RAFTA 2023
Rise Against Fanaticism Through the Arts
Based on the success of our previous call in 2021, RAFTA returns with another competition for creative and unique scripts against extremism, intolerance and xenophobia.
The winning script will receive £500 with the commitment to produce it for the stage. 5 runners-up will be selected for rehearsed script readings. The deadline for submissions is January 20, 2024.
Click here for Terms and Conditions.
We launch RAFTA 2023 as part of Black History Month with the production of two more RAFTA scripts for the stage, MABRUKA’S LAMENT and END OF THE LINE.
by Marc Littman
directed by Mukul Ahmed
Mabruka is a Yazidi
teenager who tries to
navigate the great
weights placed on her as
a woman and a carrier
of family and community
honour after she meets
a mysterious man.
Touching upon Yazidi and Sunni tensions in the deserts of Iraq at a time before Da’esh (ISIL) terrorised the community, MABRUKA’S LAMENT is both a seductive romance and a Shakespearean tragedy.
MABRUKA’S LAMENT with Rez Kabir, Suzanne Kendall, Kareem Nasif & Celine Shamdasani
Photographs from Wikimedia Creative Commons
by Megan Hoche
directed by Sarah Jane Schostack
A funny and razor-sharp look at systemic racism in America.
Set in New York, this fast-paced play focuses on the energetic city lives of diverse people –Black, White and Muslim. It covers xenophobia and White nationalism during Trump’s era while seeking to create fundamental shifts in blinkered worldviews.
END OF THE LINE with Meaghan Martin, Steven Dean Moore, Adrian Richards & Yasmin Taheri
Rehearsed script-readings
Sunday October 15, 2023
6.30pm MABRUKA’S LAMENT
8pm END OF THE LINE
Crawley Museum, 103 High St, Crawley RH10 1DD
R&D staged performances
Saturday October 28, 7.30pm MABRUKA’S LAMENT
Sunday October 29, 7.30pm END OF THE LINE
Pinter Studio, ArtsONE, QMUL, Mile End Rd, London E1 9PA
All RAFTA events are free, but bookings need to be made on the links for staged performances. Suitable for ages 10+, each event is about 1 hour long and will be followed by a Q&A.
Photographs from Wikimedia Creative Commons and 'Unknown, faceless woman' by Ivana Waleed, Yazidi Activist and Survivor.
RAFTA 2023
Producers
Raminder Kaur and Mukul Ahmed
Stage Managers
Isobel Hobby Norris and Jaymie Stewart
Designer
Esme Solomon
Projections Designer
Jules Deering
Lighting Designer
Tracey Hammill
Sound Designer
Tarun Jasani
Publicity and Marketing
Prabhjit Singh, Sohana Kaur and Suraya Bains
ABOUT RAFTA
Inspired by their theatre production, TERROR, Sohaya Visions and Mukul & Ghetto Tigers launched a scriptwriting competition, RAFTA (Rise Against Fanaticism Through the Arts) in 2021.
TERROR's protagonist, Faraaz Ayaaz Hossain, received several posthumous awards for his bravery against violent extremism on July 1, 2016 at the Holey Artisan Bakery in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
This competition was held in honour of the memory and has the principal aim of tackling the rise of fanaticism through artistic expression.
From the 111 scripts received for RAFTA 2021, we have produced 15 script reading sessions online among other events, and produced two R&Ds for the stage.
RAFTA 2021 FEEDBACK
‘RAFTA was a great experience that allowed me to participate, observe, listen and gain a variety of global insights into artistic viewpoints of fanaticism.’
‘Hysterical!
Very timely. Sometimes I wasn't sure if I should laugh or cry!'
'The scripts were varied, took me into different worlds of perceptions and viewpoints and also the power of hearing different languages and cultures.'
'The acting and direction were outstanding. I also enjoyed the Q&A afterwards. Very insightful questions.'
ALLAH’S OWN COUNTRY
by Kaamil Shah
ALLAH' own country was the winning script of RAFTA and also a runner-up for the Soho Theatre Verity Bargate Award.
AGATHE
by Angela J. Davis
'Agathe provokes, entertains and educates all at the same time, making for an unforgettable evening.'
A multi-award winning script, AGATHE received a Special Commendation in RAFTA 2021.
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