We hope you are well! A reminder that the first of our free workshops are just around the corner. On September 30th we have a Creative Huddle with Laura Hanna on the theme of Motivation; and on October 7th, Nadine Kaadan leads Telling Inclusive MENA+ Stories for Children. If you haven't already, be sure to check them out and book your tickets HERE.
Sharing Conversations and Opportunities
Global Voices Theatre are searching for plays and performance texts from the Jewish diaspora for a showcase of work at an Off West End London venue. They are particularly encouraging applications from Jewish writers who identify as Sephardic and/or MENA, as they are underrepresented within the Jewish diaspora. Deadline: 30 Sept at 5pm. Click here for more info.
Check out The Open Sessions, a series of free monthly Zoom sessions covering different aspects of the acting industry. They are being presented by Missing Link Yorkshire (founded by directory member Yasmin Taheri). Upcoming sessions cover Drama School Audition Panels, Accessibility in the Industry, and Being An Actor from an Underpresented Background. Click here for more info.
Aran Cherkez, who is leading our upcoming Storytelling From Queer Perspectives workshop, is searching for an Arabic/Turkish drum player (instruments such as goblet, darbouka or similar). The percussionist would be required from 11am-12pm on October 22nd, and will be paid for their time. If interested, contact Laila on info@menaarts.uk
Foreign Affairs Theatre Company is casting for their upcoming production of Where I Call Home (Gens Du Pays). They are looking for a male identifying actor in their 20's with Middle Eastern or North African background / heritage to play the role of Martin Martin (the protagonist). Deadline: 30 Sept at 6pm. Click here for more info.
Cameron Mackintosh Ltd are looking for a Casting Intern. This is a three-month engagement which will begin in early October. Applicants must be equipped with basic IT skills, have confident communication skills and a keen interest in casting for theatre. Apply in writing with a current CV and cover letter to castingintern@camack.co.uk
Hamilton is holding auditions, and are looking for singers who can rap and dancers who are versatile in all forms of dance. Auditions will take place in London, commencing October 2021 and finishing in January 2022. Click here for more information on how to apply.
Our friends at the Arab British Centre have recently announced a new course: Cairo In The Roaring 20's. Led by historian and author Raphael Cormack, it "explores the stories of the singers, actresses, and dancers of 1920's Cairo to tell a different kind of Middle Eastern history." Running from 21 September to 12 October - click here for more information.
Directory member Diyan Zora is hosting a workshop titled An Introduction to Theatre Directing. The workshop will look at how to get started, with a focus on how to find your voice as an artist. It will take place on September 30th from 2:30-3:30pm, over Zoom. Click here to book.
Tower Hamlets Council are hosting a festival of Freedom and Liberation celebrating fifty years of Bangladesh's liberation. On November 21st from 6-7pm, there will be a dedicated celebration of Palestinian Arts. They are seeking 20-40 minute proposals from filmmakers, poets, musicians, academics, and individuals interested in hosting a discussion, theatre piece or reading. There is a small budget available. Contact tanushkamarah@gmail.com with a written paragraph or video submission about your work by midday October 4th.
Unicorn Theatre are looking for an Assistant Director for their Christmas musical adaptation of The Bolds. The position is supported by the Joanna David Award for early-career directors. Deadline: October 5th. Click here for more information.
Directory Shoutouts!
Part of our Directory and have a show/project coming up? Let us know so we can shout about it in the next mailout! In the meantime, check out the following shows featuring our wonderful directory members:
Check out ISABELLE FARAH in her one-woman show Ellipsis. Weaving together stand-up and theatre, the show explores grief and authenticity. Playing at Soho Theatre, Oct 11 - 13th. Click here for tickets.
Good luck to SAFIA LAMRANI who has been selected as a regional finalist to represent Morocco in the World Monologue Games. Click here to watch her performance free online on October 1st at 12pm.
SUSKU EKIM KAYA has recently become the face of The Staunch Test 'Best' campaign. The campaign aims to raise awareness of the excessive use of violence against women in film and television. Click here to read more about the campaign.
Opening a show this week is JIDA AKIL, who is the Jerwood Assistant Designer on Hamlet at the Young Vic. Running 29 Sept - 13 Nov. Click here for tickets.
Congratulations to HANNAH KHALIL, whose anthology Plays of Arabic Heritage was published last week. Order your copy here.
And that’s everything! For the new members, mailout is usually sent on a fortnightly basis. Please keep sharing and sending me any of your wonderful work or opportunities you want included in the next mailout to this email. Now more than ever lets keep circulating our brilliant stories; whether it's past work, articles, videos, or something you think the membership may find interesting, please do drop me an email! Please continue to sign up to our directory, and share our community with your friends in the industry!
Have a great week,
Jessie x
MENA ARTS UK
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Our position on endorsement.
Our main areas of work is to help connect the creative industries with UK MENA+ talent, so we will always share castings, job opportunities, or marketing information. We will track these projects in the hope that they are a great example of how MENA+ talent is used. But by sharing this information, it should not be seen as an endorsement of the project.
We will call out work that is appropriating a MENA+ narrative and does not have MENA+ talent at the heart of the creative process; and we will always champion, front and centre, work that is made for and by MENA+ talent.
MENA ARTS UK
