Ken Sarow Wiwa, Nigeria 1995, who was persecuted because he opposed the devastation of Nigerian land and society by oil interests. He tells the court which sentences him to death: "We strive to make this world a better place."

Wangari Maathai, Kenya, 1970s: beaten and imprisoned, she defies persecution and leads women in planting 30 million trees to improve Kenya’s environment. In 2003 she was elected to Parliament with an overwhelming majority.

Desmond Tutu, South Africa, 200? - on the need to admit wrong and to close the gap between rich and poor "then we can all start moving on"

Sheikh Ousman's story - refugee experience in Darfur, Sudan, 2005 

Rabindranath Tagore, Bengal, 1919, who gives up his knighthood in protest against the massacre by the British in Amritsar. 

Sumi Khan, 2005, a Bangladeshi journalist, knifed because she writes about corruption and violence today, says: "I shall continue writing because I am telling the truth."

Dos Columbianos - Sam Morales, human rights worker, and Jaime Jamarillo, who helps the street orphans whose lives are in danger.

100 Shades of Green - memoir from Rita Roberts, one of our cast, on the Angolan civil war

Somali Story - based on a local girl's reminiscence of civil war when she was seven

Share the World - Liz McCall, who runs St Michael’s Refugee Centre, Camden, and has seen what understanding can achieve for asylum seekers.

Peter Benenson, Britain, 1961, who founded Amnesty International "to campaign for all prisoners of conscience and victims of human rights abuse in all countries." Today Amnesty protests about British legislation by which people are jailed without trial. 

"It's better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness,
Better by far to make a protest, add your voice to the call for justice,
Persecution likes the darkness, that is why we shine the light,
Persecution says: "Ignore me, everything will be alright',
But it won't, no it won't, till we light up the dust and insist that it must."

DISCUSSION INVITED AFTER THE SHOW

Musical Flying Squad has experience touring schools and community festivals:  In 2004 we performed  "Travellers’ Tales" to a range of schools and community groups.  Please click here to read comments from teachers.

RUNNING TIME: 40 minutes. Access to playing area 30 minutes before show. 15 minutes for ‘get out’.

AUDIENCE SIZE (schools): maximum 150 students plus teachers accompanying their classes. 
PLAYING AREA: minimum 20 feet by 15 feet.

COST:  negotiable

Rob Inglis, Artistic Director, Musical Flying Squad, tel: 020.7387 4942 or e-mail artsXchange@btinternet.com