THE MONO BOX PRESENTS
PLAYSTART: The Fundraising Gala
Sunday 17th November
Doors: 2:00pm / Curtain up: 2.30pm / Curtain down: 5:30pm
HAMPSTEAD THEATRE, ETON AVENUE, SWISS COTTAGE, LONDON, NW3 3EU
Join Co-Founders Polly Bennett and Joan Iyiola and Patrons Vanessa Kirby (The Crown, Netflix) and Susan Wokoma (E4’s Crazyhead, Chewing Gum) for a showcase of 4 new plays by young companies mentored and empowered by The Mono Box on Sunday 17th November 2019.
This special day will showcase four premiere plays written, directed and performed by outstanding emerging talent, who have been empowered by The Mono Box through their PLAYSTART programme. Every penny raised at PLAYSTART: The Fundraising Gala through ticket sales, the auction and donations will help meet the demands of members and support the best of emerging British talent.
Four emerging writer/director pairs have each completed a 15-minute play, with the support and mentorship of a professional playwright. The Mono Box has provided them with free rehearsal space, facilities to cast actors, a producer and feedback from industry professionals to help them realise their work.
PLAYSTART: The Fundraising Gala will provide an opportunity for these plays to be performed on Hampstead Theatre’s Main Stage in front of a lively, supportive audience and will mark the launch of the PLAYSTART Book published by Oberon Books. The Gala has been kindly sponsored by HN Wines who will be providing a glass of fizz for our Champion ticket bookers on arrival. Expect a live auction of prizes donated including a stay at luxury Hampshire Hotel Heckfield Place, a guided tour of Tate Modern and more prizes donated by theatre royalty led by Tom Clarkson, and musical performances from Rebecca Loudon, Annabel York and Tida Chinyanga.
The Mono Box empowers young writers, directors and actors – and is run entirely by unpaid volunteers, generous artists and industry practitioners. We have ambitions to grow our diverse and unique programme. Be a Mono Box Champion! Every penny raised at the Gala will be used to continue to galvanise the best of emerging British talent – grab your £75 VIP ticket and actively champion the next generation of artists. Other tickets cost £25-£35 and there are 100 x £10 tickets for under-30s,
Come along to discover some of the future’s brightest talent!
ABOUT PLAYSTART
This is the third year of PLAYSTART, a scheme signalling The Mono Box’s commitment to help support emerging theatre makers. PLAYSTART 2019 pairs four emerging writers with four directors and provides a platform for them to stage a 15-minute play, with the support and mentorship of a professional mentors. They receive free rehearsal space, facilities to cast actors, a producer and workshops with and feedback from industry professionals to help them realise their work.
This year the writers are being mentored by playwrights Phoebe Éclair-Powell, Ella Hickson, James Graham and Vinay Patel. Directors are being mentored by Ned Bennett (Equus, Pomona) and Andrew Whyment (Squint.) This mentorship culminates in a performance on Sunday 17th November at Hampstead Theatre where The Mono Box is an Associate Company. Additionally, all writers will be published first time in The Mono Box’s PLAYSTART anthology, in collaboration with Oberon Books.
This new writing scheme has previously seen participants receiving full length commissions for leading venues, and this year we are aiming for all four 15-minute plays to develop into full productions.
We are excited to announce the plays cast and creative teams:
When the Leaves Fall by Grace Tarr
Directed by Evangeline Cullingworth
Cast includes: Olivia Dowd, Felix Pilgrim and Risha Silvera
Meatballs by Maatin Patel
Directed by Ebe Bamboye
Cast includes: Cassian Bilton, Ikky Elyas, Lauren O’Leary and Isabel Adomakoh Young
One of the Good Ones by Vivian Xie
Directed by Adrian Tang
Cast includes: Christian Bradley and Angela Yeoh
Cold Feet and Bacon Sandwiches by Kiran Benawra
Directed by Sibylla Kalid
Cast Includes: Martha Pothen and Zara Tomkinson
ABOUT THE MONO BOX
The Mono Box is a vital resource for artists wanting to access the industry and for theatre makers wanting to develop their skills. Since its inception in 2013 The Mono Box has become the only place to offer access to a play collection donated entirely by theatre professionals, responsive training, wellbeing support and offer new writing opportunities.
THE MONO BOX PATRONS ARE:
Sir Derek Jacobi (I,Claudius), Vanessa Kirby (The Crown, Netflix), Susan Wokoma (E4’s Crazyhead, Chewing Gum), Danny Kirrane (Peterloo), James Norton (Happy Valley, McMafia), Joseph Marcell (The Fresh Prince of Bel Air) and Annie Tyson (RADA and Drama Centre BA Acting tutor)
Book your ticket here: https://www.hampsteadtheatre.com/whats-on/the-mono-box/playstart-a-fundraising-gala/
If you can’t come but are interested in supporting the cause, The Mono Box are accepting donations here:
https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/monobox
For further information about The Mono Box can be found here: www.themonobox.co.uk