The Act For Change Project to Host Theatre Diversity Debate at National Theatre

The acclaimed campaign group, The Act For Change Project, today announces a rare one-off event to be hosted at the NaLonal Theatre, focusing on the need for greater diversity in UK Theatre.

!Following last year's interna1onally celebrated launch at the Young Vic Theatre, which raised a call to arms when ITV aired a trailer for UK Drama featuring not a single BAME or disabled ar1st, Act For Change have campaigned by raising awareness of the need for greater inclusivity of race, class, disability, gender, age and sexuality within UK live and recorded arts. This has led to several of the major broadcasters and produc1on companies reviewing and changing their policies.

!With an overwhelming list of supporters including Stephen Fry, David Harewood, Meera Syal and Mark Rylance, Act For Change now addresses the lack of diversity in UK theatre by invi1ng some of the industry's leading prac11oners to join them onstage on the morning of June 2nd for a live debate exploring how UK theatre can celebrate the diversely rich landscape in which we live.

!Act For Change founder, Danny Lee Wynter said "I am delighted the Na1onal have given us this vital plaVorm and hope the industry and public will seize the opportunity by using the morning to its fullest, most posi1ve poten1al. I watched my first play here as a young gay mixed race working class kid from Essex. The experience was both thrilling and frightening. I was dubious whether theatre held a place for someone like me. Would I get work and be allowed to play in the classics, for a start? I saw nobody on stage or in the audience who looked like me. Some1mes, all these years later, that is s1ll true. We hope this event will challenge the percep1ons of what diversity might be, not only on stage, but also off. What is, perhaps, most thrilling for us is that, thanks to the generosity of the Na1onal, this will be free to everyone who would like to come along and have their voice heard."

!The debate will take place 10am - 12pm on June 2nd 2015 in the NaLonal's Olivier Theatre
To book a 1cket for the morning event go to www.na1onaltheatre.org.uk/acVorchange or call The NaLonal Theatre Box Office on: 020 7452 3000.

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