Everyman & Playhouse Theatres announce artists taking part in the Theatre for Good project

Four artists have been announced to take part in an initiative by Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse to provide grants for local creative projects in the community.

The Theatre for Good fund was created to support freelancers in order to empower artists to be artists during lockdown.

Gaia Ajuja, Ellis Howard, Andrew McKay and Paislie Reid have been selected to use their artistic skills for good by creating four pieces that engage local communities across the Liverpool City Region.

The four selected artists are freelance creatives who have never previously been commissioned to create work for the Everyman & Playhouse. All four artists will dedicate 40 hours of time to use their practice for good without expectation or pre-determined outcomes, to enrich their own communities and explore other aspects of their practice.

Actor, DJ and activist Gaia Ajuja will use her Theatre for Good bursary to develop and support the delivery of her DJ workshops with young people in L8 at The Unity Youth and Community Centre in Toxteth.

Drag queen, theatre maker and actor Andrew McKay, also known as Filla Crack will use his bursary to mentor an artist of colour to launch them on Liverpool’s cabaret scene. Working closely alongside an up-and-coming talent to create the act, Andrew’s support will include workshopping a character, direction, stage craft, marketing, paid job opportunities, financial advice, and creating their first costume, as well as one-to-one support in the first steps into their career.

Actor, writer and theatre maker Paislie Reid will use her Theatre for Good bursary to create ‘I Just Want to Sing’, a fun meet up for kids in her local Princes Park area to sing, play drama games and express themselves.

Actor, director and writer Ellis Howard’s bursary will go towards sharing his creative processes with his local community in Norris Green to tell stories and express themselves through writing.

Pizza, drinks and good times 🍻 We've had a preview of a brand new venue coming to Ranelagh Street soon 🍕

All the info 👉 https://t.co/nrxLelNRyB pic.twitter.com/VnMdT9ffIu

— The Guide Liverpool 🌇 (@TheGuideLpool) August 25, 2020

Ellis said:

“I am so deeply grateful to have been given this commission by the Everyman & Playhouse, two theatres which champion authenticity, inclusivity and boldness in their practices and beyond. I cannot wait to extend these ideals to my community in Norris Green by facilitating creative writing and mentoring workshops.

“It’s going to be glorious to give my community the tools, time and support so that they can tell their uniquely complex, nuanced and hilarious life stories.”

If you are interested in finding out more about volunteering to be a part of Ellis or Andrew’s project, email: communications@everymanplayhouse.com.

To keep up to date with the progress of Theatre for Good, follow Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse Theatres on Twitter, Facebook or click here.