Release tension, stress and anxiety

Push yourselves and try something different:


FREE AFRICAN DANCE WORKSHOPS

*led by Alphonse Bhupanga of Suku Dia Kongo

* based around African drumming and movement, an excellent way of helping shake
off tension, stress and anxiety
*working towards performances all over London
*no experience necessary
*learn about Congolese culture & tradition

MONDAYS
6-7pm
Term-time only
Starting 19th Nov 2007
Kilburn (near Kilburn tube station)

For more information on volunteering for Upbeat and to book your place on these
workshops please contact:

Lucia Way
Development Manager
UPBEAT

E: mailto:project24eight@yahoo.co.uk
T: 078 6077 8133

Creative Minds Making Music

Exceptional Contribution to Arts and Culture in Camden 2006 Award

Blog information provided courtesy of: http://www.ethnicshowcase.com
London's Premier Ethnic Talent Agency

Panto's - Have you been to one lately?

Panto season is a busy time for actors who can get work.
Actors normally waork 6weeks to 2months and can earn any where from £500 to £2000+ per week.

It's a lucrative and fun industry.

ES recommends that all budding actors should get themselves along to a panto this christmas and new year season and pick up a few hints and tips.

Panto is really good fun and you see actors working hard for their money!!

Here are some interesting panto's that we have found, we hope you'll find them useful.

The ES Team.
www.ethnicshowcase.com Talent Agency

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The Brothers Size
“Opening this week at the Young Vic Theatre, fusing Yoruba myth with the earthly poetic life of present day Louisiana, the productions follows the lives of brothers Ogun and Oshooi Size. Features Live Music and dance from the rich traditions of West Africa and America’s Deep South. Also running currently at the Public Theatre New York.”

November 8 - December 8
Tickets
Weekdays and matinees £15.50
Last performances £18.50
Under 26s £9.50
Other discounts available

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A Christmas Carol- Ikrismas Kherol
Adapted from Dickens

A vibrant, thrilling musical adaptation of the most enduring of all ghost stories. This time Scrooge is a woman, the setting is today’s South Africa and the past is life under the apartheid regime.
These are exciting times... The rise of a new economic class. Others face harsh poverty while Scrooge is rich and successful. But she lives a lonely, loveless life. Three ancestral spirits come to visit. By the end she understands it is never too late to learn from the past, to change and live a meaningful and happy life.
20 November 2007-
19 January 2008
Tickets
Previews £18.50
Weekdays and matinees £21.50
Christmas week (20-31 Dec) £24.50
Under 26s £9.50
Other discounts available

Call 020 7992 2922 or visit www.youngvic.org

-------------------------Pantomimes in London
2007 - 2008
Peter Pan
Millfield Theatre
Silver Street, Edmonton, London, N18 1PJ
30th Nov 2007 to 6th Jan 2008
A boy will fly at Millfield this Christmas!
Website http://www.millfieldtheatre.co.uk/

Aladdin
Broadway Theatre Catford
Catford Broadway Catford SE6 4RU
15th Dec 2007 to 6th Jan 2008
Classic tale from the Arabian Nights
Website http://www.broadwaytheatre.org.uk/

Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs
New Wimbledon Theatre
The Broadway, Wimbledon, London, SW19 1QG
7th Dec 2007 to 20th Jan 2008
Mirror mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all? Get ready for the ultimate adventure as the Wicked Queen tries her hardest to woo the Prince away from Snow White, and journey deep into the magical forest to meet seven loveable dwarfs.
Website http://www.theambassadors.com/newwimbledon/

Jack and the Beanstalk
Barbican Centre
Silk Street London EC2Y 8DS
1st Dec 2007 to 12th Jan 2008
Starring Suzanne Shaw (Hear'say) plays Princess Melody. She is joined by popular comic actors Mel Giedroyc (Mel and Sue) as Fairy Liquid and Steve Furst (Little Britain).
Website http://www.barbican.org.uk/

A Christmas Carol
The Rayne Theatre
Chicken Shed, London N14
3rd Dec 2007 to 12th Jan 2008
Chickenshed?s unique adaptation of Charles Dickens? classic novel will transport you back to Victorian London to witness the transformation of Scrooge.
Website http://www.chickenshed.org.uk/

Fungus the Bogeyman
artsdepot
Tally Ho Corner, North Finchley N12
24th Nov 2007 to 5th Jan 2008
Enter the underground kingdom of bogey wonderland! slime every mountain and pop up in the bright, shiny overworld of the dry cleaners in this disgusting show for all the family over the festive season.
Website http://www.artsdepot.co.uk/

