A Creative City Project, generously supported by Birmingham City Council
BOSA: rituals of settling in
BOSA is a site-specific work that explores belonging, community and the rituals and experiences of migration, settling-in, and the concept of Home.
The story at the heart of BOSA is of a woman leaving her home and building a new life in a new place. Through her present day experiences working as a carer, and the memories of her grandmother, the story explores how those who migrate find a sense of belonging.
Through a process of co-creation with host venues and local communities, this piece engages audiences to take an active role in exploring the meaning of the work and its core ideas. The work is an immersive 40-minute durational performance for up to 8 audience members at one time.
Welcomed and guided by the Host, participants journey through the life and experiences of someone who found safety 28 years ago and has since settled in Birmingham.
The audience moves through the space, hearing a rich, immersive audio installation, and witnessing the transformation of a small space into a ‘Home’. At the end of the piece the audience is invited to have some mint tea and reflection time, either in sharing with others or noting their thoughts or images on a postcard.
BOSA is more than a performance; it is a bold statement on the importance of recognising and valuing the roles of parents and carers in our society. Through its inclusive and visually captivating approach, Notnow Collective aims to inspire audiences to question their perceptions of family, home, and caregiving.
“Notnow Collective really invested so much time and energy into one of our biggest community groups, weekly, for a few months before the actual performance. That completely changed the relationship with Mosely Road Baths, but also really influenced the performance overall.”
– Emily Butler, Mosley Road Baths CIO
Click here for documentation photographs of BOSA, staged at Moseley Baths in 2022 and here for a short film about the work.
BOSA was originally commissioned by Birmingham 2022 Festival as part of the Commonwealth Games.
If you are interested in having a conversation about hosting BOSA in your community or space, please find the following Promo Pack here.
BOSA Creative Team
Jovana Backovic – composer
Kristina Gavran – writer
Tina Hofman – creative director
Katherina Radeva – designer
Notnow Collective – producer
Kinicho – spatial audio
Anna-Jane Stilwell voice-over artist
Tim Thomas voice-over artist
Chat and Splash – A Birmingham based community group who have English as a Second/Additional Language.
Claire Bowdler – marketing/audience development
Rachel Gillies – videographer
Fernando – photographer
