If/Then

Special Edition at The National Poetry Library, Royal Festival Hall, London 02/08/17

After the Referendum at Camden People’s Theatre, London 17/09/16

Conceived, composed and performed by Lisa Alexander and Hari Marini.

Curated written responses by Alexandra Baybutt, Madeleine Botet De Lacaze, Gale Burns, Sarahleigh Castelyn, Alec Finlay, Eirini Kartsaki, João Florencio, Jen Harvie, Claire MacDonald, Mary Mazzilli, Lara Pawson, Saradha Soobrayen, Myrto Tsilimpounidi Fin Walker with texts by Lisa Alexander, Hari Marini, extracts and edited transcriptions of in-situ respondents.

Video: Jana Erbes, Sound editing: Fabian Scharpf.

A collectively generated and collaboratively written poetry-play comprising multiple voices and registers, created just prior to and following the EU referendum of 2016. 'If/Then' explores the terrain of the dilemma and the social imaginary drawing on myth, philosophy and autobiography. It also draws on vocal exchanges, games and recordings on the streets of London, Glasgow and Athens.

’If/Then’ was created and performed for After the Referendum at Camden People's Theatre and commissioned by CPT with European Theatre Research Network, Inside/Outside Europe Research Network and Birkbeck Centre for Contemporary Theatre (2016). The work was awarded a Special Edition Commission by The National Poetry Library, Royal Festival Hall, London (2017). Lisa Alexander and Hari Marini invited Madeleine Botet De Lacaze, Sarahleigh Castelyn, João Florencio, Mary Mazzilli and Lara Pawson, to join them as readers for this performance and participatory reading of 'If/Then.’ The evening culminated in animated discussion.

If/Then at the National Poetry Library: Special Edition Series