Play highlights plight of Chagos Islanders
A THEATRE production which shines a light on the plight of the dispossessed Chagos Islanders, many of whom are living in Crawley, débuted at the weekend.
A Few Man Fridays tells the story of how the islanders were deported from their Indian Ocean homeland some 40 years ago by the British colonial government to make way for a US military base.
Set against documented history, it re-imagines the shocking events from the Cold War, to an ongoing modern struggle.
Director and writer Adrian Jackson first became aware of the story while working aborad.
He said: “I was lucky enough to go to Mauritius in 2000, teaching for the British Council. I saw the Chagossian’s shacks and I asked my hosts about it. I was horrified that this had happened during my lifetime, and I knew nothing about it. I had to find out more.”
The island’s 2,000 inhabitants were deported to Mauritius and the Seychelles by Britain in return for illicit payments and a discounted US nuclear submarine in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s.
Over the years, islanders have arrived at Gatwick and settled in Crawley with every intention of returning home – but the fight continues to this day in the European Court of Human Rights.
The play takes its name from a comment made by a Foreign Official official in 1966 who described the islands’ inhabitants as a “few Man Fridays”, after Robinson Crusoe’s native manservant.
Mr Jackson said: “The lack of humanity shown by all in power was constantly shocking, with British, American, and Mauritians showing a casual brutality towards the Chagossians.
“But most impressive really has been hearing of their struggle and their determination to get justice, especially a number of the older women, and of course their leaders in Crawley, including Allen Vincatassen.
“We do not take sides, except with the Chagossians, who we all acknowledge have had a very rough deal. In the sense that any play dealing with world politics from the Cold War to now is political, it is political. But it is not party political, as no political party or government comes out well, sadly.”
The director hopes the play could put help put pressure on the Government by bringing the relatively unknown story to a wider audience.
He said: “Successive Government’s have treated the Chagossian people with such disrespect because they could, because these were people without a voice. I hope our play helps give them a voice.
“It would be wonderful if this play helped more people know about this story, and campaign with the Chagossians for justice.”
A Few Man Fridays is showing now at the Riverside Studios, Hammersmith, London.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Crawley
Sunday 27 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 26 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 13 C to 25 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: North west
Your view
Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.