Join us for an evening of tolerance, friendship and performances containing genuine Eastern Europeans. RCC presents two comedy skits highlighting attitudes some people have regarding Eastern Europeans and prefer to conceal behind an awkward smile. As much as we may dislike them, people tend to place themselves and the others in categories that sometimes need a reshuffle.

1. EASTERN EUROPEANS FOR DUMMIES – IS IT ABOUT SEX-TRAFFICKING? 
Concept/ text/ devised by There There Devised as a museum piece consisting of two live exhibits, Eastern Europeans for Dummies leads the audience through the story of the pair by an audio recording of a museum guide narrator. Drawing from guides such as How to speak English in Two weeks and For Dummies books, the piece blends thought-provoking facts about Eastern Europeans as a cohort with satirical elements that place the show on the border between offence and comedy. Revolving around the idea of public display and public identity it mashes up preconceptions of Eastern and Western Europeans alike in the hope of revealing glimpses of the failed multiculturalism.

2. ON THE LINE: MEDIA Concept/ text/ devised by A News Thought ‘50% of Britain will be Eastern European by 2018.’ On May 3rd 2012 an article is released by the renowned publication The World of News, propagating fear and unnecessary race hate with its foretelling of an immigration invasion soon to hit Britain.  On The Line: Media takes the form of a news broadcast show, we meet the guests and we hear the parts they had to play in this story.  Expect hard-hitting journalism, radical facts and figures and many lists of three. ...........................................................................................................................................
 
ABOUT THE PARTICIPANTS:
THERE THERE is a 50% Romanian, 50% Serbian product made out of Dana Olarescu and Bojana Jankovic. Their work includes performances for studios and gallery spaces, one-on-ones and sound installations and explores how social changes and politics influence our everyday lives. They've been commissioned by the Museum of London, developed work at the Basement, Brighton and performed around the UK, including STK, Brunel Museum, and InExclusion Festival.

Bojana Jankovic is one half of There There, and deputy performance editor at Exeunt. Her work with There There includes Eastern Europeans For Dummies, performed at venues around the UK, (including STK, Brunel Museum, Basement, InExclusion Festival), Waste of Space (a sound installation commissioned by the Museum of London) and The Joke is NOT Optional (devised for STK live art speed dating). She originally trained as a theatre director, staging both classic and modern texts (Racine, Ingrid Lausund), and has also worked as a dramaturg and assistant dramaturg (with Rachel Parish, Athletes of the Heart and several Serbian directors). 
Dana Olarescu is the other half of There There. Her work with the company includes Eastern Europeans For Dummies, performed at venues around the UK, (including STK, Brunel Museum, Basement, InExclusion Festival), Waste of Space (a sound installation commissioned by the Museum of London) and The Joke is NOT Optional (devised for STK live art speed dating). Her background is in theatre directing and her performances have been presented internationally as a director (In No Particular Order, Incheon, South Korea; InBEEtwen, Pecs, Hungary), dramaturg (A long time ago we used to be friends, Lille, France) and performer (Playground-Losing Ground, Düsseldorf, Germany). Eastern Europeans For Dummies-Is It About Sex Trafficking? was possible with the help of Richard Cunnigham, voice over and Nikola Zivojinovic, sound designer. ........................................................................................................................................... 
On The Line: Media is the product of the company A NEWS THOUGHT which has gathered a great following through its videos addressing current social and political issues.  A News Thought’s up-to-date political satire seems to fill a gap in the current comedy market and especially for their generation. It’s not all heavy stuff though, the satirical comedy makes their work accessible not only to an audience that is politically minded, but to those who may have become disinterested or disengaged with current affairs.

A NEWS THOUGHT is made up of Helen Bauer (Writer/Director), Louise Bastock (Writer), Saskia Lortz (Producer), Ed Yelland and Will Simpson.
Helen Bauer: Since finishing education with pretty much nothing to show for herself Helen Bauer started writing sketches and performing stand up at a variety of open mic nights.  Whilst a member  of the comedy troupe, headsinhats with whom she began recording and performing sketches live Helen discovered satire. Which led to Helen birthing A News Thought a new satirical home. Helen also has basic IT skills.
Louise Bastock joined A News Thought after being plied with garlic bread and pasta from Helen Bauer, and has never looked back.  Whilst at Kings College London mascaraing as an English Literature student she discovered her love of comedy. She really enjoys writing and performing with A News Thought and would like one day to venture into stand up and perhaps find a place on stage for her dodgy poetry.
Will Simpson has a degree in Anatomy and Human biology, but is squandering this accomplishment in favour of pursuing passions that are closer to his heart; Drama, comedy, art and cakes.  He will also be appearing in their Edinburgh fringe play 'DNA' by Dennis Kelly this year. He has dappled with character stand-up, and home-made audiobooks, and hopes to do much more drama and comedy in the future. Edward Yelland studied drama at the University of East Anglia.  A talented actor who has recently been seen parading around in hot pants as one of Margaret Thatcher's dancers in a production of Margaret Thatcher Queen of Soho.  Aside from theatre, short shorts and comedy Edwards other loves come in the forms of football and crosswords.
Saskia Lortz  trained at Stage School Hamburg in performing arts. Not only is she incredibly organised Saskia has acted, sung and danced in various performances a showcases. In 2011 Saskia was Assistant Stage Manager at the Finborough Theatre for the production of Drama at Inish. She also worked as Assistant Producer for the productions of Merrie England and Somersaults both at the Finborough Theatre. The event will be followed by a reception sponsored by Deli Twist. Deli Twist is a patisserie serving freshly baked pretzels and pastries and also sweet and savoury twisters