Key Podcast Details
Theme - Diwali
Location - Leicester
Dates - September - December 2022
Schools - St Edward's Church of England Primary School and Castle Donington and Krishna-Avanti Primary School Leicester
With the help of - BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Leicester
A heart-warming journey of cultural discovery, the power of communication and self discovery. Lizzy and her teenage daughter Jessica get swept up into the celebrations of the festival of Diwali in Leicester.
Amidst cultural exchange and hilarious misunderstandings, Lizzy and Vraja, a British Hindu dressed as Hanuman, learn the true meaning of empathy and understanding.
But when their children go missing, the parents must race against time, realizing the value of duty, love, and listening. Uncover the magic of Diwali and the bonds that unite us all.
Audio play starts from 00:00 to 15:32
See the podcast link at the top of the page.
Audio Play Synopsis
In Conversation
With the young people as interviewers, members of the Mandir and Krishna-Avanti School provide honest, reflective answers about their worldview, how their faith helps them to live and celebrate, and the issues found in the audio play.
In conversation starts at 15:32 - 27:55
See the podcast link at the top of the page.
Soundscape
Field recording for the Hinduism soundscape took place in two contrasting settings: the streets of Leicester during Diwali celebrations, and from within the local Swaminarayan Mandir.
In both instances music served as a constant throughout my time there. This occurred in a multiplicity of ways, from large scale stage performances to songs and chants of worship, to street performers along Leicester’s Golden Mile.
The piece aims to represent as much of this variety of music as possible and explore its function as both an outward form of celebration, and a means of inward reflection. Punctuated by the sound of fireworks, the space and dynamics evolve through with music remaining as a constant throughout.
Cameron Naylor - Sound Artist
Soundscape starts at 27:55 to the end.
See the podcast link at the top of the page.
Education Pack
Each podcast has its own bespoke education pack filled with structured and progressing activities designed to assist the teacher in the classroom. Links can be made with the RE and PSHE curriculum, as well as other curriculum areas.
Credits
Emily Bignell - Creative Director
Liam Berne – Writer
Ben Glover – Drama Facilitator
Cameron Naylor - Sound Artist
David Brook - Audio Technician and Editor
David Lambert and Leanne Taylor - Producers
Anna Sandiford, Shooting Fish and Gillian Georgiou - RE Adviser
(Lincoln Diocesan Board of Education) - Education Pack
Worldview partnership
Dipak Kalyan - BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Leicester
Sunil Randev and Hetal Chauhan - Krishna-Avanti Primary School Leicester
Actors
Ranj Nagra - Vraja
Sadie Pickering - Lizzy
Ayanna K - Jessica
Rishi D - Rahul