Atching Tan

‘stopping place’ or 'place where fires are lit' (Romani)

Romany Theatre Company have produced a powerful new 12-part radio drama series which begins broadcasting on eight local BBC radio stations in East Anglia from week beginning 6 October 2008. This explosive new weekly drama will explore the people and conflicts among the Romany/Gypsy/Traveller and non-Traveller communities today.

The Arkleys are a Romany Gypsy family who own a piece of land on the outskirts of a small village in East Anglia. The Gannons are a part Romany part Irish Traveller family who also live in the village. There are high levels of crime in the area and anger among residents is already at fever pitch when a third family of Gypsies, the Bucktons, move into the area. All hell breaks loose in the local community with some residents threatening to take the law into their own hands.

Tune in to the first episode on BBC Three Counties Radio (Beds, Bucks & Herts) at 3.30pm on Thursday 9 October. And look out in your local press for broadcasting times on BBC Radios Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire and Essex.

The Romany Theatre Company…

Established in 2002, Romany-led RTC aims:

to advance the awareness of the public about Romany people, their culture, history, heritage and language through high quality professional studio theatrical productions

to advance the education of young Romany people in the performing arts and theatrical production through professional supported certificated training programmes in Academy UK

to provide opportunities for Roma and non-Roma people in UK and Europe to learn more about each other and work towards overcoming differences through increased understanding and positive experiences