sustained theatre

Sarah Sayeed provides insight to her work in Australia project and within the UK Sector

Part of a new project that was led and developed by Jonzi D, Sarah Sayeed was an integral part of the 'East London meets West Sydney' (ELWS) project that was performed to an invited audience as part of the JonziD productions British Council and the Information Cultural Exchange, Parramatta, Australia.

‘Jonzi D selected people based on skills and cross over of the new language of theatre a performance/lyrical crossover from artists based in South London.We were joined by another UK artist Maxwell Golden, a London based MC performance artist whose just worked with JonziD on ‘Markus the Sadist' tour featuring the music of Soweto Kinch and starred Bashy.’

Australian artists who participated in the month long project included Sista Native, BrotheBlack, Omar Musa and MC Trey, Australia's leading MC performer.

God Is A Woman' is the piece that I wrote in Australia is really a comment on misogyny, using humour to challenge the male character’s self obsession.Her character Yaseen challenges ‘Aussie lad Robbo’ as he walks into the hair salon in which she works. Her extended rap raises her status within the scene, as she comes out victorious. She questions the ideas of male doctrine within the piece.

'When Jonzi D was asked why he chose Sarah Sayeed for the ELWS , he responded ‘Purely for her Skill'.

“I look around me and I am often the only British Asian female lyricist/mc crossing both music and the theatre performance sector. It is a unique position to occupy, but it has driven me quite forcefully at times to make my work. I have spent a lot of my career on the outside looking in, working and focusing on my craft to reach a place now where the recognition has come. As I promised myself when I started in 2001, the key is to focus on craft’’

'Black IS…' released this year is an expression of that British Asian identity, about that possible meeting place where the underground may or may not meet the mainstream. I wrote this piece when I returned from Lychee Lounge in 2002 (multi arts festival branded by Sarah) and produced initially by Arun Ghosh.

Black IS… is definitely a SARAH SAYEED statement tune, I was inspired by the Black Panther movement at the time and really into Afrocentric ideology. My next few releases are going to move in another direction both lyrically and musically, taking more soul and jazz influence, and moving away from pure lyricism, into a space where words will not have to do all of the talking.

'The visibility of the British South Asian experience in this country is still low.' In terms of the British Asian theatre sector, we do have some really interesting work being made, but unfortunately our presence is still minimal within mainstream theatre. Especially when we delve into contemporary cross artform performance. Riz MC 'Microscope' was one of the best multimedia music performance pieces I have seen this year. It stands alone in ‘new theatre’ or ‘contemporary theatre’ rather than the ‘British Asian Theatre sector’ which I think is a much better place for exciting work to be, without grouping and the cultural diversity banner being waved around it.

'The misfortune will be that as British South Asians we find that in twenty years, there is a real gap in the archive of our stories and history in the UK. Historically in this country, the African Caribbean community have produced theatre throughout the UK’s venues. I personally do not think we have the same breadth of stories beong told. I think it will be a real shame if we find that in 20 years we do not have the same body of work to reference.'

'Theatre is a reflection of society and its values. There are a thousand unique experiences out there right now in South Asian communities, issues around religion, identity, gender, nationality, post independence, cross cultural relationships, marriage, and daily domestic issues.'

'I mean, where are these stories? I look through mainstream venue programming and the visibility is still low, almost still non existent. Theatre allows a unique experience to explore narrative which sometimes music alone cannot do.

''Sister Elements' is my new record label and production company. In 2010 you will see new theatre and music performance in some of the major venues, with a live small scale UK tour of my new set with a full 7 piece band. Its an exciting time for me.'

'One key project is The Elements Festival. A bold, ambitious project, pioneering in its delivery of sector work.'

‘My focus is on collaboration, new ways of making music, emerging female mcs and lyricists in both the music industry and arts sector, and going back to this idea of negotiating the business side of music in an entrepreneurial way. They are ways of working and thinking that I have picked up over the last few years”

Sarah Sayeed continues to inspire ideas through her work, both as an established musician and artist. As a leading producer of cutting edge art, she reflects the dichotomies of the British experience, the British Asian experience and the possibilities of women in the music and creative industries.'

Thanks to Sarah Sayeed, Jonzi D and everyone who made this article possible.