Outreach
About Outreach
A 20 minute film about how our first project, Asylum Monologues, was developed. Shot and edited by Ben Kelly. Directed by Christine Bacon. Music by Michael Edwards.
To view an animation inspired by Asylum Monologues by George Sander Jackson please click here
History
Actors for Human Rights was formerly known as Actors for Refugees. The original network was formed in Melbourne, Australia, in 2001, in the wake of a series of particularly aggressive and controversial actions by the Australian government towards asylum seekers arriving by boat. 
The UK project was launched in June 2006 at Amnesty International and now consists of well over 500 professional actors and musicians around the UK.
What we do
We respond to requests for rehearsed readings of our documentary plays and can go anywhere at any time. The defining feature of the scripts is that they are comprised of verbatim accounts from individuals who have suffered human rights abuses.
Because of the simplicity and documentary nature of the scripts, the performances do not need lengthy rehearsal or direction and are simply read out by a constantly changing cast, usually accompanied by live music.
We work in conjunction with local and national groups and grassroots organisations wherever we go, to ensure audiences are encouraged and assisted to take action after seeing the performance.
Costs
We want our work to be accessible to everybody, so we have a range of rates depending on the size and resources of your organisation. Asking from a small contribution from funded organisations allows us to work with unfunded organisations for free. We do not provide the performance for fundraising purposes, unless a proportion of the funds raised are shared with iceandfire.
To find out more about how to book a performance in your area, go to our bookings page.
Why actors?
First and foremost, as UK citizens we all have a right to have our say about systems operating “in our name”.
As actors, we can give faces and voices to the to the marginalised, demonised and hidden. We can tell stories that will reignite compassion and understanding in others. We can redress discriminatory representations of marginalised people with more accurate information, but also with personal stories that appeal to the best in British people, rather than inflame easily stirred fears.
As public figures, we have a potentially larger and more diverse audience than other lobby groups. We have also found that often the curious and undecided will approach a performance such as ours more readily than a lecture or newspaper article. Feedback from host organisations has suggested that our work has motivated hundreds of people into many forms of activism.
“People found your powerful presentation deeply moving. The long term impact has been that those who said ‘ I just never realised – what can I do to help?’ have been visibly motivated to get involved with all sorts of local activities. Those whose perceptions have been changed through hearing Asylum Monologues have experienced raised awareness, compassion and a determination to influence the political agenda – not bad for a night’s work!”
- Kath Sainsbury, Fieldworker, Justice First, 2007.