Cinderella
Theatre Royal Stratford East
Gerry Raffles Square, Stratford, London, E15 1BN
1st Dec 2007 to 19th Jan 2008
Will Cinderella go to the ball to meet her Prince Charming, despite the wicked efforts of her smelly, nasty step-sisters?
Website http://www.stratfordeast.com/

The Snowman
The Peacock Theatre
Portugal Street, LONDON, WC2A 2HT
5th Dec 2007 to 6th Jan 2008
This delightful version of Raymond Briggs' tale returns for the tenth year.
Website http://www.sadlerswells.com/peacock/

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Beck Theatre
Grange Road, HAYES, UB3 2UE
14th Dec 2007 to 6th Jan 2008
Hi Ho!
Website http://www.livenation.co.uk/venue/getVenue/venueId/16785/

Puss In Boots
Glaxo Smithkline Sports and Social Club
Oldfield Lane North, Greenford, Middlesex
10th Jan 2008 to 12th Jan 2008
Holy Cross Players proudly present an all new version of the classic, and sadly neglected, pantomime. Fun for all the family guaranteed!
Website http://www.holycrossplayers.org.uk/

Aladdin
South London Theatre
2a Norwood High Street, London SE27 9NS
4th Dec 2007 to 16th Dec 2007
Magical festive fun for all the family, with South London's biggest and brightest pantomime. Join Aladdin and his friends on the quest to find the lamp, defeat the evil Vizier Abanazer and bring freedom to the people of Peking!
Website http://www.southlondontheatre.co.uk/

Dick Whittington
Greenwich Theatre
Crooms Hill, London SE10 8ES
4th Dec 2007 to 5th Jan 2008
Alderman Fitzwarren is not a happy man. His cheese shop is infested with rats, his daughter is determined to ignore all talk of pirates and set sail for foreign lands, and as for his latest employee, Mrs Willamena Whittington..........
Website http://www.greenwichtheatre.org.uk/

Trouble in Pantoland
Intimate Theatre
Bourne Hill Palmers Green N13
20th Dec 2007 to 22nd Dec 2007
A seriously evil wizard has invaded panto land. With all your favourite Disney characters appearing which one will save the day? Will it be the Wicked Queens obsessive step daughter Snow white, jilted Cinderella, Amelia sweet heart or perhaps a frog.
Website http://www.platinum1entertainment.co.uk/

Dick Whittington
Intimate Theatre
521 Green Lanes, Palmers Green, N13
3rd Jan 2008 to 6th Jan 2008
A traditional family pantomime for all ages! Thursday to Saturday at 7.30pm. Saturday and Sunday at 3.00pm. Box Office: 020 8807 1810. Profits donated to Arnold House Leonard Cheshire Home who support physically disabled adults (Charity No. 218186).
Website http://www.acorntheatre.com/


Aladdin
Bridewell Theatre
Bride Lane, Fleet Street, London EC4Y 8EQ
8th Jan 2008 to 12th Jan 2008
Come and meet Aladdin, Widow Twanki, Wishi Washi, Emperor Wong Wei, Empress Wong Ki, PC's Dim & Sum, evil Abanazar, Princess Su Shi, & the magical Genies of the Lamp and Ring.
Website http://www.blucow.co.uk/boxoffice/

Jack and the Beanstalk
The Intimate Theatre
521 Green Lanes, Palmers Green, N13
5th Dec 2007 to 16th Dec 2007
The London Pantomimers present Jack and the Beanstalk the well known family favourite!
Website http://www.thelondonpantomimers.org.uk/

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Masterclass Initiative - Get involved!

Theatre Royal Haymarket Company

Masterclass Initiative
If you are aged between 17-30 or are a mature student then check out the Theatre Royal Haymarket's free Masterclass Initiative. The theatre offers a year-round programme of events and classes focussing on acting and performance, with directing, producing and writing also included.

Masterclass offers free talks and workshops with leading theatre professionals.
Masterclass Apprentice Scheme·

Apprentices will be selected from Masterclass participants, past and present, and must be aged between 17-30yrs.

There will be three rounds of placements worked around the three productions of the 2007 – 2008 TRHC season.

This new scheme will enable Masterclass to get to know the work of many young actors, directors, designers and technicians, who will form a collective of talented young artists within the Masterclass programme.

For more information for Masterclass Events 2007, click here: info@masterclass.org.uk 020 7389 9660

An inspirational thought for you

"When you are content to be simply yourself and don't compare or compete, everybody will respect you."

The Tao Te Ching

Black actresses - "White up"

Diversity event to see black actress white up as Queen.

