The Prism Project, specially created to nurture BAME voices on stage was today unveiled by the Park Theatre in Finsbury Park. The project, is spearheaded by Park Theatre’s Administrator Melissa Bonnelame, who said: As a person of colour from North London who is aware of the variety of stories our wonderfully diverse city has to offer, it is really important to me that BAME creatives are given the chance to share their narratives and – most importantly – given the chance to speak for themselves.”
The Prism Project will include a series of rehearsed readings at Park Theatre that will offer BAME creatives free rehearsal space and a professional theatre in which to develop and showcase diverse stories. The initiative hopes to address the need within the theatre industry to provide support and professional opportunities for BAME creatives and their work.
Any artist who is part of a minority ethnic group is eligible to apply for the scheme here. The only requirement is that they are working on a script (either themselves or as part of a creative team) that could use the space for its development, and have a creative team available to work on their project.
For all successful applicants, the Park Theatre will provide:
- A morning of rehearsal space in Park Theatre, free of charge
- One of their two professional theatre spaces to perform a rehearsed reading, free of charge
- A listing on The Prism Project webpage, as well as a select amount of organic social media support
- Where appropriate, Park Theatre will invite a select number of guests to the reading with the rest of the seats to be filled by the successful applicants
Artistic Director Jez Bond added: “It’s about using our resources to give a voice to traditionally more marginalised sectors of the community.”
The Prism Project’s first reading is a two-part series. Damsel in Distress? directed by Tiwalade Ibirogba-Olulode and produced by Holly Adomah Thompson. Set in Stains is a brand new play by Nuu Theatre in collaboration with writer Ruby Holder. Directed by Artistic Director, Ben Quashie, Set in Stains is a work in progress.
The Prism Project is open to submissions throughout the year. There is no application deadline, and those interested in applying for the scheme can download the application form and submission details from Park Theatre’s website.
