Author Archives: metaceptive

Ghoorni, a Bangladeshi play with Climate Justice Impact

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A theatrical play set in both Bangladesh and the UK is touring the North West in May 2026, titled ‘Ghoorni’ which means ‘Disastrous Cycle’. A dramatic narrative which connects with issues of climate justice, migration, heritage, identity and community. We aim to see how, with very limited resources, we can make this a Bangladeshi play with Climate Justice Impact that tackles the issues in a meaningful and action-generating way.

Promotional image from the flyer for Ghoorni split with a powerful image from a rehearsal: a Bangladeshi play with Climate Justice Impact

The play is the creation of AYNA Arts originally commissioned by Crossing Footprints in 2022. Crossing Footprints are again partnering with AYNA Arts as the Impact Producer for the tour, implementing an innovative set of strategies to enhance the ability of the play to generate real-world change. One element of this is a quick-read factsheet within the printed programme, which links (via a QR code) to a more detailed online factsheet about climate change.

Introduction to climate change factsheet
Supporting links and media for GHOORNI – Bangladeshi climate theatre
Download the full leaflet / programme for the show

SYNOPSIS OF THE PLAY:

Ghoorni is a play about two young people piecing together their family history. They discover how their grandfather came to the UK from Bangladesh in the 1970s after losing everything in a devastating cyclone that also played a significant role in the country’s history. The play highlights the climate injustice between Bangladesh and wealthier countries including the UK. Mr Ali left a country with low climate impact to work in a UK industry with high climate impact. It seems ironic that this impact is likely to damage his own home country. The play focuses on the serious issue of the climate crisis and its terrible effects on health and livelihoods across the globe. It also demonstrates the concern over these issues felt by the younger generation. Many are determined to bring about positive change. From this comes hope for the future.

Photo from a previous performance of Ghoorni, a Bangladeshi play with Climate Justice Impact
Photo from a previous performance of Ghoorni, a Bangladeshi play with Climate Justice Impact
Photo from a previous performance of Ghoorni, a Bangladeshi play with Climate Justice Impact
Photo from a previous performance of Ghoorni, a Bangladeshi play with Climate Justice Impact

GHOORNI TOUR 2026:

  • Saturday 9 May 2026, Burnley Youth Theatre, Queen’s Park Road, Burnley, BB10 3LB (Free but booking required)
  • Saturday 23 May 2026, Oldham Library Theatre Space, 35 Greaves Street, Oldham OL1 1AL (£5 tickets)
  • Sunday 24 May 2026, Carlisle Business Centre, 60 Carlisle Road, Manningham, Bradford BD8 8BD (£5 tickets)

Doors open at 12.30pm and shows start 1pm for all tour dates. More information at www.aynaarts.com and also via their Facebook page.

UK’s first theatrical play about climate justice and Bangladesh

Ghoorni byAYNA Arts is probably the UK’s first theatrical play focusing on climate change and Bangladesh. It was first commissioned by Crossing Footprints for the Manchester Histories Festival in 2022, written by Jesmin Chowdhury, directed bu Apu Chowdhury, and then performed as a short drama piece presented at Manchester Central Library’s performance space. It was to be followed by The Final Trumpet, written and produced by Bangladeshi-British artist Tasnim Siddiqa Amin in 2024, by which time a longer full length version of Ghoorni had also been developed. Both plays interwove strong themes of climate justice and together they were performed at the ‘Season of Bangla Drama’ festival in 2024.

Photo (credit: Kooj Chuhan / Crossing Footprints) from a May 2026 rehearsal of Ghoorni, a Bangladeshi play with Climate Justice Impact
Photo (credit: Kooj Chuhan / Crossing Footprints) from a May 2026 rehearsal of Ghoorni, a Bangladeshi play with Climate Justice Impact
Photo (credit: Kooj Chuhan / Crossing Footprints) from a May 2026 rehearsal of Ghoorni, a Bangladeshi play with Climate Justice Impact
Photo (credit: Kooj Chuhan / Crossing Footprints) from a May 2026 rehearsal of Ghoorni, a Bangladeshi play with Climate Justice Impact
Photo (credit: Kooj Chuhan / Crossing Footprints) from a May 2026 rehearsal of Ghoorni, a Bangladeshi play with Climate Justice Impact

above: AYNA Arts rehearsal session for Ghoorni, May 2026
(photos credit: Kooj Chuhan / Crossing Footprints)

A Bangladeshi play with Climate Justice Impact

Now in 2026 Ghoorni has evolved further, with new developments artistically and has also involved a strong and multi-level process for generating for climate justice ‘impact’. Crossing Footprints have partnered with AYNA Arts of integrating a set of strategies with the aim of doing more than simply raising awareness. With issues as urgent as this, we want people to actively do something after seeing the play -that’s what the word ‘Impact’ is about. This is important for both Bangladeshi audiences, who are often left out of many UK environmental and climate action initiatives, but also for the wider range of communities who may be moved to become active after seeing a Bangladeshi play with a central Climate Justice narrative.

