Theatre and drama can be entertainment, but they can also unstick difficult social problems by promoting empathy, encouraging us to see life from different perspectives and nurturing links between people. The latest Louder Than Words looks at how theatre can bring insights, bring people together and unlocks issues.
Theatre writers and creators Professor Liz Kuti and Annecy Lax, from the Department of Literature, Film, and Theatre talk to Professor Jules Pretty.
They suggest that telling stories, expressing ideas through performance and watching performances in the theatre, online and on television is in many ways as natural as breathing and an essential part of being human. At the same time theatre and drama offers space to transform people.
Annecy says: “The kind of theatre I work in can have a really transformational effect on people. I’ve been in the room where that has happened and been involved in projects where theatre has had a huge benefit on people’s lives.”
How can we better prepare for disasters and how can we improve our response? Professor Jules Pretty from the University of Essex and journalist Martha Dixon speak to experts from the University of Essex and the organisations at the frontline of disaster response. Contributors: Professor Kelum Jayasinghe, Essex Business School, University of Essex Dr Alex Quiroz Flores, Department of Government, University of Essex Professor John Preston, Department of Sociology, University of Essex Anoja Seneviratne, Director (Mitigation Research & Development) Disaster Management Centre ...
In our second episode Professor Jules Pretty and journalist Martha Dixon, take you on a journey to discover why we need to learn from our past in uncovering the global impact of migration on our people and our land. Our speakers have direct experience of migration and the impact it has had on their lives. We discuss why this is such an important issue and why we need to learn from the past to look forward. Contributors Roma Tearne (1:28) arrived on a boat from Sri Lanka more than fifty years ago. Her parents were Tamil and Sinhalese, caught in a conflict between the two ethnic groups. Roma is an award winning artist and novelist. Susan Oliver (5:08) looks at past migration through literature. This provides valuable insights into trying to understand the current impact of migration and the longer view. Ahmed Shaheed (10:37) and (16:37) is a United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, and a migrant from the Maldives forced to leave after a coup. He discusses how conflict creates more displaced people, the effects of climate change that force people to travel and why he still has hope about the future. Jonathan Lichtensein (12:04) is professor of drama at the University of Essex has recently published a book, The Berlin Shadow, about his father’s experience of escaping the Holocaust. Shownotes at: www.essex.ac.uk/blog ...
In the latest episode of the Louder than Words Podcast, Professor Jules Pretty journalist Martha Dixon look at sustainability – in what we eat – and how we use our land. Academics from the University of Essex show us how they’re helping farmers meet our needs while saving the planet. Contributors include: Professor Christine Raines, School of Life Sciences, University of Essex Archie Ruggles-Brise, Spains Hall Estate, Essex Dr Tom Cameron, Senior Lecturer, School of Life Sciences, University of Essex Dr Patricia Lopez, Senior Research Officer, School of Life Sciences, University of Essex Kenny Brown, Research Technician, Univesity of Essex ...
