Out of Order (360G-ThriveLDN-321)

14. What is your project? (400 words) We are asking for support towards Out of Order, a project working with trans people (including non-binary, gender non-confirming and questioning) to improve wellbeing through theatre and the arts. The project will offer increased access to the arts, specialist drama therapy support and the promotion of trans rights, and will particularly aim to work with BAME and disabled trans people. SOCIALLY-SUPPORTED THEATRE MAKING The project is centred around the creation of a new theatrical show through our model of socially-supported theatre making. Three trans Lead Artists, all of whom are prominent performers, will recruit and work with 5/6 18-25 year-old trans Young Artists to devise a new piece of theatre. The piece, that will include music, theatre, comedy writing and movement, will raise awareness of trans issues and confront the ever-present toilet debate within the trans community through humour and lived experience. This narrative will be further developed with the Young Artists over one month of rehearsals in October 2020, culminating in a two-week run of shows at the Roundhouse in November. All of these will be paid, professional development opportunities and build on the experience of Hive City Legacy, a similar project we did in 2018 with femmes of colour. WRAPAROUND ACTIVITY We will also hire trans people to work on all off-stage areas of the production, including stage management, lighting and sound, each of whom will have a young trans person shadowing their work to gain experience in these fields that are often not diverse or representative. Alongside this, we will offer two/three workshops for up to 60 young trans people to give an insight into the creative industries. WELLBEING AND MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT We are seeking funding particularly for several components of this project that form the basis of the wellbeing support and profile-raising of trans and intersectional rights. This will include hiring a drama therapist to work alongside delivery staff, intensive youth support that will be available to all participants, a contribution to the production and marketing budget to raise awareness of challenges faced by trans people and a contribution to the lead artist and young artist fees. “Across the landscape, it is apparent that young people need to see themselves on and off stage and this project is set out to achieve this for our trans community without barriers posed on them by race, sexuality, gender or economic prohibition” – Krishna Istha, Lead Artist