Throughout 2019 Nadine Holdsworth was involved in a collaborative project with Coventry University and the homeless charity Coventry Cyrenians to investigate how arts methodologies, dramatic scenarios and gamification could be used to raise awareness and empathy in young people regarding homelessness. Based on ‘real-life’ stories, the resulting ‘Homeless Monopoly’ board-game aims to expose the multiple pathways into homelessness, the issues faced by homeless people and the support mechanisms available for those at risk of or experiencing homelessness. During the summer of 2019 the game was piloted with a number of groups including pupils from Cardinal Newman and service users of Coventry Cyrenians.

Theatre and Performance Studies at the University of Warwick are delighted to announce an event tied to the staging of Queens of Sheba at the Warwick Arts Centre

Staff will be joined by the director Jessica Kaliisa and performer Kokoma (Koko) Kwaku to discuss the origins of the show, how it evolved, the black female experience it addresses and its approach to language and staging.

Where: Warwick Arts Centre Theatre

When: Friday 15^th November 3.30-4.45pm

^{Photographer: Ali Wright}

“Homeless Monopoly” won joint first prize for a Game in Development at the European Conference of Game Based Learning in Denmark.

Homelesss Monopoly is a prototype board-game featuring real life testimonies and scenarios of homeless and ex-homeless people in the Coventry area. It has been developed by Nadine Holdsworth (Theatre and Performance Studies, University of Warwick)and Jacqueline Ann Calderwood (Disruptive Media Lab, Coventry University) with Coventry Cyrenians. The game has been piloted with local schools with the aim of raising awareness and encouraging empathy in young people towards issues faced by Coventry’s homeless and street sleepers.