2022 AS BRITISH AS AmandlaWATERMELONrae The Refuge series is supported by British Council, Edinburgh Futures Institute at the University of Edinburgh and Claire and Mark Urquhart Made possible through the PLACE Programme In collaboration with Scottish Refugee Council Tuesday 23 – Friday 26 August 8pm THE STUDIO The performance lasts approximately 1 hour with no interval. Please ensure that all mobile phones and electronic devices are switched off or put on silent.
Refuge invites and weaves together the perspectives of artists who have taken different journeys. Perspectives and journeys that remind us that people are often carrying more than we can see or know. They are always listening, attuning, questioning and making: these are exceptional minds. This series is a rich tapestry of experiences, stories, poetry, performance, challenges and resistance.
A celebration of the profound contribution to arts and culture given by the movement of people across the globe
Sabir Zazai Chief ScottishExecutiveRefugee Council
REFUGE
Soizig Carey Arts and Cultural Development Officer Scottish Refugee Council Scottish Refugee Council is honoured to collaborate with the Edinburgh International Festival and mark this very special anniversary year. This has been a year of terrible stories. War in Ukraine, unrest in Afghanistan, families stranded and separated by bureaucracy, Rwandan detention centres and people left with no option but to risk their lives on dangerous journeys in a desperate bid to reach a place of safety. In this relentless fight for human rights and freedoms, we must not forget to reflect on hard-won triumphs as well. Had Rudolf Bing not sought and been granted refugee protection here 75 years ago, this world-class festival may not exist. The cultural fabric of Scotland would be very different. We are in awe of his legacy, and of the exceptional artists performing as part of Refuge.
Artists are often the vanguards of community life and social justice. This is why they play such an important role in illuminating the commonalities and the complexities of humanity, wherever they find themselves rooted or uprooted in the world. Yet they are especially at risk of censorship, harassment, criminalisation and persecution when their work gives voice to ideas, imagination and freedom of expression, and when they inspire others to do so too.
Scottish Refugee Council is Scotland’s leading independent charity dedicated to supporting people in need of refugee protection. Since 1985, it has supported refugee integration and inclusion through provision of specialist advice and advocacy to people seeking protection in Scotland. The people it works with have fled horrific situations around the world and come from countries where conflict is rife and human rights abuses common. When people arrive in Scotland, a new journey begins. The UK’s asylum system is tough and takes its toll on individuals and families. Settling into a foreign country and a whole new system can be disorientating and challenging. Through its direct services it provides practical support, advice and a listening ear to help people rebuild their lives in a sustainable and meaningful way. It speaks out against an unjust asylum system and campaigns for changes that make a positive difference to people’s lives. To date it has supported more than 25,000 refugees arriving and living in FindScotland.outmore about its scottishrefugeecouncil.org.ukwork:
SCOTTISHREFUGEECOUNCIL
AS BRITISH AS A WATERMELON Writer and performer mandla rae Producer Switchflicker Productions / Jayne Compton Creative Advisors Sonia Hughes Jo Fong Collaborator, Lighting & Staging VoiceoverConcept,Recording Graham Clayton-Chance Sound Design Xana Costume John Krausa Set Design Michael Hankin Lighting Design Phil BenjaminBuckleyLiddell Production Manager Phil Buckley Touring Technician Joel Clements Movement Consultant Yandass Ndlovu Outside Eye Pelin Basaran Matt Fenton Dan Watson Production Images Benjamin Liddell Special thanks to Roma Havers and Maz Hedgehog. Dedicated to Xena Brown and the queer family who raised me. Funded and supported by: Horizon Showcase, Arts Council England, Contact, Greater Manchester LGBTQ Arts and Culture Network, Greater Manchester Independents, The Lowry Untitled Residency, Black Gold Arts, Hope Mill Theatre's Turn on Fest.
If you’re reading this, you’re either interested in or have watched as british as a watermelon. I have no idea how you’re doing or what your life experience is so here’s something that I hope might be helpful to you in preparing to watch my show about childhood trauma, neglect, and abandonment, rising from the dead (and other fun things).
