A new film showing the contribution of black actors and musicians throughout Britain’s theatre history will be premiered in London on 11th May 2012.
“Margins To Mainstream: The Story Of Black Theatre In Britain” is a charity-funded film produced by 20 young people from London and Birmingham.
It examines the history of black British theatre through interviews and unseen footage.
The hour-long documentary film features black actors, producers and playwrights who have contributed to the British theatre tradition, including playwright Courttia Newland, actor Javone Prince, actor playwright and broadcaster Kwame Kwei-Armah and director Patricia Cumper.
The film looks at landmark performances and highlights the struggles and triumphs faced by black actors in British theatre.
“Margins To Mainstream” has been produced as part of a youth project helping participants to develop skills in media and film-making and funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, and Notting Hill Methodist Church, and led by the Octavia Foundation, in London, and Nu Century Arts, in Birmingham.
Gabrielle Tierney, head of community initiatives at the Octavia Foundation, said: “Our young film-makers are always looking for new opportunities to train and flex their media muscles. We have a history of supporting talented young people to tell untold stories, and the story of black theatre in Britain is most certainly a hidden gem.”
“Margins To Mainstream” will be premiered at the Royal Court Theatre, in London, followed by a question and answer session with some of the young film-makers and contributors.
It will then be screened in London and Birmingham, where the young film-makers are from.
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