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The Royal Shakespeare Company and Birmingham-based sampad South Asian Arts are collaborating for the first time for an inspirational education and performance project, Tribes.
 
Tribes teams up young people from across Birmingham with professional storytellers, dramatists, dancers and musicians. The aim of the project is to share the intercultural heritage of India, the Caribbean and the UK found in today's cities and explore common themes of identity found in Shakespeare's plays. Participants will get the chance to create their own performance piece through a series of workshops, and present it at professional venues in Birmingham and Stratford in August.

Artists from both sampad and the RSC are currently leading taster sessions in schools and youth groups in Birmingham. Interested young people will then join the workshops taking part at the end of July. 
 
The project is inspired by sampad's new dance-theatre production, Motherland, which marks the 200th anniversary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act, touring the UK in autumn 2007. Motherland uses art forms from Africa, the Caribbean and South Asia in homage to the cultures affected by the Slave Trade.
 
The programme also encompasses the RSC's current season of History Plays, whose themes of nationhood and identity complement the twenty-first century multi-culturalism reflected in Motherland. The conflicting loyalties of the Shakespearean royal courts reflect the multiple, almost tribal identities experienced by many South Asian and Caribbean young people as they move between school, friends and home, 21st century urban culture and traditional family and religious values. Tribes participants will have the opportunity to attend an RSC production as part of the project.
 
Piali Ray OBE, Director of  sampad said: "This is an exciting arts project and collaboration between sampad and the RSC. Tribes not only brings together stimulating art-forms and engages young people, but also explores how societal boundaries have shifted over time, yet observes how cultures of the past resemble modern society."
 
The workshops will take place from Monday 23 to Tuesday 31 July from 10am to 4pm at mac in Birmingham. They are open to all 14-18 year olds, free of charge. If you'd like more information on how to take part, contact Parminder Naga at sampad on 0121 446 4312.
 
Performances take place on 1 August at mac and on 2 August at The Dell, Stratford-upon-Avon.
 
For further information about Tribes please contact Helen Stallard at sampad on 0121 446 4312 or helen.stallard@sampad.org.uk or Nada Zakula in the RSC press office on 01789 412622 or nada.zakula@rsc.org.uk or
 
www.sampad.org.uk