Blame & Belonging – Radicalisation

"Explores hate and radicalisation and the impact on individuals and society."

For more information about our workshop programme

Workshop

Blame & Belonging is an interactive forum theatre performance and workshop using professional actors and specialist facilitators to explore key issues around radicalisation.

This particular performance focuses on the adult influencer, female radicalisation and Islamophobia. It explores people inspired by the extreme ‘far right’ and also Daesh or I.S.

* Odd Arts is an alumni of the US Embassy Exchange on Countering Violent Extremism, and continues to deliver Embassy commissioned work. We were commissioned to present live at EU Parliament’s International conference on preventing extremism and have been contributors for RAN presentations (Radicalisation Awareness Network) as well as many more local and national networks. We have vast experience in wider issues relating more broadly to risk of radicalisation, including: Additional Needs; Domestic/partner abuse; Sexual assault & consent; Knife crime; Exploitation & Mental Health.

All our radicalisation prevention offers have two or three delivery models to ensure they are safe, accessible and appropriate for people within more complex settings such as PRUs, SEN schools, criminal justice or mental health settings, or for people with lived experience of trauma or increased vulnerability.

Aims

Increased understanding of the process and meaning of radicalisation

Increased understanding of the vulnerabilities, triggers and warning signs associated with radicalisation

Improved critical thinking skills

Improved communication skills including how to hold challenging conversations around hate and extremism

Safe space to explore hate and radicalisation and the impact on individuals and society

Reduce hate and risk of radicalisation, and increase community cohesion

Logistics

The workshop is 60 to 90 minutes long and can be repeated up to 5 times per day

This workshop is suitable for year 9’s upward and adult audiences

This workshop can be delivered as part of a longer-term project responding to the themes in the performance

Costs

Costs depend on:

Additional / specific requirements of partner

Location/travel/accommodation needs

Evaluation depth / requirements

Number of preparatory meetings required

Requests for additional staff

Number of actors

Between £650 to £1,100 per half day and £880 and £1,600 per full day. All costs include lead facilitators, actors and evaluation.

For our other workshop on radicalisation please see Isolation to Radicalisation.

The workshop involves interactive debate and discussion exercises and engagement with the actors in performance in order to search for solutions.

There is a post-performance discussion to explore triggers, warning signs and vulnerabilities and signposting to available support services. Blame and Belonging was been selected to present at the EU Parliamentary Chairmanship in Helsinki, to share best practice on ‘Preventing Violent Extremism’ (2019) and featured in the Huffington Post The Workshop Teaching Children About Radicalisation.

Blame and Belonging has been shortlisted for the Spirit of Manchester Equalities Award 2018/19.

Quotes from Workshops

”I want to join debating club.”
”Speak to people. Talk to someone.”
”Understanding that people have problems like me.”
”It will help me overcome any racism.”
”The workshop improved my knowledge I have on the subject and made me feel as if I should help people and listen to everyone's opinions and think all of us are equal and responsible for one another.”
”More willing to tackle such sensitive issues.”
”To challenge and support and be aware of my own views.”
”Non judgemental approach to oppositional views.”
”The performance was the best thing because it was fun & it helped me understand, and we could say our feelings.”
“I would 100% recommend this performance for students. This is a huge issue that our city faces every day and this show opens up the discussion for our young people to be able to have a voice, speak their mind and know that it is ok to talk about extremism and radicalisation. If we work together as a society then we can prevent extremism and this has to start with talking about it and not being afraid; Odd Arts encourages this through performance and for us, this is invaluable.”

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