Deep In The Frozen Night: play in aid of Pakistan Earthquake Appeal.

'Deep In The Frozen Night' A compelling new drama based on the Pakistan earthquake, staged in Nottingham at the Theatre Royal – and will raise money for victims of the disaster.

Local Asian theatre company Mona Media, in partnership with The Lord Mayor’s Earthquake Appeal presented an exclusive performance of ‘Deep in the Frozen Night’ at the Theatre Royal.

All proceeds from Mona Media’s play will help to boost the fund set up last year by Lord Mayor of Nottingham Councillor Mohammed Munir, who is now Deputy Lord Mayor. Currently topping £70,000, the fund target is £150,000 to help earthquake victims rebuild their lives.

Councillor Munir said: “This is an important play I would urge people to go and see – not only to help boost funds for earthquake victims, but because it presents the issue from an interesting perspective which makes it very real and personal. It reminds us of the human tragedy and provokes us to act, which is what my Appeal is all about.”

The play, produced by local talent, is inspired by and dedicated to the millions of victims of last October’s devastating earthquake. It centres around Shani, a 17-year old from Sneinton who finds herself in the middle of a turf battle and is catapulted from obscure teenager to potential urban queen. To secure this title and defend her patch Shani must travel far but Shani is soon embroiled in a very different kind of turf war as her life becomes linked with virtual strangers in a refugee campsite somewhere in remote Kashmir. Funny and witty, this is a heart rending tale of four women’s journey to the truth.

Mark Nightingale, a drama practitioner, said: ‘Ultimately this is a story about the human spirit. I came away uplifted. I know I will wait a few more years before I see anything as fresh and instinctive again.”’

Syed Ali from Mona Media says: ‘The play offers a cultural window into an entirely different world but one that is populated by real people dealing with real issues; loss, social status, territorialism, faith, which is why it is a play for everyone’.

Mona Media strongly feel that the themes are highly appropriate to both key stages three and four and can complement PSHE programmes and citizenship education in schools. To support this, Mona Media are offering schools a creative educational project, which aims to regenerate cultural identity, self esteem, promote cross-cultural awareness and understanding both within Nottingham as well as outer estates.

Story Synopsis:
The story revolves around a British teenager - Shani; a ‘chav’ a ‘nobody’ from Sneinton desperate to earn herself a bit of street cred, who finds herself in the middle of a ridiculous turf war with deadly consequences. Shani must get out fast – Pakistan, ‘home of da ancestors’ seems like the only option open to her and she might even be able to get her hands on some ‘stuff innit…’ allowing her come back a ‘proper’ urban queen. In Pakistan Shani soon finds herself caught up in a very different kind of turf war. Set in the aftermath of the earthquake the play follows Shani to a refugee campsite somewhere in remote Kashmir where she meets three quirky, dispossessed women. Funny and sad this is the story of four women’s journey to the truth.

The Deep Press Release PDF
 http://www.deepfrozen.org.uk/images/a/a3/DeepPressRelease.pdf

 http://www.deepfrozen.org.uk
 mona_media@yahoo.co.uk

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ALAN LODGE
Photographer - Media: One Eye on the Road. Nottingham. UK
Email:  tash@gn.apc.org
Web:  http://tash.gn.apc.org
Member of the National Union of Journalists [No: 014345]
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"It is not enough to curse the darkness.
It is also necessary to light a lamp!!"
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