Black Joan

Stage It! presents
Black Joan

A Tale of Conflict and Resolution

After the success of Beat the Devil and Lose the Plot, a play that toured successfully across the local Fringe scene, Birmingham writer and director Roux Gilbear returns with the innovative and thought-provoking production Black Joan, Wednesday 25 Nov, 7.30pm

Imagine a future with no prejudice, imagine a future with no bills, imagine a future with no disease and no hunger; imagine a future where your children are the property of the state, where there are no shops, no currency, where the government have no face but control your every move. This is our society and these futures are one and the same and this is the world of Black Joan.
One woman fights against the oppression imposed by this false utopia and reclaims the freedom of the individual.

Roux’s passion and commitment to Black Joan is immeasurable and this is reflected in the quality production that is Black Joan

“I have always had a deep passion for the theatre; I have toured for many years as a wardrobe mistress before realising my dream as a writer. This will be my second outing as a writer/director and it has been well worth the challenge, that every stage production brings, because of the talented group of actors that have brought Black Joan to life” Roux Gilbear

The Drum is delighted to present Black Joan as part Stage It! an initiative set up by The Drum to encourage, nurture, support and develop new theatre productions by African, African Caribbean and Asian playwright/theatre companies.

For more information or to book tickets call The Drum Box Office on 0121 333 2444 or visit www.the-drum.org.uk

Age Restriction 16+

-ENDS-

MEDIA CONTACT: Katie Reid, Marketing Manager on 0121 333 2421 or e-mail: k.reid@the-drum.org.uk

Notes to Editors

Event: Black Joan
Date: Wednesday 25 November @ 7.30pm
Venue: The Drum, 144 Potters Lane, Aston, Birmingham, B6 4UU
Tickets: £6 (£4)
Box Office: 0121 333 2444
Online Bookings: www.the-drum.org.uk

About The Drum
The Drum is the national centre for Black British culture and arts, dedicated to developing and promoting contemporary art and culture of British African, Asian and Caribbean communities. Through its various initiatives, The Drum continually strives to become a centre of national and international renown firmly rooted within its local community.

The Drum’s ambition is to lead and facilitate the development, celebration, performance and exhibition of the diversity of Black arts and cultures for the benefit of all. It is a place where contemporary Black arts flourish and are enjoyed, nurturing and broadening the appreciation of these arts for audiences and participants from the whole community – Black and White.

Cast and Credits
Author and Director: Roux Gilbear
Assistant Director: Chris Badaloo
Wardrobe: Hannah Hilton
Producers: Roux Gilbear, Patrick Deenihan
Sound: Kat Murray
Technicians & SM: Milton Robinson, Hannah Axford, Ian Billington, Ryan McAllister
Characters
Kat: Simone Hamilton
Anton: Ben Parfitt
Issy / Black Joan: Roux Gilbear
Otto: Chris Badaloo
Daviid: David Frances
Arum: Ben Parfitt
Cebo: RieghanneYearwood
Joan: Gemma Mangan
Leo: Louis Cambell
Marcus: David Smith
Bruer: Matthew Recardo
Marcus: Alan Grey
Shipley: Debz Wardle
2 Policemen: Chris Badaloo, David Smith
Train announcer / voice of The Newest Patrick Deenihan
Ensemble cast
Edward Coley, David Smith, Brendan, Louis, Rieghanne Yearwood

Chirstopher Badaloo - Otto and Assistant Director Chirstopher Badaloo was raised in Newtown and chose to join the profession of acting. He attended Birmingham Theatre School where he completed two years of professional training. After several successful community theatre projects with Nu Century Arts he got involved with Roux Gilbear and the second successful run of Beat The Devil and Lose The Plot. Christopher Badaloo has taken the helm as director of Black Joan in addition to acting in the play. This is Christopher's directing debut and he is implementing an innovative style of directing which enforces the art form which is the theatre.

Roux Gilbear – Issabella / Black Joan, Author and Director
Roux has always been involved in the theatre. She worked as a touring wardrobe mistress for twenty years, before moving on to writing and directing her own fringe plays and films. Last year she completed filming a short film entitled Why We Lie, which is currently in post production. Her original play, Beat the Devil and Lose the Plot has been successfully performed two years running and was featured in this year’s Birmingham Arts Fest. This is her first acting role in many years and she has greatly enjoyed rising to the challenge. More plays are currently in their first draft and will be hitting the Birmingham Fringe circuit soon.

Matthew Recardo – Mr Bruer
Matthew Recardo is a professional actor from Birmingham. He has worked in the business for 3 years and is a full member of equity. In Black Joan he plays the bureaucratic Mr Bruer and numerous extra.

Gemma Katrina Mangan – St Joan of Arc
Gemma began her training at Cygnet Youth Theatre and finished it at Bir ingham Theatre School, stopping off at Manchester Metropolitan University Cheshire, and has been acting in Fringe theatre and independent film for several years. Her professional credits include The Checklist, Finding Strangers in Paradise, The Drop Off (film); Breaking the Code, Man’s Best Friend, The Double Inconsistency (theatre); in addition to productions with Birmingham Theatre School and MMU Cheshire. Her most recent role was in Beat the Devil and Lose the Plot, which has been performed two years running and was featured in this year’s Birmingham Arts Festival – and, of course, Black Joan. She has a BA in English Literature and is a Green Belt in Tae Kwon DO.

Debz Wardle – Shipley
Debz Wardle trained at Birmingham Theatre School and has appeared as Napoleon in Animal Farm and Jeremiah in Kafka’s The Castle. Debz Wardle has undertaken a range of theatre styles including promenade musical and surrealist drama and is currently also rehearsing for a Crescent Theatre Company production Black Joan.

Benjamin Parfitt – Arum, Anton
Benjamin Parfitt is currently studying HND in Performing Arts, has gained a BTEC National Diploma with the Birmingham Theatre School and has been in a number of shows such as, Great Expectations, playing the character Herbert Pocket, Bugsy Malone taking on the role of the main character Bugsy and also Grease where he played the character Doogy. Benjamin has worked on Shakespeare in The Merchants of Venice portraying the roles as Antonio the wealthy merchant and Arragon a stubborn prince that always gets what he wants.
Benjamin is a very enthusiastic and passionate actor is naturalistic and he is a great Tenor vocal singer.

Rieghanne Yearwood - Cebo
Rieghanne Yearwood is an outgoing enthusiastic young actress and is currently is studying HND in Acting at Birmingham Metropolitan College. A naturalistic actress, Rieghanne also enjoys doing Musical Theatre.
Past performances and characters she has been are: Beat the Devil and Lose the Plot- Whore 1, Gypsy and Fanny – Old Joint Stock Theatre – 12th September 2009 Boogie Nights, the 70’s musical- senior singer – Alexandra Theatre Stage Experience – 20th to 23rd August 2008 Chicken Soup with Barley-character Cissie Kahn- Mac Youth Theatre on 21st and 22nd April 2004

Louis Cambell - Leo
Louis Campbell has been involved in the poetry scene in West Midlands since 1992 and has been involved with
poetry collectives such as lexicon, and also wrote under & The New October poets. He has shared the stage with at least five former poet laurite of Birmingham, as well as John Cooper Clark and Attila the stock broker. Louis poetry can be described as socially conscious poet dealing with local as well as global issues.