More about how Crossing Footprints has partnered as an Impact Producer for this production will be published on this website in the near future. Anyone interested to know more can also get in touch via our Contact page.

Creative Award for Powerhouse Portraits Project

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Back in May, the Powerhouse Portraits project was nominated for the Spirit Of Manchester awards 2024, in the category for ‘Creative Community Spirit’. The nominated group was the partnership between the three organisations which collaborated to produce and deliver the project – Moss Side Millennium Powerhouse, Segment Arts and Crossing Footprints, and in June we were notified that we’d been shortlisted.

Image of group with winning the Award for Powerhouse Portraits
Our group winning the Spirit Of Manchester 2024 award in the category for ‘Creative Community’ presented to us by Julian Skyrme Director of Social Responsibility at Manchester University and the Mayor of Manchester Councillor Paul Andrews

This was an amazing project where local people created a community portrait of Moss Side at the vibrant Powerhouse community centre, through workshops in photography, writing and magazine making. Involving 45 local people using 100 film cameras through 18 workshops. We created a vibrant photography, creative writing and art exhibition. Also produced and distributed 300 copies of a 100-page full colour professional A4 publication.

Full details of the project at https://crossingfootprints.com/moss-side-powerhouse-portraits/ .

Creative Community Spirit award for Powerhouse Portraits

Image montage: Our group sat at a table, the certificate, and the award for Powerhouse Portraits

The awards ceremony was held on 3rd October 2024 The Sheridan in Manchester, and we were thrilled to be voted the winner of the ‘Creative Community Spirit’ award. Big thanks especially to the visionary Leo Macdonald Oulds for artistically leading and directing the project, and Kooj Chuhan for the producing and management. Credits also to Lesa Dryburgh for her amazing PR work, First Cut media with Tony Reeves for documenting, Ian Johns for his photography and workshops, and Nasima Bee for the great writing workshops (via Shirley May at Young Identity). And not forgetting our special guest at the exhibition launch, local peace activist Professor Erinma Bell MBE DL JP. Well done to all who made this happen, delivered the project and participated in it to make it such a great project – full details of the awards at https://manchestercommunitycentral.org/spirit-of-manchester/spirit-manchester-awards .

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Migration Identity History

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To what extent through history has British identity been influenced by migration?
An event with speakers, discussion, Q&A and live music

5.30pm – 7pm, Weds 16th October
at Manchester Histories Hub, lower ground floor, Manchester Central Library, St Peter’s Square, Manchester M2 5PD

Image of speakers, UK map, musician and people who migrated in history, for the Migration Identity History event
Image includes some of the speakers at the event (upper section), and blurred behind the musician are some of the individuals who have migrated to the North West (lower section – photo credits at end of this article*)

Speakers from the Migration Stories North West project will explore the nature of migrant identity throughout British history and the intersections between the history of migration and issues at the forefront of Black history. Plus we’ll have live music by Jim Parris performing a short set of pieces which resonate with the themes.

There will be an opportunity for open discussion about various perspectives, including questions such as:

– Why are stories of individuals so important for retelling and understanding history?
– What do we gain by understanding our history through the lens of migration?
– How did colonialism affect migration, and what does it mean for Black history?
– Are the migratory roots of historical figures often overlooked or kept hidden?
– What do the stories from the project tell us about migration and human rights?

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In memory of Viraj Mendis

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Lifelong human rights activist Viraj Mendis sadly passed away on 16th August 2024, his critical perspectives and tireless praxis relating to systemic inequalities and the deep rooted power bases which drive them will be missed. All who knew him will remember his heartfelt humanity for those fleeing persecution and at the brutal end of the worst inequalities across the world, in particular in Sri Lanka.

Funeral of Viraj Mendis
Funeral of Viraj Mendis in Bremen, Germany on 31st August 2024

While there is much written about his anti-deportation campaign in the UK there is much less about his wider work both at that time and in Bremen where he has lived since leaving the UK, in particular with https://humanrights.de . Perhaps the most overlooked aspect of Viraj’s deportation is that Sri Lanka was deemed safe by the UK government at that time, yet years later as a result of investigative reporting by journalists of the highest calibre it became evident to the world that this was plainly untrue, and that the Tamil population were in fact subjected to sustained attacks, murders and intimidation. Worth also reading the funeral tribute in the Tamil Guardian at https://www.tamilguardian.com/content/friend-colleague-and-supporter-tamil-eelam-struggle-viraj-mendis-laid-rest .

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Migration Stories Exhibition

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A history of migration in and out of North West England told through 100 stories from Roman times to the present day – the Migration Stories North West pop-up exhibition.

PREVIEW AND LAUNCH: 4pm – 7pm, Wednesday 2nd October 2024, with speakers from the project and light refreshments.

