21ST-CENTURY ACTING RACE AND INCLUSIVE PRACTICE - WHAT NEXT?

12 SEPTEMBER 2019 Courtyard , The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama 13 SEPTEMBER 2019 Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, Shakespeare’s Globe 21ST-CENTURY ACTING RACE AND INCLUSIVE PRACTICE - WHAT NEXT?

Shakespeare’s Globe and The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama co-host a two day symposium exploring one of the most crucial questions in theatre today. The arts are positioned in a moment of great be contributing to – and intervening potential: industry and academic leaders in – contemporary discourses in the are being held accountable to create more conservatoire and in the professional ‘inclusive’ training centres, programmes theatre. How are the Globe and Central and venues. However, new questions have specifically working for and against notions revealed a tremendous gap between desired of Shakespeare as a monument of white outcomes and practical reality. privilege? How do we all engage meaningfully with professional and student actors in the Over two days we’ll consider the use of mandates for inclusivity, diversity and equity institutional frameworks such as target in the academy and rehearsal room? setting, diversity policies and decolonisation practices, and consider how they might

CONVENERS

Dr Jessica Hartley Joe O’Neill Dr Farah Karim-Cooper Nina Romancikova Michael Norton Dr Gerald ‘Jay’ Paul Skelton

BSL INTERPRETERS

Taz Hockaday Anna Kitson

SPECIAL THANKS

Josh Abrams Megan Hunter Ross Brown Ken Mizutani Sian Cooper and the Catering Team at Central Tony O’Dowd and Central’s Estates Team Maria Delgado Adam Parker Victoria Edwards and Central’s Outreach Phil Rowe Team John Sibley Susan Emanuel Patrick Spottiswoode Liliana Holloway THURSDAY 12 SEPTEMBER FRIDAY 13 SEPTEMBER COURTYARD THEATRE, THE ROYAL CENTRAL SCHOOL OF SPEECH AND DRAMA SAM WANAMAKER PLAYHOUSE, SHAKESPEARE’S GLOBE

9.45am – 10.15am Registration 9.45am – 10.15am Registration

10.15am – 10.30am Welcome and Introduction 10.15am – 11.45am Reading the Room: Caring for Actors on a Dr Gerald ‘Jay’ Paul Skelton The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama SPEAKERS Diversely Cast Production Sarah Amankwah, Actor This panel of actors will consider the ways 10.30am – 11.45am Where We Are Now: Race, Theatre and Nina Bowers, Actor and production companies ‘care’ for SPEAKERS Inclusive Practice in 2019 Leaphia Darko, Actor their actors in a diversely cast production. Harvey Young, Boston University We begin the symposium with international They will discuss their experiences as actors Kobna Holdbrooke-Smith, Actor Jatinder Verma, Tara Arts perspectives on theatre and race in relation working in an ever-evolving industry, and CHAIR Dr Farah Karim-Cooper, to actor training and the professional respond to questions about staging classical Shakespeare’s Globe industry from key figures at the forefront of Dr Farah Karim-Cooper, drama in 21st-century theatre. their fields. Where were we a few years ago, Shakespeare’s Globe CHAIR where are we now and what’s the future of Kaleya Baxe, student, Central events like this one? 11.45am – 12.00pm Break

11.45am – 12.00pm Break 12.00pm – 1.30pm Seeing the Actor: Casting Consciously in SPEAKERS the Professional Theatre 12.00pm – 1.30pm Unlimited Access: Decolonising Auditions Federay Holmes, Theatre Director The panel discussion will examine the notion and Admissions SPEAKERS Stella Kanu, Executive Director, LIFT of ‘colour-blind’ casting. What does it mean Our panel will consider what some actor David Bond, Royal Welsh College Steven Kavuma, Writer, Theatre Director to be ‘colour-blind’? How is this term now training institutions and organisations are of Music and Drama and Creative Producer problematic? And how has casting practice Professor Lynette Goddard, doing now to decolonise the admissions developed over the last few years? CHAIR Royal Holloway, University of process. We’ll also discuss what aspects of Professor Sonia Massai, David Mumeni, Open Door applications and auditions might need to be changed as we all move toward widening King’s College London Jessica Murrain, Central access to our courses. Ben Naylor, Central 1.30pm – 2.30pm Break CHAIR 2.30pm – 4.00pm Destabilising the Monuments to White Jamie Wheeler, student, Central CHAIR Privilege: 21st-Century Actor Training 1.30pm – 2.30pm Lunch Dr Sylvan Baker, Central Drawing on the ‘long table’ format developed by Professor Lois Weaver, this session 2.30pm – 4.00pm Meeting the Student: Cultural Identity and will invite participants to a performative SPEAKERS Sensitivity in Actor Training conversation that will allow them to have Catherine Alexander, Central In this panel we reflect on the current state a dialogue about the challenges of white privilege and its impact on actor training. As Pamela Jikiemi, RADA of actor training in regard to cultural identity Professor Weaver says, ‘At a long table there Dr Monica Ndounou, Dartmouth College and sensitivity, talk about the changes being made inside and outside the classroom in may be silence, there may be disagreement, Siiri Scott, University of Notre Dame response to a diverse cohort, and consider there may be discomfort and there may be CHAIRS the role of affirmative action toward an laughter!’ Join us at the long table to listen Sophie Mensah, Academy of Live and equitable practice. and speak about the needs of actor training Recorded Arts that is fit for the 21st-century. Dr Jessica Hartley, Central

