Throughout 2006, Sheffield Theatres Creative Development Programme researched and developed a new play with women and young people in Sheffield. based on letters written by parents to their children. This research resulted in - Baraka Letters from the Heart.

Inspired by a mosaic of stories, Baraka Letters from the Heart captured the wide and diverse experiences of Muslim women's childhood experiences and was performed in the Studio theatre in February 2006.

Baraka Letters from the Heart

Tinsley Women's Group
Memories of Childhood
Drama and poetry written by the women in response to a workshop exploring memories of smells, tastes, sounds and precious objects relating to their childhood.

Hinde House Secondary School
Asian Invasion
Girls from Hinde House School presented letters that had been passed down the generations, inspired by their creative writing and letters from research done with the Tinsley Women's groups.
High Storrs School The Asian Cru presented 3 pieces of work, devised from creative writing and drama sessions.

The Locket Scene
The Passing of an heirloom across the continents. As seen by Prince Charles!

The Snake Scene
A soundscape of the terrifying story of when a snake is mistaken for a rope!

The Ummah Scene
A poem about the blessings of birth and life in Pakistan, written using extracts from the girls creative writing work.

Phillimore Primary School
Memories of Childhood
Phillimore Primary School's Year 5's presented childhood stories that had been taken from research done with the Tinsley Women's Group.

Firshill Women's Group
In Discussion with Firshill
Firshill women recorded informal discussions reminiscing about childhood in Pakistan, the Yemen and Somalia.

Created as part of Sheffield Theatres Creative Development Programme in association with the Sheffield Children's Festival, the project linked with the Millennium Galleries exhibition Palace and Mosque and was part of the regional Pillars of Light Festival celebrating Islamic Culture.

Handful of Henna

Award nominated actress and writer, Rani Moorthy, was commissioned to create Handful of Henna based on these stories. The play opened the 2006 Sheffield Children's Festival in June and was performed by adults and children from the city.

Handful of Henna will be touring to local schools and beyond in 2008.

Inspired by the lives of women living in Sheffield, Handful of Henna, is a unique exploration and celebration of the poignant and often comic memories of growing up from these exceptional women.

The play is a unique exploration of the poignant and sometimes comic memories of growing up.