Lakeside Arts hosts poems and stories from two UNESCO Cities of Literature, Nottingham and Baghdad...
I bet it doesn’t rain this much in Baghdad. As we all wondered why we *still* couldn’t cast our clout in June (ask your nan), ‘Where I Belong’ celebrated stories and poems inspired by our own fair citeh of Nottingham and fellow City of Literature, Baghdad.
Put together with the help of the British Council and Arts Council England, we had a chance to listen to the thinking behind creating work across two cities, with an appearance from Sadek R Mohammed from his home in Baghdad (plus the obligatory ‘you’re on mute’ moment).
For Nottingham, ‘Where I Belong’ inspired a wealth of imagery, with Andy Barrett mixing images of people escaping the slums to the sleek concrete tower blocks of the sixties with the arrival of people finding refuge in those same towers today in ‘Shock Waves’. Mixing the ancient with the modern, Leanne Moden found hope in magpie residents and a new generation of young city dwellers in ‘Hope is the Thing With Feathers’.
a new generation of young city dwellers
From Baghdad, ancient memories and recent trauma of war sat alongside one another for Mubeen Kishhany’s ‘Baghdad: A Masterpiece of the Helpless’, while Ali Muhammed felt a reignited love for his city on the balcony of his grandfather’s house in ‘The Tigris Balcony’.
Stories of creating work across continents were mixed with performances, and it was great to see local writers Georgina Wilding, Mufaro Makubika and Leanne Moden read their work live, with special mention to ‘Like Betty’- Mufaro’s tale of belonging again during the uncertain days of Lockdown.
The Djanogly Theatre audience really enjoyed learning about the process of discovering how two very different cities of literature now belong together in a shared appreciation of their histories and people. Looking back, it would have been good to hear more live performances from our Baghdad poets- maybe next time.
Until then, you can click here to listen to the recordings for yersen. And don’t forget your coat- it’s still cowd out.
Where I Belong played at Lakeside Arts on Friday 14th of June 2024.
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