4.00pm – 5.00pm Reception CATHERINE ALEXANDER DAVID BOND KOBNA HOLDBROOK-SMITH interests are theatre history, feminism, critical race theory and performance. Catherine studied drama at Manchester David came to theatre quite late via a Kobna Holdbrook-Smith is a film, Farah is the author of Cosmetics in University and trained at Ecolé degree in Theatre Studies and Dramatic television, theatre and voice actor. He was Shakespearean and Renaissance Drama, Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq. Arts at the University of Warwick. Prior in Love’s Labour’s Lost at Shakepseare’s revised edition (EUP, 2019), The Hand on She is Artistic Director of Quiconque and to this he has worked as a social worker Globe in 2007 and won the 2019 Olivier the Shakespearean Stage (Bloomsbury, has worked with Complicité for twenty five and physiotherapist. As an actor he has Award for Best Actor in a Musical. He 2016) and Titus Andronicus: The State of Play years. She won the Jerwood Prize for her worked mostly in theatre. This is his 26th currently sits on the Globe Creative Council (Bloomsbury, 2019). Farah curated the work on Amédée and an Amnesty Award in year as Head of Actor Training at the Royal and is an Associate Director at the National Shakespeare and Race Festival in August 2011 for her production of SOLD. Catherine Welsh College of Music & Drama. Theatre. He was Co-Founder and Vice- 2018. She is currently working on a book is a Reader in Theatre Making and Course Chair at the Act for Change Project. on Shakespeare, Race and Death. Leader for Central’s BA (Hons) Acting CDT. NINA BOWERS FEDERAY HOLMES Nina trained at Central and graduated STEVEN KAVUMA SARAH AMANKWAH in 2017. Her theatre credits include The Federay is an Associate Artist at Steven is a writer, theatre director and Sarah trained at the Manchester School Wolves (Theatre Royal Stratford East), Crave Shakepeare’s Globe where she teaches creative producer who graduated from of Theatre. Her previous work for (The Pit, Barbican) and Twilight: Lost Angeles and has directed several immersive Central. He is the curator of This is Black, a Shakespeare’s Globe includes Doctor 1992 (). She is a member of projects, as well as the Globe Ensemble new writing festival. His directing credits Faustus. Other theatre credits include the Globe Ensemble. summer productions Hamlet (2018) and include Teleportation (Bunker Theatre) Amadeus, The Threepenny Opera, Death And As You Like It (2018 and 2019) and this and BOYS (Dalston Eastern Curve Garden). The King’s Horseman (National Theatre), The LEAPHIA DARKO year the Henriad: Henry IV Part 1: Hotspur, As Assistant Director his credits include Crucible and The Skriker, (Royal Exchange Henry IV Part 2: Falstaffand Henry V: Harry Leaphia is an actor and writer graduating Still No Idea () and An Theatre) and The Lion King (Lyceum England. from RADA in 2017. Since then she has Octoroon (National Theatre, ). Her film credits includeWorld appeared as Portia opposite Ben Wishaw’s Theatre). He has also written and directed War Z and for television Black Earth Rising, PAMELA JIKIEMI Brutus in Nicholas Hytner’s Julius Caesar short plays for the Royal Court. Marcella and Damnation Of Darwin. (The Bridge). She is a member of the Globe Pamela is the Head of Film, Television and Ensemble playing Lady Percy amongst Radio at RADA. She trained at ALRA and is PROFESSOR SONIA MASSAI KALEYA BAXE other roles. She is also the founder of the also an alumna of Central. She has assisted Sonia is Professor of Shakespeare Studies Kaleya is a writer, director and facilitator production company The London Rep, the research on a number of Central’s at King’s College London. Her publications who studied the BA (Hons) in Drama, specialising in period pieces which centre diversity and inclusion based projects and include Shakespeare’s Accents: Voicing Applied Theatre and Education at Central. the stories of people of colour across 2000 is researching towards a PhD. Pamela Identity in Performance (CUP, 2020), Her debut play Never Forget was recently years of history (available on iTunes and most recently performed in the Vault Shakespeare and the Rise of the Editor (CUP, staged at the Tristan Bates Theatre. She’s Spotify). Festival as part of the Nastazja Somers 2007), collections of essays on Shakespeare the recipient of the MGCFutures Assistant directed 10. and Textual Studies (CUP, 2015), World-Wide Director Bursary 2019 and is currently PROFESSOR LYNETTE GODDARD Shakespeares (Routledge, 2005), critical an Assistant Director for Mephisto (A STELLA KANU Lynette is Professor of Black Theatre editions of The Paratexts in English Printed Rhapsody) at the Gate Theatre. and Performance at Royal Holloway, Stella Kanu is Executive Director at London Drama