GET IN TOUCH. GET INVOLVED.
LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK, FIND OUT WAYS YOU CAN BE INVOLVED IN THE PROJECT, AND KEEP UP TO DATE WITH OUR DEVELOPMENT.
Opportunities:
PERFORMERS FOR UPCOMING PROJECT
The Rural Black History project is looking for three Black and Global Majority identifying performers based in or with links to the Cotswolds or surrounding West Country areas.
About the Project
The Rural Black History Project will connect us to a more diverse understanding of our past by creating films, school/community workshops and a captivating exhibition celebrating our shared heritage.
Using historical records and studies of the Black presence across the Cotswolds and the wider region, the Rural Black History Project will produce 3 short films, 1-2mins long, imagining the lives of those in the data. The project will then deliver 8 school and 2 public workshops, empowering participants to create their own artistic responses to the data. Finally, the resulting work will be presented alongside a broader exploration of Rural Black History, in a public exhibition at New Brewery Arts, Cirencester.
The key aims for this project are:
The Short Films
Our three films will explore the personal and emotional experiences of "spinster" Margaret Walden, "traveller" Thomas Davis, and the Unnamed Bust in st Kenelm's Church. The films will be presented in a public exhibition at New Brewery Arts, Cirencester (w/c 25th October 2021). They will be shown alongside youth and community artistic responses to other local sources, and a broader exploration of Rural Black History.
Details of each role can be found below. To apply, please send us a self tape of yourself performing a monologue to camera, approximately 1-2 minutes long, along with your name, location, and availability w/c 20th September. Applications should be sent to [email protected]. Deadline to apply is midnight on the 12th September.
THE ROLES
MARGARET WALDEN:
Archival records simply state that "Margaret Walden, spinster, a ‘person of coller', was baptised" in 13 August 1817, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.
Our Writer has interpreted Margaret to be someone with an independent, entrepreneurial spirit, someone who is busy and savvy and making ends meet by her own means.
We are looking for a Black identifying Female Actor with a playing age of between 40-50 years old, with either the ability to do or a natural West Country accent.
Ideally this role will go to someone with links to the area or wider West Country.
The role will require learning a 1-2min long monologue, and will be a total of 1 day's filming during the w/c 20th September. The total Fee for this project is £150. with travel and lunch expenses paid in addition to this.
THOMAS DAVIS:
Archival records state that 'Thomas Davis, 'an infirm travelling Black', was buried, 67 years old' in Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire, on the 20th June, 1826.
Our writer for this monologue has interpreted Thomas as someone connected to the nature around him, with artisan skills in carpentry and a communal spirit that have sustained his way of life.
We are looking for a Black identifying Male Actor with a playing age of between 40-50 years old, with either the ability to do or a natural West Country accent. Ideally this role will go to someone with links to the area or wider West Country.
THE UNNAMED BUST:
Frustrated at being simply described 'a "Negro man" bust' as part of a larger memorial (belonging to the land owner Sir Henry Poole), The Unnamed Bust explores how the other memories that this church's burial ground holds can help him take back the spotlight for his legacy, and ultimately find a name for himself.
The source for this character is Sir Henry Poole's memorial in Sapperton, Gloucestershire.
We are looking for a tall, Black identifying Male Actor with a playing age of between approx 20-30 years old, and someone who has experience with or a flair for comedic roles. Ideally this role will go to someone with links to the area or wider West Country.
The role will require learning a 1-2min long monologue, and will be a total of 1 day's filming during the w/c 20th September. The total Fee for this project is £150. with travel and lunch expenses paid in addition to this.
PERFORMERS FOR UPCOMING PROJECT
The Rural Black History project is looking for three Black and Global Majority identifying performers based in or with links to the Cotswolds or surrounding West Country areas.
About the Project
The Rural Black History Project will connect us to a more diverse understanding of our past by creating films, school/community workshops and a captivating exhibition celebrating our shared heritage.
Using historical records and studies of the Black presence across the Cotswolds and the wider region, the Rural Black History Project will produce 3 short films, 1-2mins long, imagining the lives of those in the data. The project will then deliver 8 school and 2 public workshops, empowering participants to create their own artistic responses to the data. Finally, the resulting work will be presented alongside a broader exploration of Rural Black History, in a public exhibition at New Brewery Arts, Cirencester.
The key aims for this project are:
- To call attention to the Black British legacies of the region, creating art that illuminates these lost stories, reframing ideas about the rural space and belonging.
- To bring together people from across the region to explore and celebrate our shared and complex history, through creativity.
- To foster the creative talents of our community, particularly those of the global majority
The Short Films
Our three films will explore the personal and emotional experiences of "spinster" Margaret Walden, "traveller" Thomas Davis, and the Unnamed Bust in st Kenelm's Church. The films will be presented in a public exhibition at New Brewery Arts, Cirencester (w/c 25th October 2021). They will be shown alongside youth and community artistic responses to other local sources, and a broader exploration of Rural Black History.
Details of each role can be found below. To apply, please send us a self tape of yourself performing a monologue to camera, approximately 1-2 minutes long, along with your name, location, and availability w/c 20th September. Applications should be sent to [email protected]. Deadline to apply is midnight on the 12th September.
THE ROLES
MARGARET WALDEN:
Archival records simply state that "Margaret Walden, spinster, a ‘person of coller', was baptised" in 13 August 1817, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.
Our Writer has interpreted Margaret to be someone with an independent, entrepreneurial spirit, someone who is busy and savvy and making ends meet by her own means.
We are looking for a Black identifying Female Actor with a playing age of between 40-50 years old, with either the ability to do or a natural West Country accent.
Ideally this role will go to someone with links to the area or wider West Country.
The role will require learning a 1-2min long monologue, and will be a total of 1 day's filming during the w/c 20th September. The total Fee for this project is £150. with travel and lunch expenses paid in addition to this.
THOMAS DAVIS:
Archival records state that 'Thomas Davis, 'an infirm travelling Black', was buried, 67 years old' in Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire, on the 20th June, 1826.
Our writer for this monologue has interpreted Thomas as someone connected to the nature around him, with artisan skills in carpentry and a communal spirit that have sustained his way of life.
We are looking for a Black identifying Male Actor with a playing age of between 40-50 years old, with either the ability to do or a natural West Country accent. Ideally this role will go to someone with links to the area or wider West Country.
THE UNNAMED BUST:
Frustrated at being simply described 'a "Negro man" bust' as part of a larger memorial (belonging to the land owner Sir Henry Poole), The Unnamed Bust explores how the other memories that this church's burial ground holds can help him take back the spotlight for his legacy, and ultimately find a name for himself.
The source for this character is Sir Henry Poole's memorial in Sapperton, Gloucestershire.
We are looking for a tall, Black identifying Male Actor with a playing age of between approx 20-30 years old, and someone who has experience with or a flair for comedic roles. Ideally this role will go to someone with links to the area or wider West Country.
The role will require learning a 1-2min long monologue, and will be a total of 1 day's filming during the w/c 20th September. The total Fee for this project is £150. with travel and lunch expenses paid in addition to this.
We are always open to hear from anyone who would like to be involved in any capacity, so please use the same form below to get in touch. Same goes for if you just want to let us know your thoughts on the project so far!
We'll endeavour to get back to you as soon as possible!
