Transform is a festival of powerful international performance, it says on their programme, and, judging by the contents, it certainly lives up to the claim. The 2025 event marks ten years of the biennial, this, being number six, shows that they must be doing something right. That is a feeling reinforced by the way in which it has now spread its wings to stage – literally – some events in larger, more mainstream venues than in the past.
The launch party was opened by Jane Bhoyroo, the Chair of Transform25, who began, as did the other speakers, by proving just how inclusive the culture behind the organisation is, and describing herself and what she was wearing, to set the scene for those who are visually impaired. There was also a signer for the d/deaf members of the assembled partygoers. She extended the obligatory thanks to those responsible for financing the Festival, and lavished praise on the people who had done the hard work in organising it. Her style was such that it actually brought home the fact that artists don’t accidentally turn up on a specific date and time, at a venue where tickets have been sold and front of house staff just happen to be in attendance, but elucidated on the heavy lifting involved by organisers in cold-calling performers and agents, booking theatres, and making sure all goes well. It was far more than the routine tick box speech which is sometimes the case.
Amy Letman, Ema Boswood and BSL signer, whose name I am ashamed to say, I failed to note.
Not wishing to hog the limelight, she then passed the mic to Amy Letman, the Creative Director and founder of Transform, who revealed the theme of this year’s rendition – Who will tell the story of those condemned to silence? She expanded on the performances in the festival and called upon Ema Boswood, Senior Producer to elaborate. I will be incorporating some of their presentation in my preview below so won’t go into much detail here as I don’t want to repeat myself repeat myself.
The final speaker was one of the artists who will be featured on 23rd October at Leeds School of Arts, Leeds Beckett University, Akeim Toussaint Buck. He has appeared in previous Transforms and said how it had resulted in unexpected consequences, the most notable of which was sharing a platform with King Leopold of Belgium in calling out atrocities. Not bad for a Leeds lad.
As I began by saying, the venues for this year’s performances consist of a wide range of sizes and capacities. That doesn’t mean that they have sold out, or become less intimate, in fact, one of the items on the agenda, Dear Laila, takes place in Leeds Kirkgate Market, on a one-to-one basis. It is performed, if that is the right word, by Basel Zaraa, a UK/Palestinian, who was asked by his daughter about their homeland. Being unable to take her there, he put together a collection of artefacts and possessions in order to illustrate his recollections of the place. He then realised that this would be a good way to let the wider public know what it was like for a private citizen to live in such a troubled region. The tête-a-tetes are at various times on 23rd, 24th and 25th October.
At the other end of the scale, we have PERPETUUM, from Netherlands video artist, Katja Heitmann. This is on Thursday 23rd and Friday 24th at a city centre location to combine Transform with Light Night and Yorkshire Dance. The movements of people from Leeds will be projected on a monumental scale, and, by getting close to them you can hear their stories. For more details, please see the website, the link to which is at the end.
Other spaces used over the five days are: The Warehouse in Holbeck (Surrender, The Joystick and the Reins, It’s Got Legs!!!!!!!), stage@leeds, Leeds University (Rinse), Stanley & Audrey Burton Theatre (blackmilk), Howard Assembly Room (The Things Around Us), Leeds Playhouse (EXXY, The Last Supper), Carriageworks (RUNNER), Leeds School of Art, Leeds Becket University (Magic Maids, Free). The Festival wraps up with Doomsday Disco at Testbed, always leave ’em laughing!
All tickets are on a Pay What You Can basis. There are prices shown on the booking section of the website, with options from £2 to £35, plus booking fee, but you are asked to pay more if you feel that you are able.
For more details of Transform25, please go to their website https://transformfestival.org/ where you can find the programme, book tickets and watch a trailer.
Enjoy!
Tyke It To The Limit 