Manchester: Kushti Cumpenia: A Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Celebration at Factory International

Celebrate GRT History Month with a family-friendly day of workshops, music, dance and storytelling.

Celebrate our rich cultures, histories and the artistry of Gypsy, Roma, Traveller, Showman and Boater folks with Kushti Cumpenia.

Kushti Cumpenia is curated by Gemma Lees – a Romany Gypsy, disabled and autistic performance artist, poet, facilitator, comedian and journalist from Bury.

When: Sunday 1st June

Time: 12-5pm

Where: Aviva Studios, Water St, Manchester, M3 4JQ

All welcome!

What's On

Join traditional family storytelling and Romany craft peg-making from willow and recycled aluminium cans with Richard O'Neill MBE, award-winning storyteller and writer.

Enjoy a drop-in paper vardo workshop where you can create a vardo from card with event host Gemma Lees and listen to her poetry.

Explore a Heritage Lottery Young Roots Exhibition Traveller Wagon Project – Bringing Heritage Alive! Experience a traditional vardo, yog and chitty and learn about the traditional travelling way of life.

Watch a vibrant and expressive dance performance by KaskoSan Charity – a group of talented Roma dancers from across the Northwest, brought together by Eastern European Roma Michael and Vicky.

Learn the first verse of the Romani Anthem with Romani Gypsy activist Juice Vamosi – and watch him sing Wheels On My Feet with Richard O'Neill.

Contribute your drawings to a large map of the Greater Manchester waterways by Boater poet and playwright Louise Fazackerley. Plus, listen to her poetry and make traditional peg dolls using wooden pegs and recycled materials.

Open Mic at the end of the event opens the floor to poetry, music, comedy or anything else you’d like to share!

Book free tickets here: https://factoryinternational.org/whats-on/kushti-cumpenia/

Kushti Cumpenia press release/TT News

(Top photo: Richard O'Neill. All photos courtesy of Kushti Cumpenia)