Curve To Stage Conference On Diversity in UK Theatre

Following the receipt of the UK Theatre Promotion of Diversity Award, Curve is to host a national conference exploring diversity in UK theatre and the current landscape for BAME artists, companies and audiences.

Devised by Curve in partnership with local BAME-led organisations Serendipity Arts and Inspirate, the conference, entitled 40 Years On: The Arts Britain Ignores and Diversity in British Theatre will take place on Friday 14th October and feature an opening address by Naseem Khan to mark the 40th anniversary of her ground breaking report The Arts Britain Ignores. Khan will look at the impact of the report and will join a host of keynote speakers in examining how far UK theatre has progressed since.

40 Years On: The Arts Britain Ignores and Diversity in British Theatre will be made up of structured panel sessions focusing on three topics; Commissioning, Training and Leadership.

Each session will be led by keynote speakers from across UK Theatre and BAME leaders including: cultural commentator Naseem Khan looking at the impact of her groundbreaking report "The Arts Britain Ignores" and examining how far UK theatre has progressed since; playwright and leading dramatist Roy Williams on the Past, Present and Future of Diversity in UK Theatre; British Theatre and Television Casting Director David Grindrod, on behalf of the Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation, on Training and Musical Theatre; actress Cathy Tyson, at Curve performing in The Importance of Being Earnest on her own personal journey; playwrights Emteaz Hussein and Amani Napthali on their work and challenging stereotypes; Royal Court Artistic Director Vicky Featherstone on commissioning BAME writers and work for new audiences; and Baroness Young of Hornsey chairing a panel session on Leadership.

Curve Chief Executive Chris Stafford and Artistic Director Nikolai Foster said in a joint statement: "Commissioning, producing and programming work which truly reflects our diverse communities is at the heart of everything we do at Curve. We are proud our commitment to the Promotion of Diversity is continuing with this conference, which brings together an important group of writers, practitioners and leaders. We hope the conference will play a role in unlocking new ways of introducing and encouraging new audiences and artists into discovering theatre."

40 Years On: The Arts Britain Ignores and Diversity in British Theatre will also include a closing address by Abid Hussain from Arts Council England followed by an opportunity for attendees to network with keynote speakers before a performance of Curve's latest production, Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest directed by Curve Artistic Director Nikolai Foster.

40 Years On: The Arts Britain Ignores and Diversity in British Theatre

Friday 14th October

Curve Rutland Street, Leicester, LE1 1SB

9.30am start. Tickets cost £25 and are available from Box Office: 0116 242 3595 / www.curveonline.co.uk

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