Red Ensemble performance of “Right”

On 2 March 2011, The Red Ensemble performed a music, dance and film piece as part of the Red Road event at the Rectial Room in Glasgow City Halls.

Dancer Joan Beattie gave a beautiful interpretation of right, Charlie’s poem which juxtaposes George Bush’s procalimed support of the right to life with the actions of US and UK forces who launched volleys of Tomohawk Cruise missiles into Baghdad in the early stages of then Iraq war.

In the poem, a pregnant woman, Zubaida, is killed with her unborn child; an event undoubtedly common during that illegal attack.

Palestinian poet Ghazi Hussein translated that poem into Arabic and The Red Ensemble accompanied Joan Beattie’s dance with music and poetry from the recorded versions in Arabic and English. Film of Joan dancing provided background to the live dance, words and music.

The other pieces in the performance were His Tears would Fill an Ocean and Red Road.