A collection of short political plays in response to warnings that artists shouldn’t be political.
We are living through a moment of horror. Brutality abroad in Palestine and the Global South is justified or ignored by our own government, while new police powers suppress protest at home. Globally far-right movements are growing and so too are Defence budgets. There is much to talk about.
Even the Arts Council started warning that ‘political statements’ made by individuals linked to an organisation can cause ‘reputational risk’, breaching funding agreements. Some are silenced; some are unwilling to speak.
Returning to the Arcola after selling-out earlier this year, this collection of short plays responds to this creeping threat to our freedom of expression and includes playwrights Hassan Abdulrazzak, Mojisola Adebayo, Phil Arditti, Sonali Bhattacharyya, Nina Bowers, Roxy Cook, Ed Edwards, Afsaneh Gray, Dawn King, Ahmed Masoud and Sami Abu Wardeh.
Praise for Cutting the Tightrope: The Divorce of Politics from Art:
★★★★★ “One of the most powerful things I have ever watched” – Green Room Review
★★★★★ “Powerful and rousing” – Fairy Powered Productions
“An extraordinary theatrical and humanitarian endeavour” – There Ought To Be Clowns
“An opinionated, entertaining and urgent evening” – The Guardian