Welcome to Albion - our exploration of what it means to be English, and what we mean by England.

In this episode of OffScript, Dash Arts’ Artistic Director Josephine Burton is joined by Caroline Lucas for a thoughtful and urgent conversation about Englishness - beyond flags and nostalgia.

Drawing on her book Another England, Caroline shares her thoughts on how land, belonging and identity shape our politics and our culture; how England’s stories have been constructed and contested; and why reclaiming a generous, complex vision of England matters now.

Since 2022, Dash Arts has been digging into landscape and language - from reimagining Middlemarch by George Eliot in 1980s Coventry, to running speech-making workshops with more than 600 people across the country. We’ve been listening to who we are — and who we could be.

Join us as we ask: what does Englishness mean to you?

Albion will culminate in 2026 with our new touring theatre production, Our Public House. Get your tickets and to find out more on the Dash Arts website : https://www.dasharts.org.uk/our-public-house

Our intro music is Fakiiritanssi by Marouf Majidi

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What does it mean to stay balanced and grounded in a shifting world?

This episode of OffScript was recorded live at STEADY, the second event in Dash Arts’ We Are Free To Change The World series. Through live performance and conversation, the evening focused on staying; on staying open without burning out, staying yourself in dialogue without collapsing into agreement or disagreement and staying human amid pressure, speed and polarisation.

Hosted by Dash Arts’ Artistic Director Josephine Burton, with Natasha Walter, Liz Slade, Tasneim Zyada, and Mohammed Ali, the contributors shared perspectives rooted in activism, faith, art and lived experience. Together, they reflect on what it means to remain grounded while responding to a world in flux — and how steadiness itself can be a radical, collective practice.

Find out more about their work here:

Natasha Walter - www.natashawalter.co.uk

Liz Slade - www.elizabethslade.uk

Tasneim Zyada - www.instagram.com/tasneimzyada

Mohammed Ali - www.artofmohammedali.com

The live event was co-presented by Dash Arts, Arts Admin and Fete of Britain.

Get your tickets for the live events for We Are Free To Change The World by going to the Dash Arts website : https://www.dasharts.org.uk/we-are-free

Our intro music is Fakiiritanssi by Marouf Majidi

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of OffScript Josephine Burton is joined by Professor Lyndsey Stonebridge. They delve into Hannah Arendt's belief in collective action as the essence of freedom.

Lyndsey discusses Arendt's life, her impact on political philosophy, and her relevance in contemporary social movements. Exploring how her theories inspire artists and activists today, the conversation highlights Arendt's idea of politics as something we perform in public and the power of human resilience and action.

Get your tickets for the live events for We Are Free To Change The World by going to the Dash Arts website : https://www.dasharts.org.uk/we-are-free

Our intro music is Fakiiritanssi by Marouf Majidi

Photo of Lindsay Stonebridge by Ione Saizar.

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Headlines in the episode:

00:00 Introduction to OffScript

00:46 Exploring Freedom with Lyndsey Stonebridge

02:56 Hannah Arendt's Life and Influence

12:51 The Relevance of Arendt's Ideas Today

23:24 Art, Performance, and Political Action

28:42 Navigating Dark Times with Hope

40:22 Conclusion and Upcoming Events

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.