Moksha
By Ben
Moksha is a performing arts company that crosses disciplines, collaborating with artists across various fields to generate provocative new work.
The word “Moksha” comes from the Sanskrit, meaning release from the cycle of death and rebirth. In this context it suggests that, by changing patterns of thought and behaviour, art can break boundaries. (It also sounds nice.)
Moksha creates small to mid-scale work (both touring and site-specific) incorporating a range of skills, including spoken word/poetry, hip-hop, physical theatre and theatre of the oppressed. We also work with young people and diverse communities by means of a wide range of projects and workshops.
As a company, Moksha is founded upon an ethos of sustainability; socially, by forging long-lasting partnerships with individuals, communities and organisations; environmentally, by creating work that is as high-impact artistically as it is low-impact ecologically; and economically, by ensuring our work is always popular, entertaining and of such high quality that it will maintain its longevity.
Changing Cycles
In 2005 Ben took to the road on his bike, and spent the following three months exploring environmental issues across England, Scotland and Wales. Over the course of his adventure he visited eco-houses and centres, self-sufficient communities, power stations and protest sites, and as a result the Changing Cycles project was born.
Changing Cycles is an on-going project that explores the link between art and activism. Inspired by the work of such companies as Welfare State International , 7:84, Cardboard Citizens and PLATFORM, the project investigates how social and environmental change can be achieved through the arts. You can read a blog of the original journey (and some of the subsequent developments) here.
The first production under the Changing Cycles banner is the bicycle-powered solo show, Voices of Dissent. Future planned productions include a forum theatre play, a site-specific piece, a range of workshops and a theatrical bicycle journey to Jerusalem.
Voices of Dissent
Society is breaking down. The economy is collapsing. The forces of nature are threatening to wipe out humanity.
Tali doesn’t care. He’s just hungry.
But in the beginning Tali stole fire from the gods to give to mankind, and now the gods are forcing him to steal the fire back – or make humans use it more sustainably.
Voices of Dissent tells the story of Tali’s attempts to save himself by saving the world (or vice versa), and the characters he encounters on his quest – some who help and some who hinder.
The show is lit by the power of an on-stage bicycle, which, as it is a solo performance, requires some audience participation.
First developed as a work-in-progress at Contact during their At Home residency scheme, Voices of Dissent was subsequently developed into a full length piece at the same venue last year, with the support of Arts Council England. It is the first production in the Changing Cycles project. For bookings contact info@moksha-arts.org
“I was incredibly impressed”
Pollyanna Clayton-Stamm, Head Of Creative Programmes, Urbis
“I thought the style, language, theme and performance were all excellent”
Giles Haworth, Theatre Reviewer and author of A Year in the Theatre
“funny, scary, moving and thought-provoking. I just felt that everyone should see this”
Audience member, Brewery Arts Centre