to 1642 (CUP, 2014) and John Ford’s researching contemporary Black British International Festival of Theatre (LIFT) and DR SYLVAN BAKER ’Tis Pity She’s a Whore for Arden Early playwriting with a focus on the politics Chair at Eclipse Theatre. She was recently Modern Drama (2011). Sylvan is a Lecturer in Community of race, gender and sexuality. Their book Executive Producer at Ovalhouse, CEO at Performance/Applied Theatre at Central publications include Contemporary Black Soundwave Cumbria and a Powerbrokers DR MONICA NDOUNOU and is a practitioner and applied theatre British Playwrights: Margins to Mainstream International Leadership Fellow. Stella is a Monica is Associate Professor of Theater researcher. His work enables diverse (2015) and Errol John’s Moon on a Rainbow coach/mentor for the Extend Leadership at Dartmouth College, as well as an actor, individuals to explore issues through arts Shawl (2017). Programme. She is a sought-after speaker, director, Vice-President of Advocacy of practice. His current projects are working strategic brain and trainer on topics ATHE, Founding Executive Director of with young people with experience of care DR JESSICA HARTLEY including Diversity, Leadership and Artivism. The CRAFT Institute and Convener of The to improve the system and practice aimed Jessica is Course Leader of the MA/MFA International Black Theatre Summit. She at disrupting racial exclusion for students DR FARAH KARIM-COOPER Actor Training and Coaching at Central. is also an award-winning author whose and staff in Higher Education. Her research focuses on the role of Dr Farah Karim-Cooper is the Head current multimedia project is Acting Your pedagogy within actor training. of Higher Education and Research at Color: The Craft, Power and Paradox of Acting Shakespeare’s Globe. Her research for Black Americans. SOPHIE MENSAH contributed a chapter Vulnerability in Performance: Daring to be Ourselves to Sophie is the Dean at ALRA (South) and the upcoming book The Pedagogy of Course Leader of MA Professional Acting. Vulnerability. She is about to embark on an EdD and currently holds an MA Actor Training and Coaching with Distinction from Central. DR GERALD ‘JAY’ PAUL SKELTON Sophie is also a professional actress and Jay is a lecturer on the MA Actor Training formerly trained at East15 Acting School. and Coaching course at Central. He is a director and producer and also teaches DAVID MUMENI at RADA, Kingston University and on the University of Notre Dame London David is an actor working regularly in Programme. His research interests include television, film and theatre. In 2017 he Shakespeare, Stanislavsky and Viewpoints. founded Open Door, a charity that helps young people who do not have the financial support or resources to gain a JATINDER VERMA place at one of the UK’s leading drama Jatinder is one of the Co-Founders of Tara schools. Open Door has since won School Arts. In 1989 he became the first Asian of the Year at the 2019 Stage Awards, and or Black director at the National Theatre, was mentioned in this year’s Big Issues staging his own adaptation of Molière’s Change Makers Top 100. Tartuffe. He has published essays on theatre and has presented a range of JESSICA MURRAIN programmes for radio and television. Jatinder was awarded an MBE in 2017 for Jessica trained at Central on the BA (Hons) his work with Tara Arts. Acting CDT and previously studied at Exeter University. She is a multidisciplinary creative, working predominantly as a JAMIE WHEELER theatre maker, actor and poet. Jessica is Jamie has been engaged in actor training Co-Founder of Theatre with Legs, and an and workshop facilitation for around 14 advocate and activist for LGBTQ+ rights years. This has run alongside a varied and survivors of gender-based violence. career in the entertainment industry with extensive work in casting, directing BEN NAYLOR and production design, as well as the occasional performance. He is currently Ben is Senior Lecturer in Acting and Course studying MA Actor Training and Coaching Leader of MA Acting Classical at Central, at Central. as well as admissions tutor for the MA Acting programme as a whole. He works internationally as a director and teacher HARVEY YOUNG of classical theatre, and researches and Dr Harvey Young is Dean of Fine Arts at publishes on Shakespeare and actor Boston University. He has published seven training. books on the experience and performance of race. As a cultural commentator, he has SIIRI SCOTT appeared on CNN, as well as within the pages of the New York Times and the Wall Siiri is the Head of Acting and Directing at Street Journal. the University of Notre Dame. An actor, director and producer, she narrates audiobooks, directs regularly with the Irish Theatre of Chicago, and recently