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28 January 2010

Arts groups join forces to launch multi-cultural project at Senedd

'Lessons from the past can influence future', says Charity.

A Welsh arts festival has teamed up with a British Asian theatre company, a London community radio station, and a top Panjabi musician to tell the story of life in 1940s India.

‘A Lifetime on Tiptoes’ is a play by Mazhar Tirmazi, which is being turned into an ambitious radio and internet project in Panjabi.

A performance on 9 February at the Welsh Assembly of specially composed pieces of music for the project by renowned tabla player, Kuljit Bhamra, will mark its launch.

The music has been commissioned by the Gwanwyn Festival - an arts festival for older people from Age Concern Cymru and Help the Aged in Wales.

Gwanwyn co-ordinator, Phillip Thomas, explains:

'A Lifetime on Tiptoes is based an older woman’s account of her experiences of growing up in India during the Partition in 1947.

'Older people have a lifetime of knowledge and experience, and it is important to realise how lessons from the past can have a positive influence on the future.

'The play teaches us, through these experiences, how we need to involve people from every different sector of our communities in society.

'We are hoping that this project will inspire older people from our different communities to celebrate their heritage through the creative arts.'

‘A Lifetime on Tiptoes’ will be ready for podcast by the summer.

It will be broadcast by the London-based Asian community radio station Desi Radio and be available from the Gwanwyn website.

Dominic Rai, Artistic Director of the Mán Melá theatre company, is the main driving force behind the project. Dominic says:

'A Lifetime on Tiptoes celebrates our common humanity.

'The story of the partition of British India in 1947 - that is recounted by A Lifetime on Tiptoes, definitely has connections with modern Wales.

'The play touches on experiences which we hope will resonate with communities right across modern, multi-cultural Wales.

'As Artistic Director I am thrilled to be involved with this high quality, culturally diverse project.

'I’m hoping that bringing to life experiences from 60 years ago about dividing society in a high-tech podcast will bring modern audiences from different backgrounds closer.'

The play will be available from the Gwanwyn website in Panjabi with English translation in the summer.

Lifetime on Tiptoes’ will be translated into Welsh by the poet Menna Elfyn for performance in 2011.

- ENDS -

Notes to Editors

• ‘A Lifetime on Tiptoes’ is an acclaimed play about the Partition of British India 1947 written in Panjabi by the poet, Mazhar Tirmazi.
• The play has been performed at the Five Rivers Festival, Lahore (Pakistan), the Scottish Poetry Library, Edinburgh and the Houses of Parliament, London as part of the 60th anniversary of Partition 1947–2007.
• The creative team behind the podcast project includes Kuljit Bhamra, composer in residence, Salisbury Music Festival 2009. Kuljit has worked in film and television, produced Bhangra music and played in the West End in Bombay Dreams and The Far Pavilions.  
• The cast includes Jamila Massey, from Mind Your Language and The Archers, and Kulwinder Ghir, of Goodness Gracious Me.
• Following the Panjabi version in 2010 ‘A Lifetime on Tiptoes’ is set to be translated into Welsh by the poet Menna Elfyn, later this year.

Photos

We can supply high-res photos of Kuljit Bhamra – please contact Iwan for further details.

Contact: For all media enquiries, including requests for interviews with Phillip Thomas and Dominic Rai, please contact Iwan Rhys Roberts, Communications Officer, Age Concern Cymru and Help the Aged in Wales. Telephone 029 2043 1562, mobile 07739 894 923, iwan.roberts@helptheagedwales.org.uk.