Arming the World

When

Tuesday 12 September 2017 - Saturday 16 September 2017

00:00

Where

TBC
TBC, London

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#ArmingTheWorld is a performance project aiming to spread information about Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) to the general public in London. The project is a collaboration between Ice & Fire, Teatro Vivo and the designer takis.

Applied Arts in Bethnal Green are building us 4 bespoke costumes that will anthropomorphise four weapons; The Paveway Missile, The Tactica Armoured Car, CS Gas and The Eurofighter. These costumes/performers will form the centre of a larger performance intervention that will take to the streets in the week of the arms fair in areas around our partner’s buildings (w/c 11th September). The project is funded by Esme Fairbarin, Arts Council England as well as others.

The aim of the piece is to enter people’s daily lives, provoking new ways of thinking about the arms trade and its impact both here and abroad.

During the week of DSEI the ‘#ArmingTheWorld: Outreach Team’ will take to the streets to give an accessible, satirical, presentation on some of the products which are taking the world’s military-industrial complexes (and more than a few combatants and civilians) by storm.

From a Euro Fighter Typhoon Jet (as seen regularly in the ongoing conflict in Yemen), to a can of CS Spray (tear gas), the outreach team will be hitting five different destinations in central London to introduce the very best in British-made weapons via the world’s first Weapons Catwalk Show demonstrating to taxpaying audiences that with their help, ‘The sun never sets on the British arms trade’.

The weapons themselves (portrayed by highly trained actors in an incredible array of costumes) will describe how they have been made, how they are used and how they are traded. It’s hugely entertaining, educational and interactive with audience members encouraged to take a selfie with a fighter jet, Facebook Live Tear Gas or ‘Boomerang’ a missile to spread the word.

Prior to and during the performance week audiences can stay up-to-date with all the work taking place behind the scenes of #ArmingTheWorld by engaging with social media channels on Twitter: @ArmingTheWorld, Instagram: ArmingTheWorld and Facebook: @ArmingTheWorld.