This new initiative has developed out of local needs as highlighted by the ACE ‘Theatre and Cultural Diversity in the East Midlands Three, Year Action Plan’.

An action plan partly developed from the Eclipse report – from strategies to combat institutionalised racism in theatre - this post will be working in partnership with Nottingham based theatre projects.

Theatre Development is open to all members of the South Asian community regardless of former experience.

We look forward to hearing from anyone with interest and enthusiasm including local community and Arts organisations wishing to work in partnership with us.

2004 has proved challenging with onus being on establishing a basic infra structure to allow grassroots Asian theatre development to happen.

The following is an list of strategy and projects.

Community Training and New Theatre:

Theatre development was able to support and helped to develop Mona Media toward becoming a potential viable theatre company of the future. Guidance and support is available to any new drama groups wishing to start up their own theatre activity i.e. writing, drama, performance, poetry, technical.

Audience Development:

Theatre development aims to reach community group with limited access to theatre, develop existing audiences and to create awareness of Asian theatre amongst mainstream audiences. Moreover theatre development aims to create and programme Asian theatre pertinent to the community’s tastes and issues.

Training Asian Drama Practitioners:

To stimulate drama in the Asian communities it is essential to have Asian role models. This initiative aims to develop training for new Asian drama practitioners through unique shadowing opportunities of working alongside professional practitioners. It is hoped that this will lead to the development of an accredited training course in 2005

Youth and Drama:

This initiative has taken place mainly with school groups. The aim is to create basic awareness amongst young people of the various career possibilities in theatre i.e. drama, technical, stage, writing etc

Developing New Partnerships:

Lack of access to theatre resources for Asian theatre development means partnership working is key in order for this initiative to flourish.

Theatre Programming:

The New Art Exchange will feature a flexible performance space, which we hope to use for workshops and to host exciting new theatre performances. This includes both local and touring work, this process has already begun at Apna Arts. (Orientations and Autobiography of a Face)

Women and Drama 2005:

This marks an exciting new phase in theatre development and will hopefully be ongoing. The initiative hopes to work with various individuals and community groups to gradually build a strong body of work, including new writing. The first phase of this work will be done in collaboration with the ‘Women at Work’, exhibition scheduled for March of 2005.

Drama for All 2005:

An accredited drama workshop, running as an evening class will be running in 2005 and will be open to various ages and abilities. This workshop will look to develop a programme of drama appropriate to the level of the group. It is hoped that new writing, performance and talent will emerge from this group.