Crystal's Vardo
{{Short description|English play}}
{{Italic title}}
{{Infobox play
|name=Crystal's Vardo
|image=
|image_size=
|caption=
|writer=Suzanna King
|director=Suzanna King
|characters=
|genre=
|setting=
|subject=
|premiere={{Start date|2012|06|28}}
|place=Pavilion Theatre, Brighton
|orig_lang=English
|web=https://www.gypsy-traveller.org/our-flagship-projects/theatre-for-change/
}}
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.{{cite web|access-date=2023-04-11|title=Crystal's Vardo back on the road again in June|url=https://www.travellerstimes.org.uk/news/2016/03/crystals-vardo-back-road-again-june|website=Travellers Times}} 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.{{cite web|first1=Mike|last1=Aiken|access-date=2023-04-11|title=Crystal's Vardo Review|url=https://brightonsource.co.uk/reviews/crystals-vardo-review/|date=6 July 2018|work=The Brighton Source}}{{cite web|access-date=2023-04-11|title=Crystal's Vardo to be made available online for gypsy, roma and traveller history month|url=https://www.travellerstimes.org.uk/features/crystals-vardo-be-made-available-online-gypsy-roma-and-traveller-history-month|website=Travellers Times}}{{cite web|access-date=2023-04-11|title=Play tells story of Romani community|url=https://www.bridgwatermercury.co.uk/news/20164246.seed-sedgemoor-event-tell-story-romani-community/|website=Bridgwater Mercury}} The play "remains entertaining while also raising awareness about the racism and injustice faced by Gypsies and Travellers today."
History
Organised by Friends, Families and Travellers, Crystal's Vardo premiered at the Pavilion Theatre in Brighton in 2012{{cite web|access-date=2023-04-11|title=Crystal's Vardo, Pavilion Theatre, Brighton, June 28|url=https://www.theargus.co.uk/leisure/critic/9792868.crystals-vardo-pavilion-theatre-brighton-june-28/|website=The Argus}}{{cite web|access-date=2023-04-11|title=Crystal's Vardo back on the road again in June|url=https://www.travellerstimes.org.uk/news/2016/03/crystals-vardo-back-road-again-june|website=Travellers Times}} and has continued to play throughout the UK including at Hackney Empire{{cite web|access-date=2023-04-11|title=Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Month kicks off in Hackney in June|url=https://www.hackneygazette.co.uk/news/22945988.gypsy-roma-traveller-month-kicks-off-hackney-june/|website=Hackney Gazette}} and Ovalhouse in London.{{cite web|access-date=2023-04-11|title=Crystal's Vardo (Closed January 24, 2019) - Off-West End - reviews, cast and info - WhatsOnStage|url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/shows/off-west-end-theatre/crystals-vardo_186490|website=WhatsOnStage.com}} Its most recent tour was in 2022.{{cite web|access-date=2023-04-11|title=Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month|url=https://gtwales.org.uk/gypsy-roma-traveller-history-month/|website=Gypsies and Travellers Wales}} The play's development received funding from the National Lottery Community Fund and the police.{{cite web|access-date=2023-04-11|title=Police donate hundreds of pounds to gypsy and traveller production|url=https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/11289022.police-donate-hundreds-of-pounds-to-gypsy-and-traveller-production/|website=The Argus}} 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.https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/43013/html/http://data.kingston.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/JSNA_GypsiesandTravellersChapter2016.pdf{{cite web|access-date=2023-04-11|title=Microgrants|url=https://www.scambs.gov.uk/community-safety-and-health/community-safety/unauthorised-encampment-toolkit/microgrants/|website=South Cambs District Council}}{{cite web|access-date=2023-04-12|title=Coventry University – WEAVE|url=https://weave-culture.eu/tag/coventry-university/|website=weave-culture.eu}} Resources developed to accompany it are used in teaching.{{cite web|access-date=2023-04-11|title=GRTS teaching resources - Support for schools and settings|url=https://www.devon.gov.uk/support-schools-settings/inclusion/ethnic-minority-and-traveller-support/gypsy-roma-traveller-showmen/grts-teaching-resources/|date=27 June 2022|website=Devon County Council}}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
Mission
According to its website, the artistic vision for Crystal's Vardo is to:{{cite web|access-date=2023-04-12|title=About Crystal's Vardo|url=https://www.gypsy-traveller.org/our-flagship-projects/theatre-for-change/about-crystals-vardo/|website=Friends, Families and Travellers}}
- "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
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."
"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."
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://www.gypsy-traveller.org/our-flagship-projects/theatre-for-change/}}
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivXQeHM79yI "A short film made about Crystal's Vardo"] (video)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vardo, Crystal's}}