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Kesho Amahoro

Set in a Rwandese refugee camp in northern Tanzania in 1994, Kesho Amahoro tells the true story of Esperance and her siblings and celebrates the triumph of the human spirit.

Website

PREMIERE PARTY !!!

Premiere Party Invitation
File Size: 135 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

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The Kesho Amahoro youth music theatre project involved 63 children from Downs Junior School and 35 children from Braeburn School, Nairobi, Kenya. 

Together, with an orchestra of 20 people, aged 8+ and from 7 different countries, alongside an outstanding backstage team, they performed on the Rose Theatre stage in London 26-28 July 2013 as part of the International Youth Arts Festival. The performances received consecutive standing ovations.

4 Star Review on Broadway Baby

Read the Reviews & Reactions
File Size: 110 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

The Rwandan High Commissioner, HE Williams Nkurunziza, watched Kesho Amahoro on Saturday 27th July and was "moved to tears by the enchanting performance".

It was a truly memorable performance and experience. Thank you for your kind invitation @KeshoAmahoro http://t.co/xGhGOEZuQN

— RwandaHC-UK (@RwandaHCUK) July 30, 2013

For more reviews, photos and video clips, visit the 
Kesho Amahoro Facebook page.



KESHO AMAHORO - PEACE TOMORROW
written by Lizzie Jago - music & lyrics by Anna Rusbatch

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Kesho Amahoro is the youth stage musical that will make its UK debut at the International Youth Arts Festival in Kingston upon Thames in London in July 2013 with children from East Africa. The performances will take place at the Rose Theatre.

This piece will be performed by a combined cast of roughly 100 children from Brighton, UK and Nairobi, Kenya. Find out more, listen to the songs and download the lyrics at the official Kesho Amahoro website: www.keshoamahoro.com 


The project proposal and all other letters and forms are available to download (below) in case you were unable to attend the meetings. If you have any specific questions please contact Anna Rusbatch using the contact form. 


Press Release
File Size: 585 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Click here for the

july itinerary

Click here for the names of

CAST & CREW

Click here to see photos of 

nairobi rehearsals

IYAFestival Programme 2013


Archive Downloads: Letters and Forms (January - July 2013)

Proposal for Parents
File Size: 516 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Participate
File Size: 756 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Festival Guidelines
File Size: 652 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

January 2013 Update
File Size: 344 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

March 2013 Update
File Size: 20 kb
File Type: docx
Download File

April 2013 Update
File Size: 598 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

May 2013 Update
File Size: 408 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

May 2013 Poster
File Size: 340 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

PRESS RELEASE
File Size: 638 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Final Poster
File Size: 7493 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

June 2013 Update
File Size: 799 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

June Meeting Minutes
File Size: 182 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

July Reminders
File Size: 285 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Fact Sheet for All
File Size: 2334 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Documentary Permission
File Size: 98 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Rehearsals & Parties
File Size: 42 kb
File Type: doc
Download File


Kesho Amahoro

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IYAF

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Rose Theatre

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Press

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Funding

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PROPS

Thank you very much indeed to everyone who has volunteered their precious time and creative energy to help us with the creation of props. Here's how a few of them are looking at the moment (19th June):
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Kim, Beth and Annabel painting the face masks with white UV paint.
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Downs Junior School orchestra members experimenting with the UV masks.
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Annabel checking the UV sensitivity of the masks.
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Kate in the early stages of creating the head for one of the puppets.

COSTUMES

We would be very grateful if you could source your child's costume. Essentially, all of the clothes will need to look old and dirty and, in some cases, a little torn. Therefore, please do not provide your child with clothing that you would want them to wear again for a nice occasion!

They cannot wear anything with a slogan or a logo on e.g. a Nike tick. Plain clothes are ideal. We are trying to represent what Rwandan people wore in 1994. You can get an idea of what the cast wore on stage 3 years ago by watching the various Kesho Amahoro trailers on YouTube. 

Footwear - flat pumps, as plain as possible, no neon colours. No flip flops please as the children need to be able to run, skip, stamp and jump on stage. Plain coloured trainers would be ok IF they look VERY old and scuffed up and dirty.

Girls - medium/long length skirt with a blouse/shirt/t-shirt/vest OR a dress. Plain colours and floral patterns are fine. Alternatively, authentic East African patterns would be great, e.g. kanga. Girls would also be able to wear a headscarf if they wanted to. 

Boys - shorts or trousers. No tracksuit bottoms please. Jeans or old school trousers would be fine. Shirt/t-shirt/vest. 

T-SHIRTS

The Kenyan group are kindly planning to design and create t-shirts for the cast and crew of Kesho Amahoro. Please contact Miss Rusbatch with your child's size:

CHILD SIZES: SMALL or MEDIUM or LARGE
ADULT SIZES: SMALL or MEDIUM or LARGE or XLARGE or XXLARGE

PARENT MEETING - Wednesday 26th June 5pm in the Hall

If you are unable to come to this meeting then don't worry, I will email you the minutes. In the meantime, please don't hesitate to contact me via the contact page or via the school. 

KICKSTARTER - PLEASE PLEDGE

I am excited to announce that Kesho Amahoro is now an official, live project on KICKSTARTER (an online fundraising platform).

We really appreciate every single penny of your generously donated money. If you're unable to pledge then PLEASE support this project by helping us the spread the word.

A press release and the poster can be downloaded at the top of this page.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

Changed Accommodation Plans

The original plan was:
19 - 24 July = host families in Brighton
24-28 July = Kingston University Halls of Residence

The NEW plan is:
Downs Junior Group - stay at home in Brighton 19th - 28th July
Braeburn (Kenya) Group - stay with host families 19th - 24th July
Braeburn (Kenya) Group - stay in Kingston 24th July - 1st August (due to secured funding in Kenya)

Upcoming Weekend Kesho Amahoro Concerts

The following dates and information will be confirmed ASAP:

13th July - School Summer Fair in the Playground 

Attendance at this concert is optional but strongly encouraged as we need to raise a LOT of money and we need as much talent on display as possible. These performances will also serve as valuable experience singing in front of an audience.

Chaperones and Musicians

Thank you very much to all of the parents who have offered to
  • host a child from Kenya
  • chaperone in Kingston
  • play in the orchestra

I will soon be emailing or calling you individually to discuss allocation of children to host families in Brighton, CRB forms (to be completed by hosts and chaperones) and the rehearsal plans for the orchestra. 

One thing I can confirm is that I will be gratefully accepting all offers to chaperone and all offers to play in the orchestra. I cannot guarantee however, that all host families will receive a child from Kenya as I will be prioritising the homes who are able to accommodate two children from Kenya.

Can you help?

We still need MONEY and SUPPORT for the Kesho Amahoro Project. 
  • Coach transport between Brighton and Kingston
  • Filming the shows in Kingston to create a DVD
  • Designing and printing posters, flyers, programmes and t-shirts
  • Advertising and exposure - press/media
  • Entertainment options 20th and 21st July in Brighton for 90 children
  • Props e.g. NGO t-shirts, kerosene lamps, UNHCR sheeting
Please contact Miss Rusbatch ASAP if you or someone you know could assist in any way with this project.
THANK YOU.


Picture
Lizzie Jago & Anna Rusbatch
at the Rose Theatre 2012
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