West London Story Forums Summaries: The History of Immigration (18th Feb, Compass Theatre)
Leader: Cheryl Evans – England China Cultural Exchange (summary from Cheryl and Bhadra)
Cl_evans@sky.com
Key points of discussion:
• Impact of immigration on British subjects in colonies who shared similar values of British society, yet kept their cultural and social and religious influences:
o Similarities in education, social structures
o Aware of differences in culture, social influence, religions
• Living within personal cultures/ religions is accepted in Britain. Life in Britain – side by side or integration?
• Misconceptions re. immigration and colonisation. Positives and negatives
• Expression of Immigration in Britain through communication: language/ literature, politics/ economics, food, religions, fashion, Arts, performing & visual
- Accentuate positive but acknowledge negatives
We are here because you were there
Key Expressions
• Time line
• 1066 – 1600 – 1800 – 1947 – 1960 – 2012
• Language/ communication
• Music
• Fashion
• Religion
• Dance
• Food
• Literature
• Politics/ economics
• Sport
• Drama
• Art
Key Actions
We would like to present the story of immigration in drama form - perhaps divided into 4 sections
1. Early History. Why colonisation (exploration, economics, settlement, power)
2. The actual development of the colonies. Positive and negative. (Movement of people from one colony to others. Indians to East Africa, South Africa, Guyana, Trinidad)
3. Arrivals of Immigrants into Britain - different eras
e.g. 1947 (due to India’s partition)
1960s Windrush
1970s Ugandan exodus
1980s Vietnamese (& Chinese)
1990s Sri Lankan Tamils
2000s EU Open to Britain
4. Accentuation of mingling of cultures. Positive image of Britain.
I would like someone with expertise in drama to think about this idea and perhaps bid for it.