RESET THE STAGE
Produced by The Mono Box and Apatan Production
2020-2021
7 new writers. 7 actors. 7 theatres.
A collection of seven filmed monologues, written by seven emerging, ethnically diverse writers and performed by established actors on the empty stages of seven London theatres during one of the 2020 lockdowns.
The writers responded to the provocation: where are you now and where would you like to be?
Directed and dramaturged by Roberta Zuric, these important monologues were performed in early 2021 by seven established actors on the stages of seven leading London theatres and were filmed for online broadcast so they could reach a wide audience.
All 7 films can be viewed here.
Writers: Dipo Baruwa-Etti, Kiran Benawra, Charles Entsie, Roberta Livingston, maatin, Sid Sagar, Vivan Xie
Performers: Sharon Duncan-Brewster, Thalissa Teixeira, Ken Nwosu, Joan Iyiola, Shane Zaza, Danny Kirrane, Isabella Laughland
Theatres: Almeida Theatre, Arcola Theatre, Bush Theatre, Young Vic, Lyric Hammersmith Theatre, Southwark Playhouse, Soho Theatre
Creative Team
DIRECTOR: Roberta Zuric
PRODUCERS: Joan Iyiola and Alison Holder
CO-PRODUCER: Miles Sloman
PRODUCTION COORDINATOR: Naomi Hopkins
DOP: Femi Awojide
1ST ASSISTANT DIRECTOR: Stephen Ofori
GAFFER: TC Thomas
SOUND RECORDIST: Luise Guertler
BTS STILL PHOTOGRAPHER AND VIDEOGRAPHER: Helen Murray
SOUND DESIGNER AND COMPOSER: Xana
EDITOR: Xanna Ward Dixon
COLOURIST: Tom Cairns
DIGITAL INTERMEDIATE: Dirty Looks
MUSIC (TRAILERS): Jack Parris
The results are without exception beautifully and imaginatively filmed, with direction by Roberta Zuric that brings out the different qualities of each piece.
Their variety is impressive from maatin's Sharia's Law, in which the theatre-loving narrator (Shane Zaza) climbs over the Lyric Hammersmith's empty seats as he muses on the way "the harder it becomes to be a Muslim the more Muslim I become" to Charles Entsie's Daniel (filmed at the Bush) in which Ken Nwosu sees his entire life flash before his eyes while he is confined to a toilet cubicle.
Despite the limiting circumstances caused by the pandemic, the creative team have done a tremendous job filming in various theatrical pockets in London, including the empty rehearsal rooms and stages of the Almeida and the Young Vic. Each piece speaks truth amid the surrounding calm, demonstrating that stories big and small are everywhere and voices, no matter where their origin, deserve to be heard.
The Upcoming