WRITER’S NOTE
If you’re worried or wondering how I feel after seeing the show, I am okay. In fact, I am more than okay, I really love performing and connecting with the audiences. It means a lot to me that you took time out of your busy whole entire life to spend your money on tickets to spending an evening listening to me talk and make a mess for an hour. Ngiyabonga / Thank you.
If you’re feeling triggered or low or uncomfortable after seeing the show, I really hope you can easily get to a place where you feel calm and can centre yourself. There are some helplines included in this programme you can access instantly after the show. mandla x © mandla rae
Sawubona wena/hello you!
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• racism • homophobia • murder and
and neglect CONTENT WARNINGS AND ALL OF THAT
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CONTENT
This piece contains references to: the asylum process and border police death abuse
There is a loud banging knock sound effect that is repeated twice in different parts of the show which may be distressing for some viewers. It’s appearance is sudden and can be shocking. The show uses LED lights and there are moments when they flash in a way that may trouble those whose eyes are sensitive to flashing lights.
• trauma / PTSD • child
• During the performance, I stab watermelons with knives and I am wearing a lapel mic and the sound can be gut wrenchingly visceral. Some people like it but it might not be enjoyable for all.
SENSORY
• A lot of people worry that I am going to hurt myself with the knives or tools, please be assured everything is risk assessed and I am always safe and careful.
• I speak and sing a non-english language (isiNdebele) that is untranslated at points in the show. I always give my BSL interpreter the translations. The performance discusses sensitive themes which some audience members may find potentially distressing, particularly those with lived experience. I hope this isn’t the case, I purposely wrote the script in a way that doesn’t go into details about the difficult things but what’s okay for me to say might not be easy for you to hear. Please feel free to leave the performance if you feel triggered or uncomfortable. I hope you can come back into the performance if you feel able to. Take your time.
• SANEline A national out-of-hours mental health helpline offering specialist emotional support, guidance and information to anyone affected by mental illness, including family, friends and carers. They are normally open every day of the year from 4pm to 10pm on 0300 304 7000. • PAPYRUS HOPELINEUK If you're under 35 and struggling with suicidal feelings, or concerned about a young person who might be struggling, you can call Papyrus HOPELINEUK on 0800 068 4141 (weekdays 10am–10pm, weekends 2pm–10pm and bank holidays 2pm–10pm), email pat@papyrus-uk.org or text 07786 209 697. • SHOUT A free, confidential, anonymous texting service for anyone in the UK. Trained volunteers are there for you 24/7 to listen and support you to get to a calmer and safe place. It won’t appear on your phone bill. To start a conversation, text the word 'SHOUT' to 85258. • Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) You can call the CALM on 0800 58 58 58 (5pm–midnight every day) if you are struggling and need to talk. Or if you prefer not to speak on the phone, you could try the CALM webchat service. HELPLINES AND SUPPORT
Born in Zimbabwe, mandla rae is a writer and performer whose work draws on the artist’s intersectional existence. mandla uses names in place of mandlapronouns.has been commissioned by, or produced work with, Switchflicker Productions, Black Gold Arts, Contact Theatre (Manchester), the Journeys Festival (Leicester), the Royal Exchange Theatre (Manchester), the Royal Court Theatre (London), Outbox, Art With Heart, Fringe of Colour, the British Film Institute, Harry Clayton-Wright, and Rhubaba Gallery (Edinburgh). as british as a watermelon is mandla’s first solo live art show. The short film of the same name was also featured in the 2021 Horizon Showcase and has been screened at festivals all over the world, including the Sydney Opera House’s digital programme with the British Council and The Good Immigrant UK showcase with TAPE Collective. mandla’s writing has been featured in Tell Me Who We Were Before Life Made Us, a poetry anthology published by Three of Cups Press; Gay Times, and Harry ClaytonWright’s anthology You Otter Know, published by Polari Press.
MANDLA RAE