Can You Hear Me Now

Can You Hear Me Now is an intercultural live performance experienced in Bristol (UK), Kampala (Uganda) and Kigali (Rwanda) simultaneously, commissioned by MAYK and led by artist Caroline Williams.

Can you imagine if Theresa May had denied Britain access to Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp during the recent election? What would Bristol feel like if only 19% of its residents had access to the internet? A Ugandan teenager living in Kamapla would be able to tell you exactly how those things feel.

Using digital technology to link remote performance spaces, teenage casts in Bristol, Kampala and Kigali will work together to explore their relationship with digital technology – does the internet do what we need it to do?

Together with artist Caroline Williams, teenagers in three cities will see if they can make their rehearsals and final performances meet. In a world of pixels and screens, what gets shared and what gets lost?

MAYK are partnering with Ubumuntu Festival in Kigali and Theatre Factory in Kampala to commission one artist in each country to work together to create a new live performance that explores the lived experience of young people in these very different cities. The commissioned work will use digital technology to link performance spaces and audiences.

Ubumuntu Festival is led by Hope Azeda, a major figure in contemporary Rwandan theatre, and is held annually following the last week of the 100 days commemoration of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi. It is held at the outdoor amphitheater of the Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre and brings different artists from around the world to convene in Kigali Rwanda.

Theatre Factory is led by Philip Luswata and is one of Uganda's leading theatre and film producing companies.

Can You Hear Me Now? is a new Arts new Audiences (nAnA) grantee through the 'British Council’s East Africa Arts' programme.

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