PRESS RELEASE

Thursday 17th January 2013

Ravi Thornton is the first recipient of The Barry Reckord Bursary

The Barry Reckord Bursary was created by The Hub. It is a playwriting bursary open to BAME writers resident in the UK. This bursary is part of The London Hub’s commitment to supporting emerging artists.

The selection panel shortlisted five writers for the bursary: Martin Edwards, Lorna French, Gbemisola Ikumelo, Nessah Muthy and Ravi Thornton.

Selection panel chair Patricia Cumper MBE, playwright and board member of The London Hub says: “We were impressed by the scope and range of play ideas submitted, but the boldness and humanity of Ravi Thornton’s idea convinced the panel that it was a fitting tribute to the ground-breaking work of Barry Reckord.”

Talawa Theatre Company and are supporting the bursary by providing dramaturgy support to mentor Ravi Thornton. Madani Younis, Artistic Director, Bush Theatre says: “I am excited that the Bush Theatre is supporting the inaugural year of the Barry Reckord Bursary. We are excited to be working with , one of the leading black theatre companies in the country, and through collaboration between our two organisations we hope to support Ravi Thornton in developing her play Thirty and One.”

And Michael Buffong, Artistic Director, Talawa Theatre Company says: “It is a great privilege to enable the development of a new voice through this bursary, and I look forward to being part of Ravi Thornton’s journey as a writer.”

Oberon Books sponsors the bursary. Selection panel member and Oberon Books Editor, Melina Theocharidou says “We are very proud to support the Barry Reckord Bursary, at once commemorating the work of a great playwright, who we have the honour of publishing, and ensuring that playwrights of our time are encouraged and enabled to create a bright future in theatre.”

The beneficiary of the bursary was announced at Bush Theatre on Thursday 17th January 2013.

Further information: The selection panel comprised: Patricia Cumper MBE, playwright and chair of panel; Michael Buffong Artistic Director of Talawa Theatre Company; Madani Younis, Artistic Director of Bush Theatre; Maria Oshodi, Artistic Director of Extant and Melina Theocharidou, Editor, Oberon Books. The beneficiary of the bursary in 2013 will receive a cash award; mentoring by a dramaturg; the opportunity to have their play co-commissioned by Talawa Theatre Company and Bush Theatre; and publication of their play by Oberon Books if it is produced.

The cash award has been funded from the ticket sales of Reckord Celebrations held at Bush Theatre in September 2012 and from Oberon Books sponsorship of The Barry Reckord Bursary.

Reckord Celebrations, a tribute to the late writer Barry Reckord, was presented by Talawa Theatre Company and The London Hub in association with Bush Theatre.

Patrons of the bursary are Kwame Kwei-Armah OBE, Artistic Director of Centrestage and Margaret Bernal, niece of Barry Reckord.

For additional information contact Pauline Walker, Hub Producer, The London Hub: Tel: 020 7017 8987 Mob: 07989 148 668 Email: [email protected] Website: www.thelondonhub.com