The trials and tribulations of teenagehood can be tough, a time where you’re trying to figure out who you are and where you stand with others and in the world. Whether you have fond memories of your teenage years, or not, this formative period in time has helped to shape who we are. Exploring teenagehood within her screenplay debut Americanized, Erica Eng delivers a short film delving into the life of Eng – a 16 year old teen of Asian descent based in Oakland and a member of her school’s basketball team. Tackling themes of cultural heritage, girlhood and sport – Erica tells us more about the film’s creative process and qualifying to be considered for an Academy Award®.

Hi Erica, your short film Americanized has qualified to be considered for a 2022 Academy Award®, how are you feeling?

Hearing it from you now kind of hit me, because today is when they’re opening up the voting (Friday 10^thDecember). It’s such a surreal position to be in because I remember feeling discouraged after initially getting so many rejection letters from film festivals and being worried that no one would like the film. But being here today – Oscar Qualified after winning “Best Dramatic Short” at Cinequest –  it’s just an amazing feeling. And it’s also great hearing from Catherine Lyn Scott (London Flair PR), on all the great feedback we’ve been receiving from people who have watched and enjoyed the film.

Politically relevant new play by James Graham at the Young Vic delivers in all departments with high production values. Set in the volatile year of 1968 America, the play tells the story of broadcast network ABC’s televised debates between William F.Buckley and Gore Vidal. The two rivals were invited on to save ABC’s dwindling ratings and in doing so ushered in a new age of American politics which moved away from well-informed journalists and political experts and towards celebrity punditry.

Courtesy of Wasi Daniju.

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Marking nearly 60 years since the Civil Rights movement in the US, a movement campaigning for the ending of racial discrimination, the campaigning continues on. Pre-dating the influential movement, and an important facet of it, Alice Childress‘ lesser known satirical play Trouble in Mind instils the hostility and divisive nature of the 1950s societal and political climate, and how this presents itself within the theatrical world.

Courtesy of Johan Persson.

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Within the past decade, we’ve witnessed the brave and pioneering work put in by sporting legends of the past really making its mark. From sponsorship opportunities, to support for mothers, to the awareness brought towards women’s sport, the battle for much needed endorsement and support within women’s sport has been a lengthy one, and one that continues to be battled, both on and off the sporting arena. Examining the advocacy aspect of sport within her sporting drama Fair Play, Ella Road crafts a complex portrayal of training, competition and the advocacy that goes on behind the scenes to help ensure a fairer playing field.

Courtesy of Ali Wright.

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Inspired by Gaston Leroux’s 1910 novel The Phantom of the Opera, Andrew Lloyd Webber, alongside lyricists Richard Stilgoe and Charles Hart would go on to create the iconic multi-award winning musical (1986) of the same name. Four decades on and the musical has enjoyed global success and continues to be enjoyed by many musical fans. Taking on the iconic musical and presenting it within a visual art format, Titan Comics have created a graphic novel version currently available to purchase online. A team effort, having been written by Cavan Scott, with visuals created by José Maria Beroy – theatre fans are now able to enjoy the musical in an alternate manner as well as own this unique collector’s item. We’ve teamed up with Titan Comics to giveaway a copy of the graphic novel, to have a chance of winning, answer the following question…

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Inspired by Gaston Leroux’s 1910 novel The Phantom of the Opera, Andrew Lloyd Webber, alongside lyricists Richard Stilgoe and Charles Hart would go on to create the iconic multi-award winning musical (1986) of the same name. Four decades on and the musical has enjoyed global success and continues to be enjoyed by many musical fans. Taking on the iconic musical and presenting it within a visual art format, Titan Comics have created a graphic novel version currently available to purchase online. A team effort, having been written by Cavan Scott, with visuals created by José Maria Beroy – theatre fans are now able to enjoy the musical in an alternate manner as well as own this unique collector’s item. Author Cavan Scott tells us more about the creation of the graphic novel!

The Phantom of the Opera graphic novel is available to purchase from Dec 7th in the UK and 11th Jan 2022 in the US and Canada. How are you feeling about the publication?

Due to start production in March of 2020, Ben Tricklebank’s short film CHAMP would witness a sudden shutdown in production due to the pandemic. Spurred on to realise the pertinent film’s vision – an exploration of masculinity, societal expectations and familial bonds, the production team would go on to craft a 15 minute piece that has now gone on to qualify to be considered for an Academy Award®. Currently enjoying much deserved success within the film festival circuit,  CHAMP continues to receive much deserved praise. Ahead of the Academy Award® nominations announcement on Tuesday 8th February 2022, Ben tells us more about the film’s creative journey so far!

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One of Covent Garden’s well known theatrical structures, the Royal Opera House has gone through various iterations, the building’s current structure it’s third outing. Founded in 1732, the venue was initially known as the Theatre Royal, operating mainly as a playhouse within its first century. Destroyed twice within its history – 1808 and 1856 due to disastrous fire incidents, what we now know as an operatic and ballet-led venue has gone through centuries of reshaping. Offering 45 minute tours of the elaborate venue, the Royal Opera House present the Velvet, Gilt and Glamour Tour!

Courtesy of Lucy Basaba.

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Sitting in Wembley Park Theatre feels like being back in school assembly. We’re sitting on stacked bleachers of felt chairs in what feels like a sports hall (actually an old X Factor studio). The programme has textbook puzzles and gobbets from pop-mathmo, Marcus du Sautoy. As it happens, the auditorium is packed full of school trips and the stage – an iridescent cube – is cast in grid paper, or Tetris cubes. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is, at its barest, a story about a boy (Christopher Boone, played by Connor Curren) leaving home. After ten years and a global tour since it opened at the National’s Cottesloe Theatre, it is back to the classroom for this only slightly saccharine story of family, trust and innocent bravery.

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Salomé’s biblical story has been one of much intrigue, the daughter of Herod II and Herodias, a memorable request made by her, one that has inspired man a retelling, her story referenced throughout art, literature and drama. Adapted by Oscar Wilde in 1896, the one act tragedy includes the depiction of the heroine’s dance of the seven veils as well as her shocking request. Presenting a regendered interpretation of the tale, Lazarus Theatre Company craft a 75 minute spectacle, filmed earlier on this year at the Southwark Playhouse and now available to catch on demand.

Courtesy of Adam Trigg.

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