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