Trycicle Theatre Launches Major New Project, MAPPING BRENT, to Engage Audiences

Continuing their commitment to building the theatre going community of tomorrow, the Tricycle Theatre announces the launch of Mapping Brent, a brand new initiative that will see six new theatre companies created - five for young people, and a sixth for all ages. This unique project will see the Tricycle work on a weekly basis with 6 satellite venues across its home borough of Brent in a bid to engage communities and participants - many of whom have not previously engaged in arts - on their 'home turf'.

With the support of funding secured from Brent London Borough Council, The Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation, John Lyons and Arts Council England, the Tricycle has been able to ensure attendance at all 6 theatre companies will be completely free of charge, enabling the companies to be fully accessible and open to all. Mapping Brent will take place across the borough, with workshops, events and activities taking place in Neasden, South Kilburn, Stonebridge, Wembley Park, Harlesden and Kilburn.

Twelve professional playwrights and directors from the across the industry have been engaged to lead the project. This will include Sonali Bhattacharyya, CressIda Brown, Toby Clarke, Tinuke Craig, Emma Dennis Edwards, Shereen Jasmin-Phillips, Chino Odimba, Nadia Papachronopoulou, Toby Peach, Somalia Seaton andAudrey Sheffield.

Beginning this month, the six companies will meet for the first time, with participants, all of whom have been drawn from the local community commencing on an intensive programme to develop their acting skills across a period of 20 sessions. The project will culminate in the creation of 6 new and original performance pieces. In spring 2017, these new performances will be given a platform as part of the most ambitious Tricycle Takeover to date - which will see the company's annual week-long celebration of performances taking place in the six satellite venues - a first for the project.

Indhu Rubasingham, Artistic Director of the Tricycle Theatre, said today "Today more than ever it is vital for us to give young people a voice and a platform to be heard. The work our young companies produce will tell us what matters to them, what's on their mind and how they view the world today.

"We want to make a commitment to work with young people from across Brent, engage with people in their community and to form lasting relationships."

WEMBLEY

14-18yrs
Yellow Pavilion - Thursdays 7-9pm
Engineers Way, Wembley HA9 0EG

Tinuke Craig is an award winning director and has worked at the National Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company, across the West End and Gate Theatre.

Sonali Bhattacharyya is an established writer of stage, screen and radio plays. Her stage commissions includeTwelve (Kali Theatre), These Four Streets (Birmingham Rep), A Thin Red Line (Kali Theatre, Birmingham Rep and Black Country Touring), and the South Bank Show award nominaTEd White Open Spaces (Pentabus Theatre). She is a graduate of the Royal Court writers' group, London College of the Arts MA in Screenwriting, Birmingham Rep equal attachment programme and the BBC Writers' Academy.

SOUTH KILBURN

14-18yrs
Granville Centre - Mondays 6-8pm
80 Granville Road, Kilburn, NW6 5RA

Shereen Jasmin - Phillips graduated from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in 2010, her writing credits include I love you, I'm just not in Love with you (Lyric Hammersmith), Hidden (Hampstead Theatre), There is no conflict without drama (Old Vic), Thin Line In-between (Waterloo East Theatre), Hidden (Ovalhouse), Park Bench (Notre Dame School), Cortae (Talawa Theatre Company) and One Two Five (Soho Theatre).

Toby Clarke is a ground-breaking director of young artists, having pioneered programs and directed shows at The National Theatre and Ovalhouse Theatre, as well as co-founding his own company Sketty Theatre.

STONEBRIDGE

14-18yrs
Stonebridge Hub - Wednesdays 6-8pm
6 Hillside, Stonebridge, NW10 8BN

Somalia Seaton is the Artistic Director of No Ball Games Allowed, creating work with young people at its core. Her debut play Crowning Glory (Theatre Royal Stratford East) was shortlisted for the 2014 Alfred Fagon Award. Other writing credits include, Fall of the Kingdom, Rise of the Foot Soldier (RSC) in addition to plays for Press Road Youth Theatre in Neasden.

TRICYCLE COMMUNITY COMPANY

19+
Tricycle Theatre, Kilburn - Tuesdays 7-9pm

269 Kilburn High Road, Kilburn, London, NW6 7JR

Chino Odimba is an established writer having written Amongst The Reeds (Assembly Rooms Edinburgh and The Yard Theatre), Joanne (Latitude Festival and Soho Theatre), Through Water and Stars (the Royal Court), The Bird Woman of Lewisham (Arcola Theatre) and His Name is Ishmael a (Bristol Old Vic). Chino's play Wild is de Wind was shortlisted for the 2015 Bruntwood Prize and she is currently a member of NW6, an invited group of writers working on a seed commission with the Tricycle Theatre over the course of a year.

Audrey Sheffield has completed directing programs at the Young Vic and through invited workshops at the National Theatre Studio, the RSC and with Peter Brook. Recent directing work includes plays and projects at the Arcola, the Finborough, the National Theatre and NT Studio, the Park Theatre and Theatre503. And she has worked as Associate/Assistant Director at the National Theatre, the RSC, the Old Vic, Hampstead Theatre and in the West End. Audrey is currently developing a new play The Scar Test, alongside playwright Hannah Khalil for a UK and London tour.

MINDING THE GAP YOUNG COMPANY

(12-18yrs)

Roundwood Club, Harlesden

Nadia Papachronopoulou has worked in Greece and in London, directing plays at The Orange Tree Theatre, National Theatre of Wales and Theatre 503. She has also worked with young people for The Almeida Theatre, Barbican Theatre and Central School of Speech and Drama.

Tricycle Theatre are proud to announce that in its 10th year, their schools project for young refugees migrants and asylum seekers, will be running its first extra-curricular youth theatre for graduates of the schools programme. Attendance is by referral or through a school.

Contact jenny.batt@tricycle.co.uk for more information.

PRESS ROAD YOUTH THEATRE- WITH NETWORK HOMES

7-9 year olds 4.30pm - 5.30pm

10-12 year olds 5.30pm - 6.30pm

12-14 year olds 6.30pm - 8.00pm

The Grange - Wednesdays

Neasden Lane, London NW10 1QB

The company are proud to continue their drama club in Neasden for those living on and around the Press Road Estate, generously supported by Network Stadium Housing, to benefit residents and wider community.

For further information please visit: http://www.tricycle.co.uk/get-involved

Takeover
The Tricycle Takeover is made possible by the kind support of the Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation.

You can find out more about The Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation at www.andrewlloydwebberfoundation.com

Creative Learning

Tricycle Creative Learning is funded by John Lyon's Charity

Press Road

Press Road Youth Theatre is sponsored by Network Homes

Tricycle Theatre

269 Kilburn High Road, London NW6 7JR

Box office: 020 7328 1000
www.tricycle.co.uk