Shubbak Festival comes to Brent

REST, PLAY, FEAST – LAMA AMINE, TATREEZ COLLECTIVE & FRIENDS

Part of Shubbak festival, this is a holistic day focused on nourishing the body, the heart and the soul. No matter what your walk of life, you are invited to join in this free day of events.

To give parents some well-deserved rest, there will be children’s workshops and a play-space with a licensed childcare provider, as well as first aid trained volunteers and facilitators.

So, you can put your mind at ease and enjoy the schedule of activities below.

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line up

11:00am – 1pm  – Movement workshop

Let yourself be guided back to the wisdom of your body in a movement workshop by Lama Amine. Move from Your Soul is a somatic release session. It focuses on visualisation exercises to connect to yourself and harness rootedness in the present moment. This is a safe space. No previous experience necessary, all movement ranges, abilities and bodies are welcome. Wear comfortable clothing. 

Lama Amine is the Head of Arts at Seenaryo.

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12:30 – 2:30pm – Embroidery Circle

Join Tatreez Collective in a Palestinian embroidery circle. Learn the art of cross-stitch from women who have inherited the intergenerational practice and teach it to communities as their act of resistance. Have coffee, relax, and be in community.

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10:45am – 1pm – Kids Activities

Child’s Play: Whilst you take part in the movement and embroidery workshops, your kids can join in with activities bringing together storytelling and interactive free play. 

Suitable for 2 – 10 years old. Older children will have additional activities.

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1 – 2:30pm – Music Workshop

Music-making workshop led by the wondrous Syrian musician Rama Alcoutlabi and the multi-instrumentalist Mario Christofi. Children will spend the afternoon singing, learning and playing with all kinds of Arabic instruments! 

Suitable for 2 – 10 years old.

EXTRA!

At the end of the day, the groups will gather with the rest of the audience, Together they will use their new skills in a shared jam session. Everyone will be encouraged all to sing, play and dance. 

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2:30 – 4pm – Food & Relaxing

Feast and music: After a day of workshops, join a free feast of food and ideas.  Chill to a backdrop of soothing live music.

Mario and Rama will play music from the Levant, with additional songs from Greece, Turkey, Cyprus and Iran. They promote the blurring of borders and incorporate the stories of the songs, cultures and people from which the music originates. 

Mario will be playing a variety of instruments and Rama will be singing and playing percussion. 

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About

This day of nourishment and regeneration is suitable and free for all.

We particularly welcome women and non-binary people from the Global Majority. We are also welcoming of anyone who is experiencing socio-economic barriers or other forms of marginalisation. 

Shubbak Festival is the UK’s largest biennial festival of contemporary Arab culture, bringing new and unexpected voices alongside established artists to London every two years. The festival returns with its seventh edition this summer, from 23 June – 9 July 2023.

Explore the 2023 Festival Guide

Presented in collaboration with Shubbak. Generously supported by Arts Council England and Hammersmith United Charities.

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