Join The Mono Box for CREATIVE CONVERSATIONS, a series of informal discussions with some of our leading theatre talent.

In this casual and friendly set up you can ask advice, express your worries and get some support on where you’re at from the people who are doing it. These are lively discussions that help our community navigate their thoughts about working, not working and everything in between. It is also an opportunity to explore how we, as theatre-makers, have immense capacities to reshape our landscape. 

CREATIVE CONVERSATIONS is part of TAKING UP SPACE, The Mono Box's takeover of Hampstead Theatre for 3 Sundays in 2019. 

Sunday 3 November

Inspired by Botticelli in the Fire (Main Stage)

THE STORIES ON STAGE: AUTHENTIC QUEER STORYTELLING

Theatre, TV and Film has long been the battlefield for LGBTQ+ rights with queer roles, stories and performers often providing the first step to much needed visibility of the LGBTQ+ community. Telling the right story can enhance society’s understanding and awareness of LGBTQ+ lives – their relationships and their worlds. Telling the wrong story can close minds and stifle progressive thinking. We invite a panel of experts from across theatre and television to discuss how they are working to write, make and enhance the LGBTQ+ stories in British culture. This panel will explore concrete ways to work together across the spectrum, whether you are LGBTQ+ or cisgender and straight. And with that in mind, we actively encourage those who do not identify as LGBTQ+ to attend too.

For this event, Tom Ross-Williams (Creative Director, The Advocacy Academy) is joined by Dickie Beau (Actor, Botticelli in the Fire), Blanche McIntyre (Director, Botticelli in the Fire), Ita O’Brien (Intimacy Director and Founder of Intimacy on Set) and Temi Wilkey (Actor, Years and Years).

Tickets are £8. If you buy a ticket to the second event on Sunday 3 November SPEECH SHARE: LIVE with Denise Gough, Jenna Russell and Sir Derek Jacobi, the combined cost with be just £25.

Sunday 8 December 

Inspired by Unknown Rivers (Hampstead Downstairs)

BLACKNESS IN ART

Blackness in art is being celebrated more than ever. But in understanding the black experience we often don't talk about the emotional weight that comes with sharing these stories. Are we telling these stories in the right spaces and for the right audiences? This conversation will discuss the importance of safety and support when creating work, particularly when the story may be hard to share. This panel will also explore concrete ways of how we can engage with positive representations of the black community within art. And with that in mind, we actively encourage those who do not identify as black to attend. Whether you are black or white, together we can move towards a collective healing.

For this event, The Mono Box will be joined by Cherrelle Skeete (Fun Home), Chinonyerem Odimba (Writer, Unknown Rivers) and Daniel Bailey (Director, Unknown Rivers). More guests TBC.

Tickets are £8. If you buy a ticket to the second event on Sunday 8 December SPEECH SHARE: LIVE with Simon Russell Beale and Joseph Marcell, the combined cost with be just £25.