Fought between 1853-1856 between Russia – France, the Ottoman Empire and the United Kingdom, the Crimean War witnessed nations battle on matters of religious ideologies, the decline of the Ottoman Empire and expansion of the Russian empire some of the following impacts of the war. Thousands of soldiers risked their lives, the presence of medics vital in the rehabilitation process of many. Celebrated for her contribution to nursing, especially during this historical event with the setting up of the ‘British Hotel’, British Jamaican nurse/doctress Mary Seacole is renowned for her instictive and herbal remedy medical knowledge – something that marked her, alongside contemporary Florence Nightingale as a pioneer of her field. Delving into Mary’s incredible story further, Marys Seacole, created by Jackie Sibbles Drury spans 19th century Crimea to 21st century America and the UK to examine innovations made within medicine.

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Courtesy of Pippa Samaya.

Cryptocurrency has ignited the imaginations of many, a form of digital currency created online with transactions stored on a blockchain (a database recording transactions made), the currency was introduced in 2009, Bitcoin the pioneering brand of coin and perhaps most well known of its kind. Years on from the currency’s creation, Non-Fungible Tokens have also gone onto encourage curiosity – a non-interchangeable unit of data stored on a blockchain and one that can be sold and traded at the owner’s discretion. Inspired by this recent development within the tech world, dance company AΦE (AE), comprising of founders Aoi Nakamura and Esteban Lecoq combine their technological and choreographic know-how to introduce the initial stage of @Lilith.Aeon – a story based NFT (Non-fungible token) comprising of seven videos exploring concepts of life, death and what lies beyond this. In order to access the project, viewers are asked to purchase $Aeon (AE Coin), AΦE’s brand of social token that can then be traded to access it. Aoi and Esteban tell us more about exploring the project’s existential themes, exploring NFTs and the metaverse and what it means to be apart of this pioneering project.

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Those initial moments where an individual catches the eye of another individual they possibly envision themselves establishing a connection with are magical, said initial interactions gradually turning into an exciting unspoken conversation between two souls who connect on an energetic level, their chemistry now undeniable and increasingly difficult to ignore. An exploration of two people brought together by proximity, Edith Pearlman‘s  Tenderfoot observes the invisible, the subtle moments and actions that work together to form an undeniable bond.

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Located in southeastern Europe and occupying the eastern part of the Balkans, Bulgaria is renowned for its picturesque natural landscapes. Said to be the oldest country in Europe, the country has retained its name since it was initially established in the 7th century. Europe’s second largest river, the Danube defines its border with Romania. Inspired by the cultural richness of their homeland to create a dance film exploring the stories of 6 protagonists across a tapestry of Bulgarian landscapes, choreographers and directors Kosta Karakashyan and Stephanie Handjiiska present Glance from the Edge. Screened at the Bulgarian Cultural Institute on Thursday 7th April, the duo tell us more about how the event went, and their plans for screening the film at a later date!

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The Anglo-Japanese alliance signed in January of 1902 by British Foreign Secretary Lord Lansdowne and Japanese diplomat Hayashi Tadasu witnessed a period of diplomacy in the early 20th century between the two nations before its termination in 1923. Three years later and Japan transitioned into the Shōwa era, a period overseen by Emperor Hirotito and one that would endure the impact of defeat post WWII, shaping the course of future generations and as a result of this, migration being a means for many to seek a hopeful future elsewhere. Exploring the stories of Japanese migrants living in the UK post WWII, New Earth Theatre present Tsunagu/Connect Live – an immersive promenade production comprised of verbatim recordings of participants who took part in an oral history project led by the theatre company in 2020.

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How we process grief is unique to us individually and how families mourn together can either bring everyone closer together or drive everyone further apart from one another. The process of a funeral an incredibly emotive one, a ceremony offering that vital opportunity for all to say their final goodbyes, cultural roots governing how funeral rites are observed. An exploration of loss, family and migration, writer Beru Tessema presents House of Ife, a drama observing a family confront the unsaid and traumas that they’ve lived with after the loss of family member Ife. Due to play from the 29th April until 11th June at the Bush Theatre as part of their 50th birthday celebrations, Beru tells us more about exploring the show’s themes, working with Artistic Director Lynette Linton and what he’s learned from the show’s creative process!

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From left to right – Tomoko Komura, Meg Kubota, Yuki Sutton and You-Ri Yamanaka.

Shōwa era Japan (1926-1989) – ruled by Emperor Hir0hito witnessed the transition from empire pre-WWII to state post war, the impact of their defeat in the war one that would shape the course of future generations, migration a means for many to seek a hopeful future. In 2020, New Earth Theatre launched an oral history project that resulted in over 30 Japanese women being interviewed about their experiences of being a migrant in the UK – a perspective we seldom hear and one that is vital for addressing representation within the arts. Created in response to this project, New Earth Theatre present Tsunagu/Connect Live – an immersive, promenade work placing the voices of four Japanese women at the fore featuring performers Tomoko Komura, Meg Kubota, Yuki Sutton and You-Ri Yamanaka. Currently showing at Shoreditch Town Hall until Saturday 30th April, cast member Meg tells us more about what to expect!

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Two years post pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement, the importance of reconnecting to one’s roots has been an important stride within a very transformational time period, generational trauma a state explored more openly now. An exploration of an Igbo couple captured from Nigeria, West Africa during the Transatlantic Slave Trade, Sonny Nwachukwu‘s show Saturn Returns draws on the historical event of The Igbo Landing, a mass suicide by the captive Igbo people in 1803 onboard a slave ship in refusal of slavery.

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With the mid-terms for the US presidency due to take place this November, this will determine who makes up the House of Representatives as well as a third of the senate in a currently Democratic run US. Fast forward to 2024 where the US will decide who the 47th president elect will become, the journey towards that final outcome continues. Delving into this meticulous, competitive road to victory, Mike Bartlett presents The 47th, a prophetic, Shakespearean take on one of the world’s most pivotal events.

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The world beyond our own has been a source of inspiration for thousands of years, Astronomy a natural science concerned with the universe beyond ourselves and the celestial realm. The invention of spaceflight in the 1960s one that has for the past 60 years helped to start bridging the gap between us and the world out there, inspiring imagination and innovation. In 2015, astronaut Tim Peake and his fellow team ventured the International Space Station (ISS) to complete a spacewalk, the mission taking a total of 185 days and witnessing Peake even running the London Marathon whilst there. Combining the images taken from some of the European Space Agency’s (ESA) locations and compositions, BAFTA and Ivor Novello Award nominated composer of TV and film Ilan Eshkeri presents Space Station Earth to play at the Royal Albert Hall on 15th May. Ahead of the performance, Ilan tells us more about what to expect!

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