BBC - Singers - The Ballad of Bethnal Green

4th May 2004
Oxford House, Bethnal Green

In December 2003, local writers Mohamed Yusof Mire and Dominic Rai ran creative writing workshops in Bethnal Green schools to create the libretto for a new BBC commission - 'The Ballad of Bethnal Green'. This commission was written specifically about Bethnal Green, and looked at the history of the area, as well as celebrating the different seasons and festivals of the year.

'The Ballad of Bethnal Green' is celebratory, all encompassing and accessible to everyone, and was scored by composer Kim Porter. Choral animateurs rehearsed the finished piece in 6 schools in the Bethnal Green area (over 40 rehearsals), in preparation for the premiere on May 4th 2004 at Oxford House (when over 250 young people from the area joined forces with the BBC Singers).

The entire rehearsal process also allowed teachers at each school to develop key skills in developing and running school choirs after the project had finished. The schools involved in this project were given the experience of working as a choir. They were able to develop their singing technique in terms of breathing, harmony work and repertoire. They were also able to develop communication skills, and the ability to work together with a diverse group of people. Perhaps the most important element of their learning was to realize that singing is fun and everyone can be part of a choir!

Visual artists were also involved in the project, and worked with each school to create an art installation which reflected the identity and diversity of people living in Bethnal Green in 2004. This installation was called 'What am I like?' and was displayed in the foyer at Oxford House. On October 22nd 2004, a community concert in Bethnal Green at Swanlea School was held as a follow up performance for all project participants and local people in Bethnal Green. This celebrated and underlined the partnership between the two organizations (BBC, Oxford House) and the community.