Citizens Theatre Presents Glasgow Cultural Programme ON COMMON GROUND, Beg. Today

A cast of over 150 Glaswegians brought together by the Citizens Theatre will be joined by First Nation storytellers from Canadian Theatre company Debajehmujig to create a landmark outdoor event taking place in the Gorbals from today, 25 - 31 July 2014 as part of the Glasgow 2014 Cultural Programme.

The Citizens Learning team have recruited the biggest community cast to date including performers, musicians, choir members and volunteers supported by a professional creative team to present five performances in the Gorbals Rose Garden which will be free to audiences.

The show is a celebration of Glasgow's distinctive cultural identity and the changing face of the Gorbals and an insight into the history, traditions and beliefs of the Debajehmujig Storytellers, a theatre company based in Wikwemikong Unceded Indian Reserve on Manitoulin Island, Canada. On Common Ground will explore the universal themes of community, family, and the natural world using music, song and live theatre.

Each evening, audiences will gather in the Citizens Theatre foyer to find out more about life on Manitoulin Island through exhibits, music, and arts and crafts. There will then be a 300 strong procession of audience members through the Gorbals with live performances and music lining the route to the Gorbals Rose Garden. There performers, a live band and choir will perform On Common Ground in a specially-built fully accessible performance area.

Describing how the project came about, Co-Director Elly Goodman said "Since meeting Debajehmujig at the International Community Arts Festival in Rotterdam in 2011, we knew that we wanted to work together. Our shared commitment to the power of stories that bond communities makes us ideal partners. Through Festival 2014 we have the opportunity to create a spectacular event that celebrates the best of both of our cultures and to connect as commonwealth countries."

On Common Ground performers have been recruited from call-outs to the public to get involved and from within the wide range of community groups that the Citizens Theatre Learning team works with throughout the year. Rehearsals have been taking place over the past two months to form the On Common Ground cast, orchestra and choir.

Co-Director Neil Packham said "Having just worked with a large community cast for Sports Day on the Citizens' main stage in June, I'm really looking forward to welcoming even more adults, children and young people to join us as we create this special event. It's a fantastic opportunity for the huge variety of people that we work with, who come from all walks of life, to come together and produce something really memorable for our local community."

This large scale community event is the vision of a dedicated professional creative team including Co-Directors Elly Goodman, Neil Packham and Debajehmujig Artistic Director Joe Osawabin, Designer Janis Hart (promenade, puppets, set), Music Director Karen MacIver and Choir Manager Shelly Coyne with costumes designed by Anna Cocciadiferro and the Citizens foyer installation by Neil Haynes.

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