Alex Pascall is an inspirational playwright, percussionist/vocalist, and songwriter, who visits schools across the country to work with pupils from nursery age to A-level. His workshops encourage a greater awareness of other cultures, and can also help the participants recognise their own talents and strengths. His work promoting harmony between the races has now won recognition with the award of an OBE. Alex usually travels to schools with his African drum, and a typical workshop with a class will involve songs and stories, told with his trademark Caribbean warmth and humour. Alex is striking in his ability to nurture the students own sense of identity - whatever their background - and encourage them to express themselves, through oral work, rhythms, stories and even raps. His visits are fun and engage the children, but their educational value is always clear, and his work relates to National Curriculum objectives including in literacy, music, dance, history, geography and even food technology.

Alex is a multi-talented performer, and can adapt to the needs of the school, but some of his favourite focus topics include:
Oral history and reminiscence
Improvisation, rhythm and movement of Carnival
Calypso and Caribbean music
Songs and raps
Cross-cultural foods
History and geography of the Caribbean

“Had the children dancing in the playground”
Sonia Wainright, Pendragon School, Lewisham

Outside of schools, Alex is an accomplished broadcaster and a tireless activist for equal opportunities. He has been a voice for the Caribbean community ever since he was invited to present the BBC’s Black Londoners, the first daily Black radio programme in British history in 1974. The show became the focal point and outlet for Black British art and culture sport and politics, and gained widespread recognition.

His achievements since then have been no less impressive. Among many other highlights, he has served as an executive member of the National Union of Journalist and is the Chairman of its Black Members Council. In addition, he Chaired the Notting Hill Carnival for four years and is a Founder Vice-President for the European Carnival Cities. At the height of his broadcasting career Alex co-founded The Voice newspaper, still one of black Britain’s most read papers.

He is the author of We Ting’ Notting Hill Carnival, a poetic narrative and Common Threads a play commissioned by Gwent Theatre in Education in South Wales 2001. The play, subsequently re-written as Common Threads: The Musical, was showcased for the celebration of Camden’s 2003 Black History Month at Swiss Cottage library. The musical is an uplifting, joyous fusion of styles and melodies from the Welsh valleys and the Caribbean, suitable for drama in education for Key Stages 2,3,4, GNVQ, and GCSE & A LEVEL.
“Me De’ar Grace
Me reach ah England, me live ah London.
Me get ah work, cleaning muck.
De Bank funny, but me save little money.
Me goin’ buy a house, without cat or mouse,
Me go ah night school, as a golden rule,
To learn ’bout the nation and colonisation.
The cold ah bite, from me left to me right.
The place full ah darkness, and plenty fastness.”
Excerpt from The Letter
Publications

Common Threads [Sound Track] by Alex Pascall & Deirdre Pascall

Alex Pascall combines forces with his daughter Deirdre, to fuse the music of the Caribbean with the music and spirit of the Welsh Valleys in uniting the communities of sugar and coal in a musical drama - where two worlds and energies collide with guest artists, Geoffrey Williams, Dennis Bovell, Trevor Watkis and Esteban Antonio
Common Threads Student’s edition text only

The musical drama provides classroom work throughout the range of curriculum subjects, inclding: English; Drama; Drama; Storytelling; Geography; History; Citizenship; Media; Art& design; and technology. The book includes suggestions for discussion and re-enactments inspired by the play.
“WE TING” Notting Hill Carnival

Mas Confusion! The narrative tells it all in rhythmic poetry, relative to masquerading movement of a Caribbean historical experience, while making the point that control of the Notting Hill Carnival is influenced by race issues and the fact that control of the economics of the event has been snatched out of the hands of its Caribbean pioneers.
Teletubbies (various productions)

As well as his host of political and educational achievements, Alex’s voice and singing feature on various Teletubbies productions! The productions are further proof, if it were needed, that everyone from infants to adults can enjoy Alex’s performances.

alex-pascall.doc