Where Are You?
Where Are You? is a hybrid theatre production for families, featuring a mix of live performance, pre-recorded performance and animation. It is our second international collaboration with Accra Theatre Workshop (Ghana). It tells the story of two penpals, Rochi in Bearwood (UK) and Abena in Dzorwulu (Ghana), who embark on a perilous journey across land, mountains, sea, and bridges, courting danger and adventure in order to meet each other in the middle.
Presented by Birmingham 2022 Festival
The show was originally presented by the Birmingham 2022 Festival, and took place on 17th and 18th June 2022 as a part of What’s In Store. It was staged simultaneously in Bear Bookshop (Bearwood, UK) and J-CLU School of Arts (Accra, Ghana) connected via a live stream.
The creative team crossed both locations and included Emelia Pinamang Asiedu, a theatremaker, performer and the Director of ATW; Rochi Rampal, a Birmingham-based theatremaker, writer and performer; Sabrina Nabi, a Birmingham-based performer; David Addo Gyan, an Accra-based music composer and sound designer; Michael Ellis, a Birmingham-based filmmaker; Andrew Dartey, an Accra-based illustrator and digital animator; and Abigail King, a Sandwell based theatre designer.
Children’s Book and Film
The show was accompanied by a beautifully illustrated children’s book written by the creative team and illustrated by Lena Korsah. It was distributed to the audience members at each performance. A standalone film based on the book was also produced:
Black Country Schools’ Tour
From November to December 2023, we toured the production to 5 schools across all 4 boroughs of the Black Country. Each school in the UK was paired with a school or children’s centre in Accra, Ghana, with the performances taking place simultaneously at both locations, connected via a live stream. It was wonderful for children from two different cultures and countries to be able to experience a theatre show together and connect with each other.
“‘Where Are You?’ was such a unique piece of work. The children seemed to love all elements. The way they talked about the story book alone; the animated gasps when elements of that story burst into life on screen in front of them in their own school hall; their fizzy-pop excitement when they got to meet and talk with children they’d never met before, thousands of miles away on another continent - that was all brilliant and a privilege to be a part of!”
Tour dates and locations:
14th November 2023 - Pens Meadow School, Dudley and Therakidz, Accra, Ghana
15th November 2023 - Penn Hall School, Wolverhampton and Woodfield Manor, Accra, Ghana
17th November 2023 - St Anne’s Catholic Primary School, Walsall and Christ the King International School, Accra, Ghana
21st November 2023 - Oakham Primary School, Oldbury, and Coastal Estates International School, Accra, Ghana
21st December 2023 - Bearwood Primary School, Smethwick and Graceland International School, Accra, Ghana
Where Are You? was produced by Black Country Touring and Accra Theatre Workshop, commissioned by Birmingham 2022 Festival, and generously supported by the British Council.
Cover illustration © Lena Korsah, 2022 | Photographs © Anand Chhabra, 2022
