The Mischief Makers
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This gallery was made possible thanks to the kind permission of photographer Alan Lodge for the use of his photographs. His website can be found here: http://tash.gn.apc.org
July 2008, London - Various Mischief Makers took part in the 'Heathrow to Kingsnorth Climate Caravan' that traversed through South England and London by foot and wheels. A series of events took place every day to act as local outreach in the run up to the Climate Camp, as well as to meet and share experiences with local people and groups taking collective action against the root causes of climate change in their communities. Mischief Makers performed as fleeing penguins and polar bears, and climate refugees on boats migrating due to the devastating effects of climate change. Photo by penguinella.
May 2008, Nottingham - Mischief Makers stage a performance on climate change at Nottingham's Arts Theatre during a concert by Nottingham based band Polymathematics.
August 2007, Nottingham - A couple of Mischief Makers performed crazy bike stunts at the Big Wheel’s Big Day Out. The event is held at Nottingham Castle and designed to give the public a notion of sustainable living and transport. Cycling was a big thing there, with a variety of bikes, bicycle maintance, a bicycle powered bubble machine and a couple of mischievious (and dangerous) cyclists. Photo by Alan Lodge.
May 2007, Europe - Four activists, one of them a dedicated Mischief Maker, got on their bikes in Nottingham and set off for an epic journey through mainland Europe. The project 'Pedal Powered Clowns to Palestine' brought together performance, clowning, action and pedal power to raise awareness of the situation in Palestine as well as entertaining and supporting the Palestinian community through play.
May 2006, Nottingham - Greenweeks 2006 saw over 100 events take place in Greater Nottingham and beyond. Events ranged from family open days at community gardens to films, talks and wildlife walks. Both the briefing event at Blue Bell Hill School in St Anns and the launch event at Nottingham Castle, as well as the 'Rubbish Day Out' were organised with help from the Mischief Makers.
August 2006, Selby, Yorkshire - Supporting the Camp for Climate Action, which was set up near Drax, the largest coal fired power station in Europe and the biggest single contributor to CO2 emissions in the UK, the Mischief Makers ran workshops during the week. With children who attended the camp, a giant ostrich puppet was made which was taken on the 'kids march' to Drax Power Station on one of the last days of the camp. The ostrich was seized by the police. Chief Inspector Barry Smith was serious when he told the BBC a giant 'home-made ostrich' had been seized by police, and found to be containing tools which could have been used by demonstrators to 'chain themselves to fences'.
September 2006, Nottingham - The Mischief Makers build a giant syringe in support of a march to defend the NHS. The syringe read 'Inject more into the NHS' and was made in an effort to show solidarity to NHS workers as well as acknowledging that the ongoing cuts and privitisation of the National Health Service is something that should concern everyone. The Mischief Makers also added a more creative element to the march and rally, organised by Unison, UK's largest union. Photo by Alan Lodge.
July 2006, Tirana, Albania - Over 40 people gathered at the Ministry for Internal Affairs in the centre of Tirana, the capital of Albania. The issue being Tirana's drinking water, which is not clean, unreliable as it comes out of the tap only a few hours a day and sewage systems continue to pollute the water sources. Rebellious clowns handed out some of Tirana's finest tabwater, which was refused by most passers by, the Water Daughters were dressed in costumes showcasting the problems and got passers by involved by asking them what they would do to contribute to cleaner water.
July 2006, Plav, Montenegro - During a parade in Plav, a remote town in the mountains of Southern Montenegro, the Mischief Makers worked with local youth on an issue that is of great importance to them. A giant football and stadium seat were made out of willow and paper mache and a petition was handed over to the Major of Plav to ask for better seating facilities in the football stadium.
July 2006, Bitola, Macedonia - Mischief Makers held various workshops with Roma children, making puppets and masks.
December 2005, Nottingham - Activities at Sneinton's 'Rubbish Day Out' which was held in Sneinton, Nottingham, to raise awareness of the proposed expansion of the Eastcroft incinerator and promote recycling through fun and games. Artists worked to put new use to waste materials as lantern making, basket weaving, banner painting and wallet making workshops took place throughout the day. Other activities included poetry, speakers, live music and refreshments from the Sneinton community cafe collective. A day to show people there are better and more positive ways of dealing with waste other than incineration. Photos by Alan Lodge.
March 2006, Nottingham - Mischief Makers and concerned local residents did two banner drops in Sneinton. Many local residents came out in support, to show that people in Nottingham prefer clean air and recycling to waste turned into pollution. One was hung on Sneinton Boulevard, reading 'Give Sneinton Better Recycling Facilities' and 'Please Stop The Incinerator Expansion. The other banner around the corner read 'Clean Air? Breath Easy!'. Photos by Alan Lodge.
March 2006, Nottingham - Nottingham Refugee Forum (NNRF) held a 'Living Ghosts' vigil outside St Peters Church in Nottingham. The 'Solidarity Sisters' joined the vigil, asking passers-by to add their own paper shopping bag to a display with a wish list of what they would need if they were starting a new life in a new country.
October 2005, Sheffield - Four Solidarity Sisters went over to Sheffield to help out with the Magical Mystery tour, to spread the message of soldarity with refugees and those seeking asylum in the UK. One Solidarity Sister explains: 'We have appeared in these costumes a couple of times in Nottingham and in Sheffield. We dress in little white dresses, with one of us in lederhosen and hats and bags.. It's about showing solidarity. It's more a sort of universal image. On the bands and the skirts there's lots of images of people holding hands. It's about spreading equality, friendship and acceptance. We look a little bit like aid nurses. Like it's about having a helping hand. Being there to support people. The dresses we're made from reclaimed fabrics. They we're used for car seat padding. It's good to be reusing stuff.'
June 2005, Nottingham - As part of the protests surrounding the G8 summit meeting of world leaders in Gleneagles, Scotland, Mischief Makers made kimonos and dressed as Geisha'a to add some colour and creativity to the actions. During fundraisers, infonights and the ministrial meetings ahead of the main summit, Mischief Makers worked to raise awareness of global issues as world poverty, climate change and world leading institutions such as the World Bank, IMF and the G8 among people in a positive way.