The Colour of Britain - ACE273.5

Paul Gilroy talking about how notions of cultural diversity, etc., are actually about concepts like cultural hierarchy and value. The Caucasian Chalk Circle. Gilroy on how external cultures reach in and affect what is inside. Shobana Gulati, Performer, dancing. Gulati on how the young performers from India or Britain she’s worked with don’t have any problem with their roots. Gulati performing. Gulati saying that "identity" was the last thing on their minds, the "cultural resource" is what’s important. Gulati performing. Vincent Ebrahim, Actor, on Tara being successful because it breaks moulds, shows what it means for one culture to come into contact with another. The Caucasian Chalk Circle. Verma on how views of culture are changing from that of the point of the white Anglo-Saxon male. Tower Bridge with Indian paintings superimposed. Verma VO continues. The Caucasian Chalk Circle in rehearsal; Verma VO continues about redefining classics. Rehearsal. VO talks about mixed critical reception of Verma’s 1990 production of Molière’s Tartuffe. Verma at rehearsal. Verma describing the "enormous irony around Brecht" which is that his techniques were the result of his encounters with Asian theatre but that British and other European productions don’t recognise this influence. The Caucasian Chalk Circle. Shelley King on role stereotyping of Asian actors in mainstream theatre.