Exhibition on show Thursday 3rd October to Friday 8th November 2024
at Manchester Histories Hub, lower ground floor, Manchester Central Library, St Peter’s Square, Manchester M2 5PD

Explore the region’s long history of migration and ways in which it has shaped and continues to shape our social landscape. Browse the stories of individual women, men and children arriving in and leaving the North West from and to other parts of the British Isles and other parts of the world. Find out how their journeys were driven by conflict, colonialism and trade, as well as in search of work, educational opportunities or a better life.

Image for the Migration Stories Exhibition

This ‘pop-up’ exhibition includes an interactive screen through which to browse the stories, and is touring across the North West of England. At this showing in Manchester Central Library there will also be a display about the Greater Manchester section of the project, including a set of panels illustrating the set of stories produced by the volunteer researchers from Year 1 of the project and an additional panel by pupils and staff from The Derby High School in Bury dedicated to the stories which they researched.

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Powerhouse Portraits Exhibition Launch

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Powerhouse Portraits Exhibition: Preview and Magazine Launch

A vivid reflection of people and locality through photography and text
Saturday 29 July 2-4pm

+ IAN JOHNS: retrospective showcase from 40 years photographing Moss Side

a Segment Arts project in partnership with Powerhouse and Crossing Footprints

Incl. poetry by Nasima Bee (Young Identity) and special guest local peace activist Professor Erinma Bell MBE DL JP.

Additional speakers from the Moss Side community: writer Deanne Heron, artist Ian Johns and photographer Dorothy Ennis Hand. At Powerhouse, 140 Raby St, Moss Side, Manchester M14 4SL with refreshments, snacks, speakers and musical ambience.

The Powerhouse Portraits Exhibition continues to 31st October

Photo taken during a workshop for the Powerhouse Portraits Exhibition
Photo taken during a workshop for the Powerhouse Portraits Exhibition

Local people have come together at Powerhouse to portray some of the people and places around Moss Side and nearby that are familiar to them. Three sets of workshops with different ages from 8 to 80 years ran for a period of just six weeks, all groups developing skills in photography using disposable cameras and in creative writing. The participants also developed skills in layout and design, the magazine will reflect the approaches the groups took during the project. Beginning on 22nd May the workshops took place at Powerhouse Community Centre and Library, everyone’s work will be represented in the exhibition and publication.

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POWERHOUSE PORTRAITS PROJECT

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Workshops in photography, writing and magazine making to create a community portrait of Moss Side – that’s Powerhouse Portraits!

Powerhouse Portraits - flyer front

Crossing Footprints are proud to be partners in developing and producing Powerhouse Portraits. Anyone local can join the Powerhouse Portraits Project and be part of a group creating a community portrait of and around Moss Side, have your work featured in a vibrant magazine and exhibition, also create your own photo album to take home. A set of 6 free workshops for young people aged from 13 years up to 18 years or so, living around or near the Moss Side area. Beginning on 23rd May the workshops take place every Tuesday 5pm-7pm at Powerhouse Community Centre and Library, 140 Raby Street, Moss Side M14 4SL.

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Migration Stories interactive digital map – online launch

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A groundbreaking new website documenting migration
in and out of the North West of England is to be
officially launched online on 5 December.

Image representing four Manchester stories which will be on the Migration Stories interactive digital map

Join the #MigrationStories NW project teams for the online launch of the Migration Stories interactive digital map, documenting stories of individuals who have migrated in and out of our region from the Roman period to the 20th century. Hear from those involved in the project about what they discovered during their research and be among the first to get a glimpse of the map on the project website.

Monday 5th December 6.30-8pm.

Booking required at:
https://Migration-Stories-Digital-Map-Launch.eventbrite.co.uk

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Finalist for the Manchester Culture Awards

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Kooj Chuhan & Crossing Footprints: culture arts and climate justice work in Manchester 2022

A quick snapshot of work by Kooj Chuhan and Crossing Footprints showing brief excerpts of five creative projects dealing with climate justice. These were highlighted in Kooj’s nomination by Community Arts North West for the #ManchesterCultureAwards 2022 (sustainability category). Featuring collaborations with Manchester Art Gallery , Amani Creatives , Emmanuela Yogolelo, Manchester Histories and Ayna Arts.

Now Kooj is a finalist for the Manchester Culture Awards. Results are to be announced at the awards ceremony 24th Nov 2022.

Bangladesh Independence with Climate Connections

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Oldham Libraries and Crossing Footprints present an event which celebrates the final victory day for Bangladesh Independence along with a Climate Connections Women’s Group cultural presentation.

Bangladesh Independence Victory Day Celebration

বাংলাদেশের ৫১তম বিজয় দিবস উদযাপন

Artists for Bangladesh Independence with Climate Connections

featuring a programme by Ayna Arts and Climate Connections Women’s Group

জলবায়ু সংযোগ মহিলা গ্রুপ

at Northmoor Library, Wednesday 7th December 2022 4.30-6.30pm

With music and songs by Nuruzzaman Ahmed, Mitra Kabir and Luthfur Rahman

Discussion, poetry and drama by Ayna Arts

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