| Description | Records of the administration and productions of Motiroti since 1991 and material relating to projects of Ali Zaidi and Keith Khan, individually and in partnership, pre- and post-1991. Comprises administrative and finance files, 1991-; production files, 1989-; storyboards, production photographs, sketches of costumes and scenery, poster and publicity artwork, flyers and programmes, CDs and video recordings of performances and live events, 1986-2004 ; press cuttings, reviews and other commentaries on performances, 1990-2004; material on collaborating arts companies and individual artists. |
| AdminHistory | Moti Roti is an internationally acclaimed arts organization which was formally established in 1990. It evolved from the collaboration between artists Keith Khan and Ali Zaidi. The company is based in London and is dedicated to developing multi-faceted projects which explore diversity in all its forms. Its work centres on perceptions of identity and is led by participation, new technology, and design. Its work illustrates the complexities and contradictions of contemporary life to resonate with a whole range of people from different backgrounds. The company produce innovative exhibitions, events and experience-led installations as well as performances which examine cultural and social values, challenge racial stereotypes and aim to precipitate change. The projects involve practitioners from all disciplines within visual arts, multi-media, live art, sports, experimental theatre and socially engaged practice, as well as individuals and communities from other creative and learning industries. The work aims to blur art-form specialism to encourage a cross-disciplinary and cross-cultural dialogue. Audience participation is crucial to motiroti artistic practice so that often the final work evolves from the direct engagement of the participants. motiroti projects have been staged in a variety of locations from the streets of Notting Hill and Brick Lane to Tate Modern and the Royal Albert Hall, in towns and cities as varied as Bristol, Walsall, Reading, Barrow-in-Furness and Manchester, and overseas in India, Pakistan, South Africa and the States.
Projects have included the first Bollywood musical to be devised and performed in the UK: 'Moti Roti Puttli Chunni' in 1993, and the current touring production 'Alladeen' exploring the reality of Indian call centres through the use of new technologies on stage. In 2002, for the Queen's Golden Jubilee, the company was commissioned to produce "Celebration Commonwealth", for which it worked with 4,000 artists and participants. A central part of the project was the Rainbow of Wishes which featured contributions from schoolchildren in every Commonwealth nation. The children put their wishes for the future on coloured triangles supplied by motiroti in the project boxes sent to each school. The wishes were mounted on large arched structures through which the Queen entered the grounds of Buckingham Palace at the end of the parade. motiroti has twice received the Time Out Dance and Performance Award and has recently been awarded an OBIE for Alladeen. Alongside performance motiroti delivers a range of training and developmental programmes aimed at emergent and established black and Asian arts practitioners as well as those traditionally excluded from participation in the arts.
By Dr Alda Terracciano, http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/d6aae234-88d1-4c43-8da1-e9a3f11090eb |