"They get free mobiles . . . don’t they?" is a documentary theatre production from Birmingham-based Banner Theatre, which sets out to bust some of the media-generated myths about refugees and asylum seekers.

This live multimedia show, combining music, song, video, film and theatre, speaks for Britain’s newest arrivals as they dodge borders, bullets and bureaucracy in their quest for safety and security from war-torn lands in Africa and the Middle East. It tells the human stories of people in the wrong place at the wrong time, and cuts through the myths, lies and prejudice surrounding the search for sanctuary in England’s green but sometimes not so pleasant land.

But "They get free mobiles . . . don’t they?" also shows how our lives here in the UK are integrally connected to those of refugees from impoverished third world countries and exposes the big business interests that profit from the exploitation of children and slave labourers, particularly in the mining and production of tantalum – a key element in our mobile phones.

"They get free mobiles . . . don’t they?" interweaves a rich tapestry of musical styles – from rock, rap and reggae to blues, folk and jazz – to highlight the real-life experiences of people caught up in the whirlwind of the twenty-first century.
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“The mix of media, music and performance was superb! Something I will remember for a long time” – Connexions Nottingham

“Made my skin tingle and sent shivers down my spine” – University of Sussex
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Banner is a touring company specialising in music and song-based documentary theatre. Each Banner production uses the real-life experiences of disadvantaged or excluded groups, and stories that are rarely heard, collected through video and audio interviews.

Banner's video-ballad productions interweave video interviews, archive film footage and other graphic and photographic material with live performance, and feature a strong emphasis on music and song. Stories and songs are woven together to produce powerful, hard-hitting and moving theatre, and the company's performing team of Jilah Bakhshayesh, Dave Rogers, Tshepe Mukeba and Gaylan Nazhad combines the musical traditions of four continents - Africa, Asia, America and Europe. Reggae, rock, folk, jazz and Middle Eastern musical styles are intertwined to produce a rich and diverse musical experience.

More information about "They get free mobiles . . . don’t they?" is available from Banner Theatre on 0845 458 1909 (email: info@bannertheatre.co.uk), from Ian Gasse on 01743 357551 or from Banner's artistic director Dave Rogers on 0121 682 0730.

Newspaper review from performance on 12 March 08

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Notes to editors:
Banner Theatre was formed in 1974 by a group of performers, musicians and broadcasters, including former BBC documentary producer Charles Parker, who, with Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger, created the pioneering and award-winning series of radio ballads for the BBC in the 1960s.

Since March 2007 Birmingham-based Banner Theatre has been touring Strangers in Paradise Circus, a video ballad production about asylum seekers in Birmingham which forms the basis of "They get free mobiles . . . don’t they?" The current tour schedule is available at www.bannertheatre.co.uk/touring

A songbook/history, Singing the Changes (price £15 plus £3 p&p) and a CD, Wild Geese, (price £12 plus £2 p&p) with songs from previous productions, are both available. For more information about them and about the company ring 0845 458 1909, email info@bannertheatre.co.uk or visit www.bannertheatre.co.uk

Banner Theatre gratefully acknowledges financial support from the Arts Council of England, the Aspire Partnership, the Baring Foundation, Birmingham City Council, the European Social Fund, the Lloyds TSB Foundation for England and Wales, the Professional Footballers Association, the PRS Foundation and the Woodward Charitable Trust.

Banner Theatre's "They get free mobiles . . . don’t they?" tour features Deborah Aston (stage manager), Jilah Bakhshayesh (musician/performer), Pam Bishop (tour organiser), Dave Butler (administration), Charlie Davis (technical manager), Ian Gasse (project management), Tshepe Mukeba (musician/performer), Gaylan Nazhad (musician/performer), Dave Rogers (performer/ writer), Fred Wisdom (music direction) and Alice Wright (researcher). The show was devised under the direction of Don Bouzek of Ground Zero Productions, Edmonton, Canada and is directed by Stuart Brown of Long Journey Home, Nottingham.

Photographs are available for publicity purposes. Browse through the small images displayed at bannertheatre.co.uk/photos and let us know which you would like. We will then send the full size images by email along with conditions of use.