Birmingham Repertory Theatre announces the launch of REPurposed

A brand-new series of free conversations, insights, and masterclasses, from the premiere producing theatre in the UK’s ‘Second City’.

Birmingham Repertory Theatre’s building may be closed, but The REP’s creative team keep the conversation going with the launch of REPurposed. 

REPurposed is The REP’s brand-new series of FREE conversations, insights, and masterclasses.  A chance for artists, creators, actors, and audiences across Birmingham, the wider region and nationally, to exchange ideas, discover new skills, be present, ask questions, provide answers, and find out more about The REP.

These FREE, open conversations will be hosted on Zoom by The REP’s two-time Olivier Award winning Artistic Director Sean Foley, together with Deputy Artistic Director Amit Sharma.  From week to week, special guests from the theatre’s group of Associate Artists will also take part.  The REP Associate Artists include actress Lorna Laidlaw (Doctors, Coronation Street), award-winning writer and actress Meera Syal, award-winning director and choreographer Drew McOnie and Debbie Isitt, writer and director of the hit films Nativity! and subsequent stage adaptation which premiered at The REP. 

Sean Foley, Artistic Director of The REP said: “We’re delighted to announce REPurposed. This season of talks, seminars and artistic exchange provides our artists and audiences with the opportunity to engage with the life of the theatre through conversations with The REP’s creative team and Associates.  It’s a chance to develop relationships and share common purpose within the theatre industry - in Birmingham, regionally, and nationally - and to explore together what the future can look like…”

The first REPurposed Zoom event on 2nd June, was sold out and saw 80 alumni from the REP’s groundbreaking artist development programme Foundry - together with artists from across the Midlands - contribute to the conversation.  Led by Sean Foley and Amit Sharma, and joined by REP Associate Artists Selina Thompson and Tyrone Huggins, the 60-minute event provided a space for local artists to connect with the theatre during the continued closure caused by corona-virus. 

REPurposed will take place on Zoom every Tuesday evening between 5.45pm-7pm.  Each week will focus on a different theme, and participants are invited to sign up to as many as they want.

REPurposed  LISTINGS

Week 2 - Tuesday 9 June: Writer

The REP invites writers from across Birmingham, the West Midlands, and nationally - alongside anyone who has participated in the theatre’s various writing schemes - to join them for an open discussion about staying creative during lockdown, current issues being faced facing and how The REP can help. 

From sharing ideas, to talking candidly, or simply being present and listening, this open conversation will be driven by participants and facilitated by Artistic Director Sean Foley and Deputy Artistic Director Amit Sharma, alongside REP Literary Associate Tanika Gupta MBE.  Over the past 20 years Tanika has written over 20 stage plays that have been produced in major theatres across the UK including the stage adaptation of Meera Syal’s debut novel Anita and Me, which received its premiere at The REP in 2015.

Week 3 - Tuesday 16 June: Actors

Actors from across Birmingham, the West Midlands, and nationally can join The REP for an open discussion about staying creative during lockdown, current issues being faced and how to find ways of turning this time into a positive. 

This a chance to have a conversation about what support actors need right now and, in the future, and how The REP can help.

This open conversation will be driven by participants and facilitated by Artistic Director Sean Foley and Deputy Artistic Director Amit Sharma, alongside REP Associate Artists

Week 4 - Tuesday 23 June: Creatives

Creatives - design, lighting, costume, video/digital, and others - from across Birmingham, the West Midlands, and nationally can join The REP for an open discussion about staying creative during lockdown, future collaborations, current issues and solutions, and connecting creatively during this time. 

This a chance to have a conversation about what support Creatives need right now and, in the future, and how The REP can help. This open conversation will be driven by participants and facilitated by Artistic Director Sean Foley and Deputy Artistic Director Amit Sharma, alongside REP Associate Artists.

Week 5 - Tuesday 30 June: Local Independent Theatre Companies

The REP invites local independent theatre companies from across Birmingham and the West Midlands to share how they are staying creative, and the key issues they are facing. 

From creating theatre in the pandemic, to building up contacts and finding opportunities, this is a chance to have a conversation about what independent theatre companies will need for the future, and how The REP can help. This open conversation will be driven by participants and facilitated by Artistic Director Sean Foley and Deputy Artistic Director Amit Sharma alongside REP Associate Artists.

Week 6 - Tuesday 7 July: Comedy and Theatre Masterclass

The REP’s Artistic Director Sean Foley is a leading director and writer of comedies in UK Theatre. His latest hit play, the Olivier-nominated Upstart Crow, was interrupted from its West End run by the current COVID-19 crisis. Sean’s extensive experience has led him to win awards as an actor, writer and director. 

He co-founded The Right Size, creating many original comedies and touring nationally and throughout the world. 

He is a double Olivier Award-winner for co-writing and starring in The Play What I Wrote - also Tony nominated - and Do You Come Here Often? He directed the Olivier Award-winning Jeeves and Wooster in Perfect Nonsense, and has also directed, co-written or starred in many further Olivier Award-nominated productions, including The Ladykillers, Ducktastic, Arturo Brachetti: Change, and The Miser. 

He has worked extensively with many leading actors, writers and comedians, and is one of the very few people to have received Olivier nominations as an actor, a writer, and as a director. 

This Q&A Masterclass will give participants the chance to discuss approaches to writing and directing comedy.