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Crystal's Vardo

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Crystal's Vardo
Written bySuzanna King
Directed bySuzanna King
Date premieredJune 28, 2012 (2012-06-28)
Place premieredPavilion Theatre, Brighton
Original languageEnglish
Official site

Crystal's Vardo is an English theatre production written and directed by Suzanna King for children aged 7+, about the impact of being bullied at school on a young Gypsy girl's life.[1] It uses dance, drama, humour and music, in a hybrid of theatre, storytelling, historical reconstruction and political education, to describe the culture and histories of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities.[2][3][4] The play "remains entertaining while also raising awareness about the racism and injustice faced by Gypsies and Travellers today."[2]

History

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Organised by Friends, Families and Travellers, Crystal's Vardo premiered at the Pavilion Theatre in Brighton in 2012[2][5][6] and has continued to play throughout the UK including at Hackney Empire[7] and Ovalhouse in London.[8] Its most recent tour was in 2022.[9] The play's development received funding from the National Lottery Community Fund[10] and the police.[11] It has been put on at theatres, schools, community organisations, storytelling festivals, colleges, youth offending units, prisons, and conferences for people including teachers and pupils, health and police professionals.[2][3][10][12][13][14] Resources developed to accompany it are used in teaching.[15][16]

Mission

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According to its website, the artistic vision for Crystal's Vardo is to:[17]

  • "raise awareness about the rich histories and cultures of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities"
  • "influence and initiate change by inspiring empathy and compassion"
  • "affirm the cultural identity of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people by exploring and celebrating the respective cultures and identities"
  • "inspire dialogue and break down barriers between communities"

Plot

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Crystal "is fed up with the racist bullying at school and is considering flunking lessons. That’s the cue for the vardo to transform into a TARDIS that journeys back in time. We start in AD 400 and follow the Romany’s route of dispossession, criminalisation and extermination: from the Middle East to southern and central Europe. We pursue the trail into discriminatory legislation and practices that still exist in 21st century Britain."[2]

"Narrated by Crystal as she time-travelled in her vardo [. . .] the play skipped through the centuries to an idealised future in which the discrimination finally ends."[5]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Crystal's Vardo back on the road again in June". Travellers Times. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
  2. ^ a b c d e Aiken, Mike (6 July 2018). "Crystal's Vardo Review". The Brighton Source. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
  3. ^ a b "Crystal's Vardo to be made available online for gypsy, roma and traveller history month". Travellers Times. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
  4. ^ "Play tells story of Romani community". Bridgwater Mercury. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
  5. ^ a b "Crystal's Vardo, Pavilion Theatre, Brighton, June 28". The Argus. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
  6. ^ "Crystal's Vardo back on the road again in June". Travellers Times. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
  7. ^ "Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Month kicks off in Hackney in June". Hackney Gazette. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
  8. ^ "Crystal's Vardo (Closed January 24, 2019) - Off-West End - reviews, cast and info - WhatsOnStage". WhatsOnStage.com. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
  9. ^ "Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month". Gypsies and Travellers Wales. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
  10. ^ a b https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/43013/html/
  11. ^ "Police donate hundreds of pounds to gypsy and traveller production". The Argus. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
  12. ^ http://data.kingston.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/JSNA_GypsiesandTravellersChapter2016.pdf
  13. ^ "Microgrants". South Cambs District Council. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
  14. ^ "Coventry University – WEAVE". weave-culture.eu. Retrieved 2023-04-12.
  15. ^ "GRTS teaching resources - Support for schools and settings". Devon County Council. 27 June 2022. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
  16. ^ https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/correspondence/2021/03/gypsy-traveller-action-plan-letter-from-scottish-government-and-cosla/documents/annex-b-improving-access-to-public-services/annex-b-improving-access-to-public-services/govscot%3Adocument/Annex%2BB%2B%2528pdf%2529%2B-%2BIMPROVING%2BACCESS%2BTO%2BPUBLIC%2BSERVICES.pdf
  17. ^ "About Crystal's Vardo". Friends, Families and Travellers. Retrieved 2023-04-12.
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