The long arm of Imperialism Madam Butterfly Discussions
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WNO takes the story of Cio-Cio-San as inspiration for a series of digital talks considering a broad range of topics we are still grappling with in the 21st Century
Madam Butterfly was premiered at the height of the British Empire. Many books continue to be published today about Empire and its lasting effect, however for some it is only recently that we have started investigating independently what Britain’s role and impact in the world has been in the wake of ‘Blacks Lives Matter’. How many of us have, in fact, benefitted from formal education about the British Empire?
In this discussion we consider how the UK is still shaped by its past and which stories of the Empire are common knowledge and have been reflected on our stages and from whose perspective. Are there some tales that still need to come to light and be shared?
Joining our host, Professor Priyamvada Gopal, Professor of Postcolonial Studies, University of Cambridge will be: Dr Robert Fokkens, South-African composer; Shreya Sen-Handley, Indian-born journalist, author and librettist; Dr Edson Burton, writer, poet and academic.
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Talks will last approximately one hour
Live events will be held via Zoom – joining instructions will be sent once you register