Lorenzo Cherin
Founder and Facilitator
The Arts And Humanity’s Cause
As a creative and professional communicator, Lorenzo Cherin has a wide experience of various contexts implementing and expressing these qualities. These range from acting and writing, through directing and producing, to lecturing and motivating. He attended and obtained his degree at, the University of London, studying philosophy, history and politics there, at Heythrop College, Queen Mary College and LSE. His work has taken him from the theatrical stage, including the National Theatre Studio, the Wimbledon Theatre, the Dukes Theatre Lancaster, and the Grand Theatre, to the political stage and the international stage. In particular, combining the arts with a concern for society and an interest in politics, which has been called “the art of the possible” – has been a strong thread. Lorenzo is particularly involved in the cultural, social and political sphere beyond party politics. He is especially keen to utilise the world wide web and the internet as a way to connect people and activities.
Working as a young actor, writer and animator, at the Museum of the Moving Image and the British Film Institute, he did so with Lord Attenborough, who greatly influenced him. Securing the Patronage of Lord Jenkins of Putney, the former Arts Minister, when founding Theatre Panache, a new theatre company, was a significant interaction.
From being elected as a Student Union President, while at London University, or raising funds with performances for charities, like the Royal Hospital and Home, and UNICEF, to campaigning as a local council candidate, supporting causes is important.
He has utilised his drama skills and role play techniques, to help people with confidence building and with assertiveness training, especially for the unemployed or vulnerable. He trained and gained qualifications in adult teaching and presenting. As a speaker and lecturer, seminar leader and individual consultant, he has delivered, to students and clients, under contract to the public sector, and for private companies.
Lorenzo Cherin has played a part in several organisations. He first joined Equity, the actors and performers union, a number of years ago, and is a member of English PEN, part of PEN International, the writers human rights organisation.
His interest and involvement in politics has taken different forms, that journey leading to party politics increasingly giving way to cross party. This has been the case as a result of the years of coalition government, in the United Kingdom, the Brexit referendum, on it leaving the European Union, and more than that even, with the Covid19 crisis, efforts on a multi-party basis. This reflects his ongoing interest and activity in the arts and cultural arena, as well as the non profit and charitable field. He is a supporter of, and advocate for, a Universal Basic Income, and a member of Basic Income Earth Network.
He became a member of, and activist for, the British, Liberal Democrat Party, after the Iraq war, and the party’s stance against it. A member party of Liberal International, this is the only political party international, which has human rights involvement at the UN. He has served on committees within the party, and has engaged with various groups associated with them. These include their Creative Network, and campaigns for Health and Care, for Business and for Racial Equality. He has been elected and served as a Vice-Chair of Liberal Democrats for Peace in the Middle East. He has also written for and contributed regularly to, the website, Liberal Democrat Voice.
He has supported More United, when it was set up, after the loss of Jo Cox mp and with the input of Lord Ashdown, to remember her and promote cross-party cooperation. He is a subscriber to the Hansard Society, to promote knowledge and understanding of the Westminster Parliament, as well as the Kennedy Library, in Boston Massachucetts, continuing interest in this President’s legacy, Washington politics and Anglo-American relations.
He is particularly interested in working towards the eradication of all forms of bigotry. This is reflected, for example, in support of Anti-Slavery International. He is a member of the Harriet Beecher Stowe Society, and has developed a musical work he has written, “Tom’s Cabin – The Man of Humanity,” a re-working based on the original and radical book, Uncle Tom’s Cabin. He has long been active, as a member nominated by, and writer contributing to, the Ustinov Prejudice Awareness Forum, having more recently become the in-house writer, organiser. There he is involved with Igor Ustinov, the artist, son of the late Sir Peter Ustinov, and the founder of the project. The purpose is to advance the innovative work and ongoing legacy, in this field, of Sir Peter, in conjunction with the Ustinov Network, Foundation, College and Institute. It is poignant, because meeting with Sir Peter Ustinov, his career and work, in cultural, social, political areas, inspired him at an earlier age, and years later, inspires him with the creation of The Arts and Humanity’s Cause, which he is the founder and facilitator of. He combines this with his work as Partner, with Lanechka Fevola, in The Wandering Troubadour Creative Partnership, developing and creating productions and projects, ranging from the performing arts to the visual arts.
He was, for some years until its conclusion, also a regular commentator for the, Matters of Principle, initiative, a very worthwhile venture online, started and hosted by the former US Senator Gary Hart, who has said “Mr. Cherin is a loyal and constructive participant in our deliberations and characteristically too generous to the host!”