Run Free Jamaica engages parkour
ACRUCIAL component of Run Free: The Documentary is parkour, or ‘running free’. The documentary is the end result of the Run Free programme, organised by Manifesto Jamaica in conjunction with British Council Jamaica and the National Theatre of Scotland.
The documentary, which was screened last Friday at Hope Zoo, follows 11 youths from Parade Gardens who were involved in the programme through their parkour training.
In 2012, a representative of the British Council travelled to Scotland and saw a Jump production put on by the National Theatre of Scotland. Behind the staging of the production, inspired by parkour, was Simon Sharkey. Sharkey explained, “The physical aesthetics is what attracted me to it (parkour). It was created in France by a group of young migrants – they wanted to overcome obstacles in a powerful way, making themselves useful by being strong to their community.”
UNDERSTANDING PARKOUR
He continued, “Chris Grant started a parkour organisation in Glasgow at the same time I was looking for a vehicle to be able to engage young men. I used to do what we called ‘the jumps’ when I was younger, so when I saw parkour beginning to rise again, I became interested.
“It’s almost like a dance, it is almost like martial arts, it’s a thing in its own and has a philosophy behind it – everybody starting together, finishing together, being strong and powerful so that you are useful to your community.”
Creative director of the 45minute-long play Run Free, Brian