office, Paymaster General and Rt Hon Oliver Letwin MP, Minister of State at the Cabinet Office who is responsible for giving policy advice to the Prime Minister.

Paul Morrell, Director of Education & Outreach from Chickenshed will also speak. Chickenshed is a theatre company that uses an inclusive creative process which means everyone is welcome, and everyone is valued. They work with people from different backgrounds and experiences both able and disabled and believe in the importance of an inclusive society as the basis for a just one. Inclusivity for them is the basis of human rights. They produce theatres like “Crime of the Century” and focus on the social alienation of many young people and through theatre hope to inspire the just and inclusive society they strive for. There will be small performance from Chickenshed taken from their production ‘Crime Of The Century’ at this meetup.

ChickenShed & Crime Of The Century

Crime of the Century is a physical dance theatre piece “that follows the stark journey, from the build up to the terrible consequences, of one fatal moment. Co-written and directed by David Carey and Christine Niering, the moving piece came about after a sequence of young men connected to Chickenshed were tragically murdered in knife attacks. (excerpts on YouTube)

Portraying the build up to one fatal moment, Crime of the Century uses words, movement and projection alongside a contemporary score of hip hop and dance music to pack a frightening punch. The play is based on interviews with victims, perpetrators, families, police officers and ex-offenders.

“It would be senseless for this production not to tour every senior school in Britain. The poignancy and power of Chickenshed’s piece earns it the right to be noticed and commended; not only by theatre critics but by politicians.”
What’s on Stage 5 * * * * *

“…if the twenty first century will be remembered as the time we let our children kill each other, Chickenshed will be remembered as the theatre company who had the guts to ask how and why.”
Time Out * * * *

After a successful run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe last summer and as part of a UK tour, Chickenshed’s critically-acclaimed production Crime of the Century returns to The Rayne Theatre from Wednesday 2 to Friday 4 June 2010.

To reserve your place for this meeting http://www.meetup.com/21stCenturyNetwork/calendar/13291820/

To find out more about Chickenshed http://www.chickenshed.org.uk/about/main

This meeting is part of our Lottery Funded Project on Diversity & Inclusion.