Exclusive - Theatre Royal, Stratford East is to stage a controversial revival of Jean Genet's The Blacks - in which a black actress will be 'whited up' to play the Queen - to coincide with the 200th anniversary of the abolition of slavery and a major conference discussing diversity within the arts.

The production, which has been remixed to create a hip hop version of the 1958 play, is also being staged to coincide with the 50th anniversary of Ghanian independence from the British Empire - Genet's initial impetus to write the piece.

The run will culminate in a day-long conference organised by Equity and Stratford East to discuss issues surrounding diversity in the performing arts. Excalibah, who will appear in and co-direct the show with Ultz, told The Stage that the pair had worked to update Genet's verse to slam poetry and hip hop inorder to give the piece greater relevance for modern audiences.

"With it being 50 years since Ghanaian independence - which was Genet's initial inspiration for writing the piece - and 200 since the abolition of theslave trade, it is perfect timing" he said.

The production will feature a company of 13 black actors, five of whom will play the Queen, her footman, an ambassador, a judge and a missionary. These performers will be 'whited-up' and positioned in a royal box watching the play within a play.

According to a spokesperson for the show, the actress playing the Queen will be made 'as close a facsimile of Queen Elizabeth II as we can manage. We'll be flipping stereotypes on their head,' added Excalibah, 'and that's exactly what Genet's play does. It plays around with the ideas of black and white.'

The Blacks runs at Theatre Royal, Stratford East from October 12 to November 10.

For more information follow the link: http://www.thestage.co.uk/news/newsstory.php/17571/diversity-event-to-see-black-actress-white·

TICKETS: £10 & £18 (concs £7 & £12)Days:
Tues - Sat Times: 7.30pm Extra show: 2pm, Wed 31st Oct

To book on online, click http://www.theatreroyallondon.com/shows.php\?display=upcoming

www.ethnicshowcase.com - UK Community Talent Agents

Tips on Becoming a Successful Actor / Actress

If you want to become a successful actor, here are some useful tips that we think can get you started:

1. Get voice coaching lessons or find some vocal warm up exercise routines (if you want a long standing career in vocal work you need to look after your voice).

2. If you can't afford voice coaching lessons, pop down to your local library and see if they have or can order you in a book on voice exercises.

3. Join as many local theatre groups as possible. For a long standing career in acting you need to be versatile so the more experience you have of different productions and different groups the more rounded actor/actress you will become.

4. If you are at school, college or university join any acting or theatre club.

5. When auditioning for plays and productions try and audition for a wide range of roles and characters.

6. Sign up to a casting agency (like Ethnic Showcase), some can be pricey (we're free) - so find one that suits your budget as these can be a great way of finding out about auditions.

7. Log on to TV station and TV production company websites to find out if they are looking for anyone to take part in their shows. Even if it is not strictly an acting role being on TV is a good experience.

8. Buy (or borrow) a video camera and record yourself doing some acting. This can be great to show potential casting companies or just as a tool to critique your own work. When you record something you are happy with upload it to a website like www.youtube.com which can be done for free and you can then share your talent with the world and use it to advertise yourself with.

http://www.talentedyoungpeople.com/tips/

More Ethnic Showcase advice:
Do your homework and do background research to help pursue your career; watchfilms, read plays, go to the theatre, all this will help to develop yourskills as a performer.

Find a way to network. The business relies heavily on networking.
Use what connections you have to your advantage and use them well Get an agent or publicist. This is perhaps one of the wisest things you should do.

With representation, you have a link to casting calls.

Agents sometimes call in favors or recommend actresses to casting directors they know. In fact, your agent or publicist will be the one person (besides you) who should beworking actively to find you a job

And finally......

Audition, audition, audition

By Ella Fleming.
www.ethnicshowcase.com

A FESTIVAL WORTH CHECKING OUT!

Friday 2nd August

From the 2nd- 19th August Trafalgar Square is hosting a free festival.
There will be inspirational performances to be held over the next couple weeks. It is set to show London's creative connection with India through new collaborations and pioneering outdoor commissions.

If you are interested in Dance, Music and stunning performances then this festival with it's cultural fusion of contemporary performances with classical and folk is a must see. It takes place Thursday and Friday evenings, and Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

"The 2007 Trafalgar Square Festival takes inspiration from the Mayor's 'India Now' season with three weeks of breathtaking outdoor dance, theatre and spectacle."

If you can't make any of the mid-week events then don't miss the Festival Finale, which will reach it's climax with a large scale Bollywood dance extravaganza, featuring dance groups all over London.

To find out more about the festival follow the link: http://www.london.gov.uk/trafalgarsquare/events/tsf/index.jsp

EthnicShowcase.com - UK Talent Agency

Posted by Ella Fleming