The Stopping Place
Brolly in partnership with Newham Music
are delighted to announce
we are now in the next stage of
‘The Stopping Place’ which will premiere in July 2024.
The Production
Performance Stratford Old Town Hall 2022
Performers: Sindy Samanta Czureja (Pusomori), Niamh Bennett (Kaven); Schools Participating in chorus: Lister, St.Angela's, Cobham Academy;
Written and Directed by Dominic Hingorani, Musical score by Tate Hingorani-Short, Design and Video by Rachana Jadhav
The Stopping Place is a powerful large scale new music theatre work drawing on music of the Roma tradition
staging the history of the Roma holocaust with a chorus, choir & orchestra drawn from secondary schools in
Newham, East London.
Pusomori and Kaven are half sisters born into the Romani community but now living in two very different worlds. Separated as teenagers Pusomori continues travelling while Kaven, who is 'poshrat' [a 'mixed blood' Romani]
has settled. The ‘Big Halt’ has been called and gypsies are no longer permitted to travel. Kaven returns to the
atchin tan but what price is she prepared to pay for being a sister, a daughter, a Romani?
The production creates new leading roles in the repertoire for under-represented artists from the Roma musical tradition and community.
'My family have been performing Roma music for generations and the chance to bring the history of my people and our music to a wider audience so they can understand us better is very important to me.'
Sindy Czureja: Performer, The Stopping Place
We are extremely grateful to the Weiner Holocaust Library for their archival support and expertise.
We would also like to thank
the Roma Support Group and
London Gypsies and Travellers Organisation.
The Patrin
‘Patrin’ is the Romani word for the signposts, symbols and messages that Roma people would traditionally leave for each other at the ‘atchin tans’ or ‘stopping places’ for their fellow travellers.
The Patrin is a roaming digital exhibition,
curated to celebrate diverse voices.
ON NOW:
The Patrin shares stories and songs
by women about women
COMING SOON:
The Patrin celebrates Roma voices.
Escalate
Brolly are leading a cross arts professional development programme with Newham Music Education Hub
for young people to develop their creative potential and open pathways into professional creative arts practice.
"The Stopping Place was outstanding in so many ways; storytelling at its best. The interweaving of animation,
set design, choreography and music, created theatre that was powerful, emotional and truthful. It was very,
very alive.Newham Music is delighted to have partnered with Brolly on The Stopping Place.
The Brolly ethos is very much one of collaboration. They inspired young female students from Newham schools
through their inclusive creative processes, from the outset, working on voice, movement and improvisation.
What we saw, what we heard, in performance, were young female artists…brilliant!"
John Bergin
Chief Executive Officer, Newham Music Education Hub
"We know that Roma communities face significant challenges owing to historic structural inequalities and the
prejudice and hostility Roma face in everyday life. In my recent report for the Higher Education Policy Institute,
I called for the understanding and celebration of Roma culture as a means to address the discrimination
Roma communities face in the UK and beyond. 'The Stopping Place' is a powerful production exploring themes
of identity and belonging. It is hugely important to see Roma culture and heritage being remembered and celebrated,
and a new generation of students learning about Roma histories and traditions. We need to see more of this
fantastic work being funded and facilitated moving forward."
Laura Brassington
Policy Manager, Higher Education Policy Institute
"We are delighted to be partnering Brolly in the delivery of their exciting new project the Stopping Place which is a great opportunity to develop arts participation and engagement in the borough and to deliver high quality performance work that reflects and celebrates the diversity of our community."
Monica Thomas
Commissioner, Resident Engagement and Participation
London Borough of Newham