2017 witnessed theatre company Crying in the Wilderness perform their work Invisible Man at Certain Blacks’ Harlem Festival, a pertinent production about marginalisation initially performed at the Decibel Performing Arts Festival at the Manchester Royal National College of Music back in 2011. Eight years on, Certain Blacks’ and Crying in the Wilderness reunite as the latter present work-in-progress Best Friends – a work following two successful businessmen who check in to a retreat centre to celebrate their last 24hrs as friends, only to bring to the fore revelations about their pasts at this year’s Afro Futures Festival taking place at Rich Mix from 6th to 9th March. Ahead of the festival, Creative Director Paul Morris tells us more about how the company have approached creating the work-in-progress, what’s been learned from creating it and future plans for the show.
Courtesy of Irven Lewis.
An SEND Advocate and Empowerment Coach – creative Oneness Sankara brings her years of knowledge supporting SEND families, as well as her own personal journey to highlight the story of a British African Caribbean mother supporting a child with Down Syndrome with work-in-progress T21 Alchemy. Playing as part of Certain Blacks’ Afro Futures Festival which takes places from 6th to 9th March, Oneness Sankara tells us more about exploring the show’s topic further, her roles as a creative/SEND Advocate/Empowerment Coach and what’s been learned from creating the work in progress.
Citing the legendary jazz saxophonist and band leader John Coltrane as an inspiration, experimental saxophonist Sean Khan has too inspired others and helped to shape the musical landscape with various albums, showcasing Sean’s versatility as a musician, experimenting with Broken-Beats, Jazz and Brazilian rhythms. His recent endeavour – an album with The Modern Jazz and Folk Ensemble released in 2024 of the same name delving into the rich tradition of folk music. Due to perform with the ensemble on Thursday 6th March at Rich Mix as part of celebrated organisation Certain Blacks’ Afro Futures Festival, which takes place from Thursday 6th to Sunday 9th March, Sean tells us more about what to expect from his curated set.
Synonymous with the world of entertainment – Soho, situated in the heart of London, is home to an array of integral arts institutions such as Soho Theatre, Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club and The Arts Club to name but a few. A hub for the creative mind, the industry has laid firm roots there for decades. Returning for their 5th year this January, the Soho London International Film Festival continues on with the locality’s artsy tradition – hosting a vast range of short films with stars including celebrated actors Mark Rylance, Riz Ahmed, Phil Davies and singer Toyah Wilcox all having created work, as well as emerging artists showcasing their craft. Taking place at De Lane Lea / Warner Bros Building from Thursday 23rd until Sunday 26th January, the festival will continue to champion original work, and will culminate in an awards ceremony whereby 16 categories will be acknowledged. Ahead of the event, festival founder and director Liz Farahadi tells us more about this vital platform and offers advice to anyone looking to submit work in the future!
Over 30 years ago, Yugoslavia, which consisted of 6 republics – Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia crumbled, the rise of ethno nationalism disbanding the six nations gradually post 1991, with each republic gaining independence and devastation resulting in the loss of lives. Bosnia and Herzegovina the victims of ethnic cleansing impacting the Bosnian Muslim population. Drawing on this harrowing part of the nation’s history, writer and Director Nebojsa Slijepcevic presents The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent, a short film based aboard a passenger train in 1993, travelling from Belgrade to Bar when tragically intercepted by paramilitary forces in an ethnic cleansing operation. The film focusing particularly on a man who ‘could remain silent’ or speak up against the autrocity. Currently shortlisted as an Oscar contender, Nebojsa tells us more about exploring this subject matter further and what he’s learned from creating the film.
With the charts currently an ever evolving reality by the week, with the likes of iTunes and Spotify shaping the way we consume music, Pop music’s journey within the first couple of decades into the new millennium has been fascinating to watch – pop the foundation of our mainstream musical landscape. Making their mark almost 30 years ago now with their confident, authentic, boisterous brand of pop, Five dominated the 90s UK Pop scene, hits such as “Keep On Movin” and “We Will Rock You” staples of their tenure at the top of the charts. Returning this Christmas to embark on the The Biggest 90s and 00s Disco Arena shows on Friday 13thand Saturday 14that OVO London and OVO Glasgow as well as the Kubix Arena Tour from 20thto 22ndDecember in Aberdeen, Leeds and Hull, band member Scott Robinson tells us more about what to expect.
In a day where generationally, we’ve witnessed a shift in how prospective couples meet, the online realm dominates interactions. Dating apps now a part of our digital fabric, perfectly curated accounts allow for us to portray ourselves in a light that we’d like to be seen in. Positive attributes understandably pushed to the forefront whereas our flaws – phased out or seldom addressed and with this, hard truths can often present themselves in various forms. Exploring this phenomenon of online dating and the aftermath of meeting someone you possibly envision yourself with, writer Victoria Buse reflects on her latest show Not In the Mood for Quiche Anymore, a resonant piece placing focus on main character, Becks’ hope to meet her dream man online, which she believes she has done, only to discover his criminal conviction. A timely work, especially in light of the current news cycle which has had a heavy focus on prison, Victoria tells us more about what inspired her to explore this narrative further, working with director Michael Gyngell and actor Laura Matthews and her hopes for staging the show in the future.
24 years into our new century and millennium, we find our now digital dependent world one that we still are coming to terms with – current advancements within AI an existential reality that we already see ourselves faced with, and increasingly more so moving forward. Writer and director duo and twin brothers Kevin and Kelly Luu delve deeper into this phenomenon in latest short film Technicians, following David, a struggling technician tasked with installing self service manicure stations at a nail salon where he meets a Vietnamese American nail technician whose job is under threat. At a very crucial point historically where we’re starting to witness traditional jobs transition to AI, Kevin and Kelly tell us more about exploring these pertinent themes further, responses to the film from this year’s Tribeca Film Festival and being chosen as one of ten recipients of the ‘Indeed’ Rising Voices’ program, a program created to discover, invest in and share stories crafted by BIPOC filmmakers and storytellers.
London’s alternative to the world famous, month long arts festival Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the Camden Fringe Festival invites anyone and everyone to stage new works, whether established or newly established – their ethos being that everyone is welcome to participate. Now in its 18th year, the festival welcomes over 320 productions staged across 23 North London venues from 29th July until 25th August, the festival promising a mixed programme of stage up, musicals, physical theatre and more. Recipients of the ‘commendation for Outstanding Achievement’ at the London Pub Theatre Awards 2023, Camden Fringe Festival founders Michelle Flower and Zena Barrie tell us more about what to expect from this this year’s line up.
Courtesy of Yasmine Akim.
Committed to creating a safe, creative space for LGBTQIA+ artists, Ugly Duck is at the forefront of championing multidisciplinary live works that speak to the present day. Their annual @Disturbance festival, typically staged towards the end of each year, now set for an inaugural summer edition. The collaborative event seeing artists Alex Billingham, Samiir Saunders, Ace Rahman, Kobi Essah Ayensuo and Ella Frost inspired by Ugly Duck’s partnership with disabled led organisations Care-fuffle and Shape Arts to specifically create new pieces integrating captioning, audio description and BSL. Ahead of the event, to take place on Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd June in Bermondsey, Ugly Duck’s Deen Atger tells us more about what to expect from this crucial, innovative event.