About Us:
Frustrated by the lack of diversity in UK theatre, Nadia Nadif, Joel Sams and Lauren Johnson founded Untold in 2014. A theatre company committed to producing shows that reflect a wider range of experience and voices, with a focus on working with BAME actors.
We are fundraising for project Lady Unknown, in which the audience is invited to join philanthropist Angela Burdett Coutts, novelist Charles Dickens and the women their choices affect in an evening of reminiscence and recrimination.
Victorian England. Two friends at the height of their influence reunite. He is the most famous author of his age. She hides her work behind the nickname ‘Lady Unknown’.
Coutts is one of the richest people in the country, but as a woman she cannot vote, stand in parliament or sit on the directing boards of most of the charitable ventures she sets up. She carefully guards her reputation against any hint of scandal. But with Dickens threatening to split his family apart amidst rumours of infidelity, how much is Coutts willing to risk to save their friendship?
A period piece with thoroughly modern themes, this immersive, site-responsive piece of new writing challenges attitudes towards welfare support for the poor; personal and political responsibilities; and the different sexual expectations placed on men and women.
Funding so far:
We have already raised over £10,000 from various individuals and funding bodies including the Arts Council England. We need to raise another £1500 in order to match fund the ACE money. This is crucical to the success of the project and to our future as a company as we must ensure we live up to our side of the bargain.
Goals:
1) Bring immersive theatre into a historical setting.
2) Give audiences an immersive, intimate and interactive performance in order to:
• Gain knowledge and understanding of Angela Burdett Coutts, who risked her reputation and relationships to champion and
support the Victorian poor.
• Draw parallels between historical and current sociopolitical concerns about austerity and welfare reform.
• Be inspired to take action to help those less fortunate than themselves, whether through volunteering or
petitioning their MP for further social action.
3) To continue putting
BAME actors at the forefront of UK theatre, in this show and future productions.
4) Have four paid internships in producing, directing, stage management and design for young people not in education, training or employment thus opening up the theatre industry to those of all backgrounds. We are also able to meet access needs of 1 of our 4 interns, thus opening up the industry to creatives who are SEN, deaf or disabled.
5) Offer workshops for young people - some of them studying theatre or performance, and some of
whom are from a refugee or asylum seeker background. A number of these we are offering free to charities.
6) Offer free tickets to charities Refugee Youth and Young Roots to bring their young people to see the show
IN ORDER FOR THIS TO HAPPEN WE NEED YOUR HELP. PLEASE GIVE WHATEVER YOU CAN, HOWEVER SMALL, AND ONCE YOU HAVE DONATED PLEASE SHARE THIS PAGE AS FAR AND WIDE AS POSSIBLE.
If you can't donate, you can still help by sharing this campaign with anyone you can think of - someone you know can help us.
We have already had support from The Arts Council, Arcola Theatre, Harry Lloyd, and other celebrities who wish to remain anonymous.
Please join them and help us make this happen!
More details about Untold can be viewed here
