Cherrelle Skeete and Shiloh Coke are both incredible actors. Cherrelle is the co-founder of Blacktress UK, a grassroots network and support group for self-defined Black Womxn actors of the African diaspora, and Shiloh is also heavily involved in their work - including their John Thaw Initiative season at the Tristan Bates theatre. In this episode, Laura and Georgia speak to them both about Blacktress, being a woman of colour at drama school and in the industry, and how to be in control of your own creativity. 

This is our first 2-parter episode! Look out for part 2 next week.

The Blacktress Season at The Actors Centre is running from now until December. 

Upcoming October shows are:

Route by Marie Myrie Thursday 18th

 

Regeneration by Endy Mckay 19th and 20th

 

Not Bound Within by Naomi Cortes 25th and 26th

 

For more info check out @Blacktress_uk #BlacktressJTI on twitter,IG and FB

 

And check out Tristan Bates website for tickets.

Polly Kemp played the incredible Robyn Murdoch in 'The Thick Of It' and is co-founder of Equal Representation for Actresses. In this episode, Emily and Laura spoke to her about her time at drama school, pressure on appearances, the change in her career after reaching forty, and what ERA is trying to achieve. 

You can read a transcript of the episode here: https://gemacollective.blogspot.com/

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Follow Equal Representation for Actresses @ERA50_50

Sophie Stone was the first d/Deaf actor to attend RADA. She helped lay the foundations in accessibility for future d/Deaf students to train. She has gone on to have a fantastic career, and was recently in the critically acclaimed 'Emilia' at The Globe.

** You can read a full transcript of this interview at https://gemacollective.blogspot.com/ **

 

In our first female-led theatre advert, you are hearing about To Be Confirmed Theatre's production 'Six Attempts to Swallow a Scream', playing at Theatre N16 from 18th-20th September. We have an exclusive discount code for GEMA listeners, so quote 'SCREAM' either on the door or online for £6 student tickets and £8 standard tickets.

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Hi everyone! Emily, Laura and Georgia are back in the podcasting world with series two! New interviews will be coming very soon, but in the meantime we need your help! We want to keep talking to people for as long as possible, but we need your reviews and ratings. If you like what you heard in series one, please pop over to iTunes and give us 5*!

We also want your suggestions, please write to us with any recommendations of people you would love to hear on the podcast.

Twitter @gemacollective

Instagram @gemacollective

Sarah Berger had an illustrious career, but noticed a change as she reached 40. She became acutely aware of the ageism prevalent in the industry and decided enough was enough. She was going to reclaim control of her career and create her own opportunities. She went on to create 'The So and So Arts Club' - an network for actors, providing both support and creative opportunities. In this episode, Emily and Laura speak to Sarah about her career, ageism, sexism and how to take back control. 

We will be back soon with more episodes, but in the meantime follow us @GEMAcollective

Michelle Bonnard is an actor and writer with a wonderful career across stage and screen. In this episode, Emily and Laura speak to her about her mixed-race heritage, finding her place in the industry, parenting, and education.

Michelle wrote a blog recently, which we talk about in the episode, and you can read it here: https://michellebonnard.com/2017/11/06/first-blog-post/

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Dame Harriet Walter is a regular on stage and screen. From 'Atonement', 'Sense & Sensibility', 'The Crown', 'The Sense of an Ending'; through to numerous stage credits at the National Theatre, in the West End and on Broadway. She is also the author of 'Brutus and Other Heroines' and 'Other People's Shoes'. Georgia and Emily were lucky enough to speak to her over Skype whilst she was in New York about her training, career, political theatre, ageism and what she is proud of. 

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Milly Thomas is an actor and playwright. At the time of recording, her play 'Dust' was about to take place at the Soho Theatre. It then went on to transfer to Trafalgar Studios with massive success. In this episode, Emily and Laura speak to her about mental health, writers rooms and needing another string to your bow.

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Leah Harvey was the star of Michael Winterbottom's 'On The Road', as well as The Donmar Trilogy's 'Twelfth Night' and the critically acclaimed 'Emilia' at The Globe. In this episode, Emily and Georgia speak to her about stereotyping, race, consent and filming intimate scenes.

Halfway through, the interview moves into a slightly different format and we discuss wider gender issues. We'd love to hear your thoughts on the topics that come up, so please get in touch!

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Writer and actor Helen Monks was star of Channel 4's 'Raised By Wolves' and is co-founder of Lung Theatre Company. In this episode, Georgia and Laura speak to Helen about making your own work, apologising, the roles available for women and type casting. 

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @GEMAcollective to keep up to date!