ATG Entertainment West End Creative Learning, the Bush Theatre and the Producers of Shifters today announce SHIFTING THE NARRATIVE: RADICAL LOVE COMMISSIONS, inviting eight Global Majority artists to write short-form responses to the West End production of Benedict Lombe’s hit play Shifters, which is at the Duke of York’s Theatre, London, until 12 October. Shifters is produced in the West End by Eleanor Lloyd Productions, Chuchu Nwagu Productions and Sonia Friedman Productions, alongside Idris Elba, Maya Jama and Little Simz.
Successful writers will be invited to watch a performance of Shifters and write a short piece responding to the themes of the play, centring on the stimulus of ‘radical love’. Each successful playwright will be paid a micro-commission fee and will receive dramaturgical support from the Bush Theatre’s Artistic team.
The short pieces will be performed in a rehearsed reading in front of industry leaders in early October at Shifters’ West End home.
Shifters is this summer’s sizzling romance, starring Heather Agyepong (Amazon’s The Power) and Tosin Cole (star of Netflix’s hit new release Supacell). Both reprise their electrifying performances, which received critical acclaim in the original Bush Theatre production, at the Duke of York’s Theatre, St Martin’s Lane, London.
This epic and universal love story is about the enduring power of memory and first love. Shifters’ transfer marks a ground-breaking moment for Benedict Lombe who is the third Black British female playwright to have her play staged in the history of the West End.
Shifters was originally commissioned by the Bush Theatre as part of its Staged by Jerwood scheme, an artist development programme for alumni of the Bush’s Emerging Writers’ Group, supported by the Jerwood Foundation.
NEED TO KNOW: Shifting the Narrative: Radical Love Commissions is an opportunity for early-career playwrights. Applicants should not currently be under commission and should have no more than 2 previous writing credits at fringe level. Applicants should be from the Global Majority, or from a background currently underrepresented in the West End. Due to this being a paid opportunity, applicants must be aged 18 or over, with no upper age limit. Each writer will be paid a fee of £395, a complimentary ticket to watch a performance of Shifters and will be invited to a sharing of their work in early October.
- Applications are currently live via an online form at Shifting The Narrative: Radical Love Commissions | Cognito Forms with a deadline for applications of Wednesday 4 September.
- Any further questions, or press enquiries or to hear more about the West End Creative Learning Programme please email the Senior Creative Learning Manager conorhunt@atgentertainment.com
RELATED LINKS
- Shifters review – Duke of York’s Theatre
- Bush Theatre Review of Shifters
- Idris Elba, Maya Jama and Little Simz were announced as new producers on West End Play Shifters
