A powerful combination of film, text, and performance exploring the birth of modern human rights after the Second World War. Told through the eyes of Nuremberg prosecutor and champion of the European Convention David Maxwell Fyfe, his words intertwine with musical settings of the poets who inspired him, with a backdrop of
archive film, images, and words.
Click to listen
MAGNA CARTA PROGRESS 4 | SUMMER/AUTUMN 2023
Vigil for justice, humanity
and human rights
Following the failure to delay, prevent, or stall the Illegal Migration Bill, English Cabaret, have resumed their vigil for justice, humanity and human rights. The vigil - an act of watchful attention in the face of sleep - shines the light of the past on our troubled present highlighting the issues of Justice for Ukraine and the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, as it garners cross-party support for a 'Convention Coalition.
EDINBURGH FRINGE 2023
Venue 6 C aurora | 17th, 19th, 24th & 26th August
'such a powerful piece'
Suzanne Miller
We resumed our vigil this summer during
the parliamentary recess with performances at
C aurora, and a discussion about the role of Arts in humanity with choreographer of Needle & Thread, Suzanne Miller at The Eazy Club.
WITH GEORGE WATSON'S COLLEGE
Merchant's Hall, Edinburgh | 13th September
'memorably haunting'
Audience response
An unexpected pivot in our vigil took us to perform with members of David Maxwell Fyfe’s school, George Watson's College, at Edinburgh's Merchants Hall, to mark his achievements at Nuremberg and subsequently drafting ECHR.
MANCHESTER #CPC23
Steps of Friends' Meeting House | 3rd October
'a really fitting activity'
Liz O'Neill, Executive Officer
We came to Manchester, setting for this year's Conservative Party Conference and sang on the steps, next to the Conference centre, just before Suella Braverman gave her controversial speech.
Dornoch | Edinburgh | Liverpool
Oxford | London
During the darkest weeks of the year, a new generation of the family of David Maxwell Fyfe, British artisan of the ECHR, sang their beautiful protest at attempts to interfere with its protection and to diminish our humanity. They travelled down Maxwell Fyfe's mythical Stream of Natural Law, shining
the light of the past on our fractured present.
MAGNA CARTA PROGRESS 2 | WINTER 2022/3
FILL THE SILENCE TOUR | MAY 2022
Southwark Cathedral, London |
Mansfield College, Oxford |
St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral, Edinburgh
Performances to highlight the need to secure justice for Ukraine and encourage people to sign an international petition calling for the establishment of an ad hoc tribunal to prosecute Putin’s crimes against peace in launching a war of unwarranted aggression.
Find out more about the history
The name of our educational wrap-around materials was inspired by a quote about human rights from Helena Kennedy on Radio 4 "the human is in the asking."
We believe the human is in the telling and retelling of the story of David Maxwell Fyfe's journey from Nuremberg to Strasbourg.
Watch the Film and listen to the Song Cycle at
The story so far
LAUNCH OF KILMUIR PAPERS
10 DECEMBER 2013
Choral settings of Rupert Brooke's War Sonnets sung by a specially assembled Freedom Choir with readings from Maxwell Fyfe's papers performed at St Matthews Westminster.
