Contact: Anna Docherty, Press and Media Officer
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CLASS ACT MUMBAI – PRESS INFORMATION SHEET

Key points of interest:

  • The Traverse Theatre will work in partnership with RAGEProductions, Mumbai to bring the Traverse’s flagship education project, Class Act, to Mumbai in January 2018
  • Class Act Mumbai will work with 64 young people from 15 schools, over 14 days, targeting 15-18 year-olds from diverse backgrounds and levels of education (e.g. private schools, Hindi schools, schools which focus on Street Children education)
  • Scottish-based artists with experience in delivering the project will travel to Mumbai to support the delivery of the Class Act model, and take part in a hands-on creative/knowledge exchange
  • A selection of Indian playwrights and directors will work under the Traverse artists, gaining knowledge of the project with the intention of future independent delivery from RAGE Productions
  • Starting in Edinburgh back in 1991, in its 26 years the project has worked with a total of 80 schools, 1601 young playwrights, and produced 881 plays
  • Now successfully running in Moscow and the Ukraine, Mumbai will see the project travel the furthest yet – speaking of our commitment to advocating far and wide for access to the arts for all

Introducing young people to the theatre and supporting them to become theatre-makers themselves lies at the heart of the Traverse Theatre’s Creative Learning activities, with our flagship education project, Class Act, turning secondary school pupils from diverse backgrounds across Edinburgh into playwrights since 1991.

Now successfully running in Russia and the Ukraine, in 2018 we’re thrilled to be introducing Class Act to India for the first time – taking the project the furthest it has ever been; opening the eyes and minds of even more young people to playwriting and creating theatre, as well as promoting cultural collaboration and advocating for access to the arts for all.

Working with the Mumbai-based RAGE Productions, artists Nicola McCartney, Stef Smith and Emma Callander will travel to Mumbai to collaborate with Indian artists to turn a group of 64secondary school students from the city into playwrights.

These students will take part in playwright-led workshops and script development sessions– creating, developing, rehearsing and producing plays which speak to the world they live in, whilst being listened to, respected and supported as artists. Their work will be performed by professional actors before a live audience on 23 and 24 January, at Prithvi Theatre, Mumbai.

Sunniva Ramsay, Traverse Theatre’s Creative Producer (Learning) says:

“For the past 26 years, Class Act has motivated young people from Scotland, Russia and the Ukraine to explore their creative voices through creating brand new plays.Not only do these young writers create plays, but also provocations, inspiring Traverse playwrights, directors and actors with their creativity and unique perceptions of the world.Working with young people from across Mumbai will be an exciting and enriching experience and we’re delighted to be working with RAGE Productions to find out what the young people of Mumbai want to say, right now.”

Nicola McCartney, Playwright and Director, says:

“Class Act is a project which, in my experience, changes lives for young people involved. Every time I do the project it changes mine. I am thrilled to be part of this team, and look forward to learning from theatre artists in Mumbai and most of all the young people we will work with together.”

KEY DATES, MUMBAI:

11 January – Introductory meet and greet with all 80 participants

12/13/14/15 January – Playwriting workshops

17 January – Script development workshop

18/19 January – Playwriting workshops

20 January – Final script deadline

21 & 22 January – Rehearsals

23 & 24 January – Final performances at Prithvi Theatre

Class Act Mumbaiis part of the British Council’s UK/India 2017 Season and is supported by the British Council, Creative Scotland and the Scottish Government.

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