Comic Munya Chawawa has right this moment (October 14th) introduced the launch of Black Boys Theatre Membership (BBTC) — a strong new community-led initiative that goals to open up the world of theatre to a brand new era of younger Black boys.
Conceived by Chawawa and developed quietly over the previous 12 months, BBTC emerged from the satirist and author personal private journey into theatre — a world brimming with artistic freedom, but one the place he typically felt unwelcome and infrequently noticed himself mirrored.
At its coronary heart, BBTC is devoted to breaking down the “cultural, monetary, and emotional limitations” which have lengthy made theatre really feel inaccessible to younger Black boys. It stands as an open invitation into an area that has too typically ignored them — and a chance to redefine the way forward for British theatre, each onstage and behind the scenes.
Black Boys Theatre Membership | Launch Video
With assist from key cultural organisations together with Nando’s, Nationwide Theatre, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre and Bush Theatre, Black Boys Theatre Membership work with a number of faculties throughout London to mix play-going experiences with Chawawa with actual behind the scenes entry to the business, providing not only a seat within the viewers, however a glance backstage for 15 and 16 yr olds.
In a transfer to additional bolster a way of group, every BBTC journey finishes with a debrief at Nando’s, the place Munya and the boys focus on the play and its themes over meals. The ambition is to create a era of younger Black males who really feel “empowered to get pleasure from theatre, inspired to participate themselves, and impressed to contribute to the humanities by way of their very own lives and careers”.
Talking concerning the initiative, Chawawa shares: “Black males persistently dazzle us on stage and on display, however for younger black boys – the bridge between that preliminary artistic spark and its supernova potential isn’t all the time straightforward or inspired. Black Boys Theatre Membership will act as the place to begin for that journey – a judgement-free, laughter-filled introduction to the world of theatre and inventive arts, as a result of belief me, it’s a great world.”
“As a latest convert myself, this video is my very own private ode to theatre, the twinkle in my eye delivered to life by different superb younger, black actors whom I love. A lot of my work focuses on tackling the baddies and unhealthy information plaguing society, however Black Boys Theatre Membership provides me gentle, hope and lots of, many stomach laughs.”
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