Monthly Archives: September 2019

Staff member’s role in ‘best Edinburgh Fringe show

Lecturer in Philosophy Dr Graeme A. Forbes has supported theatre company Theatre Re by acting as philosophy consultant for their recent production of BIRTH, which has been named Best Theatre Show of the Edinburgh Fringe by Theatre Weekly. The publication described the show as “one of the most beautiful and accomplished pieces of theatre to be staged at the Fringe”.

BIRTH is the story of Sue, Katherine and Emily, three generations of women from the same family whose lives are part of an invisible web they help to weave. It traces their journey of self-discovery, acceptance and hope. In staging the production, the company explored the idea of secrets in families, unearthing the parallels between our own lives and the lives of our parents and grandparents, and engaged with women and families who have experienced pregnancy loss. The collaboration with Graeme allowed the cast to explore questions such as ‘what is being passed down from one generation to the next’ and ‘when does memory begin’?

‘Pregnancy loss is experienced by a great number of women. What the parents go through is rarely discussed and often considered taboo. It is part of the realm of the ‘unspoken’, or the ‘unvoiced’. It is buried.’ describes Theatre Re’s website.

‘It was a privilege to work with this exceptional creative team,’ said Graeme; ‘I’m incredibly glad I had the opportunity to work with them. It was immensely rewarding to see how our conversations — about the passage of time, and how even when we repeat a pattern each moment in our lives is specific to us — got woven into the show. I’m so pleased that all their hard work has been recognised, and I’m sure they will have a very successful tour.’

Japanese students share their culture at Kent

Students from three Japanese universities taught Japanese crafts to students, staff and local residents at the annual Japan Festival in August, hosted by the Centre for English and World Languages (CEWL).

Japan Festival was a wonderful opportunity for the students from Kobe Women’s University, Kogakkan University in Ise and Musashino University in Tokyo, who had come to Kent to improve their English language and learn about British Culture, to practise their English and give local people a chance to experience Japanese culture.

The evening began with some of the students introducing their home universities, which gave them the opportunity to practise public speaking in English. The Kobe students performed a traditional dance, encouraging the audience to join in the fun.

Everyone then had a chance to learn origami, calligraphy and to practise using chopsticks in the Japanese style.

Natsuki Okuno , who accompanied the students from Kobe Women’s University, said: “I think Japan Festival was a great opportunity for my students to use English and meet a variety of people. They really enjoyed talking with them. Also, it was an opportunity for them to know more about their culture and [I was] proud of them. They were happy to know that so many people were interested in Japan.”

While they were at Kent, the students worked hard to improve their English and their teachers were very impressed with their efforts and enthusiasm. As well as working on their English, the students went on excursions, including Canterbury Cathedral, Leeds Castle, Dover Castle, Broadstairs, Whitstable and London to give them a taste of British culture and history.

We have created a warm and lasting relationship with the Japanese universities who visit Kent for short courses at CEWL each summer and we very much look forward to working with them back in future.

Nostalgia interview with Janet Neilson

In the latest episode of the Nostalgia podcast series, Chris Deacy, Reader in Theology and Religious Studies, interviews Janet Neilson, a former teacher in Swansea, who talks about her educational background and the differences in career advice given in those days compared to today.

Janet talks about the days when married women were not allowed to teach; why she became a junior school teacher; her thoughts on the National Curriculum; not having a TV before 1962; singing in the Swansea Philharmonic Choir; having a grammar school education; studying Religious Studies as a mature and disabled student; being bullied on her first day at school; the taboo around calling teachers by their first names; why as a teacher she was ‘strict, firm and fair’; and her fascination with genealogies.

The next interview will be with our own Professor Jeremy Carrette, Professor of Philosophy, Religion and Culture and the University’s Dean for Europe.

Alvise Sforza Tarabochia on alienation, languages and Brexit

Dr Alvise Sforza Tarabochia, Head of the Department of Modern Languages, was interviewed on the Italian regional TV channel Telequattro on Monday 26 August, as part of the ‘Trieste in Diretta’ programme.

Alvise spoke about his my new edited book, The Years of Alienation (Palgrave, 2019) as well as about modern languages, and living as a foreigner in pre-Brexit Britain.

In discussing alienation, the interviewer asked about the features of architecture favouring alienation. Alvise responded: “The wall, the wall is the architectural symbol of any alienation, any separation, any marginalisation.” This was in reference to a recent proposal by the governor of the Trieste region to build a wall between Italy and Slovenia to address perceived issues of migration from Slovenia into Italy.

A recording of the interview (in Italian) is available online. Alvise appears at approx. 33:45.