A new talent search for young people has been launched by a leading East London theatre.
East By South East, the new five borough comedy festival brought to you by Hackney Empire, has launched its search for new talent with the help of one of the celebratory panelists, Jocelyn Jee Essien. The festival organizers are looking for talent from all walks of life; from stand up, sketches, dance or circus to photos, graffiti art, film, short stories and poetry – anything that is funny and entertaining.
To enter, contestants must be 16-25 years old and either live, work or study in one of the Five Host Boroughs for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games: Greenwich, Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets or Waltham Forest.
It was the idea that the Hackney Empire could offer its iconic stage for new local East End talent
Patron of the comedy festival, Griff Rhys Jones, who is currently filming in Australia, said, “It was the idea that the Hackney Empire could offer its iconic stage for new local East End talent to take their first steps in becoming either performers or writers, or both, that first attracted me to the theatre prior to its refurbishment.
“Many groundbreaking shows later, we have now asked East By South East to bring together a team of leading artistic experts and to come up with, for the first time ever, a systematic plan to encourage young performers and artists aged between 16 and 25, from the five Host Olympic Boroughs to perform at the Hackney Empire in their own variety show or to be presented by the theatre in the East By South East comedy book, film screening or gallery exhibition”.
East by South East Comedy Festival runs throughout June and July, and this year features Stephen K Amos, Jo Brand in Best of New Act of the Year and Stewart Lee in More Bums on Seats.
Entrants could be in with the chance to be part of a master class with top artists and industry professionals, perform live at Hackney Empire, get published in a book, exhibited in a gallery or shown on a big screen as part of Play the Empire on 15 July.
For more information and to submit online today visit www.eastbysoutheast.co.uk
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