Stagebox, the award-winning theatre, TV and film training and management programme, is leading the charge for inclusivity in the arts industry. From the removal of all audition fees this summer, to its £30,000 internal company funding and offering low monthly membership pricing at its regional centres of excellence and training all around the country; Stagebox’s aim is to train up the nation’s rising stars – and celebrate all backgrounds and cultures in the process.
This October, Stagebox has taken its commitment to ensuring representation in the arts even further, with the launch of The Diversity Project. Stagebox invited its diverse community of talented performers to join them for a weekend of music, performance and inspiring training from a team of diverse creatives in the arts sector.
The culmination of the project is a professionally directed musical video starring Stagebox members.
The cast and crew put together a special three-part medley with numbers from the Christmas hit Jingle Jangle, including ‘Not the Only One,’ ‘This Day’ and ‘Square Root of Impossible’ to celebrate Black History Month and everything that The Diversity Project stands for. Stagebox sought the help of a diverse creative team, crew, performers and photographers attending throughout the weekend to help inspire the next generation of budding stars. In total, 50 Stagebox members performed and filmed the medley at the Royal Academy of Music.
Just some of the performers include: Dereke Oladele (currently appearing in Macbeth at the Almeida Theatre alongside Saoirse Ronan), Isobel Khan (the first mixed-race Annie in British history), Joseph Obasohan (debut lead role in the BAFTA-nominated Superdad and upcoming series regular in an ITV drama), Isaac Khan (star of CBBC’s Lagging), Jennifer King (School of Rock West End), Jasmine Sakyiama (Little Princess, School of Rock West End, Midnight Gang) and Marley Quinlan Gardner, Aiya Agustin and Demi Delord, all of whom have just wrapped on production for Netflix’s upcoming film adaptation of Matilda.
Stagebox’s General Manager, Jasmine Quinlan-Gardner says: “We are proud of our diverse company here at Stagebox. We champion inclusivity from grassroots and we’re so excited to be launching The Diversity Project to celebrate underrepresented ethnic minority groups in the arts this Black History Month! Representation in the arts matters and it starts with young people.”
Theatre, TV and film training and management programme, Stagebox, works with rising stars aged 8-18 to hone their performance skills, and current clients have enjoyed success on stage and screen, from the BBC and Netflix to the West End and Broadway.
To find out more about Stagebox, please visit: http://www.stagebox.uk/.