Iraq tour beckons for Rossendale theatre company

2:40pm Wednesday 5th November 2008

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AN East Lancashire theatre company is in Iraq meeting with the local government about touring in the war-torn country.

Helen Jackson, chief executive of the Horse and Bamboo Theatre, Waterfoot, is currently in the Kurdish region in the north of Iraq having discussions with the Minister of Culture about the possibility of touring their highly-acclaimed production of Veil in the Middle East.

Associate director Alison Duddle said: “Helen has been in touch and has informed us that she received the most terrific welcome.

“They are very keen on us bringing the performance to Iraq and the directors over there are interested on learning our methods of visual performance.”

Helen arrived in Erbil on Sunday and will be heading to Suleimaniah later on today.

She said the Kurdish region is a relatively stable part of Iraq .

Helen is accompanied by an interpreter for the duration of her trip.

Speaking before her departure, she said: “This is a great opportunity for Horse and Bamboo to develop artistic links with the Kurdish part of Iraq.

“We hope to collaborate with Kurdish artists and to take our own shows there on tour.

“As a visual theatre company, our work transcends the barriers of spoken language.”

Veil is a tale of two women, separated at birth but reunited later in life.

The piece is all set against the backdrop of present-day and colonial Iraq.

Masks and puppets are used in the production.

Alison said: “The thought of going to the location in which the performance is set is very exciting.

“Helen has told us that they are extremely keen to work with our company and have asked if we could run workshops with them.”

Many Horse and Bamboo fans rate Veil as one of the best shows the company has toured.

Veil, which was created for Horse and Bamboo’s 30th year of touring theatre, was written to deepen the understanding about the relationship between the Islamic world and the west.

After a well-received UK tour in August 2007, the company toured a performance of Veil again in 2008.

Helen is due to arrive back on home soil on Tuesday.