Authors of a play inspired by child migration are looking for help

Jan. 26, 2011 - PRLog -- An original play that has been inspired by information unearthed by Margaret Humphries, the woman who bought to public attention the migration of children, is to be performed by two final year performing arts students from Coventry University.

Rosie Kemp and Gareth Price-Baghurst have written a play that takes a new look at this harrowing topic and are hoping to find people to talk to that were directly involved in order to give their writing a personal perspective.

Rosie said:

“If it wasn’t for Margaret blowing the whistle on this, then we would not have known how widespread child migration was. Most of the children were told they were orphans and the parents were told that their children had been relocated, but not told where.

“In some cases, parents would place their children in care until they were more financially able to look after them but without their knowledge the children were sent away instead.

“Our research so far has really shocked us and we do feel that there is such an emotive and interesting story still to tell on the child migration scheme.”

Margaret Humphries’ research unearthed the fact that 150,000 children were thought to have been ‘resettled’ under the scheme, some of them as young as three.

Several thousand children were sent as far away as Australia and other Commonwealth countries.

Gareth Price-Baghurst, the co-author of the play, said:

“We have a finished working script but would really like to get in touch with people that were directly involved, whether they have found a relative who was sent to Australia, or whether they were a child migrant themselves.”

The end result will be performed in the A.E Harris Building,  110, Northwood Street, Birmingham between 25 – 31May 2011. Ticket information and prices will be available nearer the time.

Rosie Kemp concluded:

“We would be grateful for any help as we would like to use information we have gathered ourselves for our play. Obviously we would not use names as this is still a very raw subject for those who were involved but would like to tell their story.”

Anyone who has had first-hand experience of this who would be able to assist with the research for the play should get in touch with Rosie Kemp on 07896 001 517 or Gareth on 07923 393 515 or email her at rosie_kemp@hotmail.co.uk

The authors are keen to emphasise that anything that is said to them will be in treated in total confidence.

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For further information, contact Ali Bushnell, External Press and Media Relations Officer on +44 (0)24 7688 8245.

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