Beyond Face presents an evening showcasing fresh new early-stage work from some exciting global majority artists based locally and the wider South-West.

The evening will feature new writing, exploring urgent themes and thought provoking subject matter.

Each piece of work will be at different stages of its development.

Artists Performing on Fri 18 Oct:

The Fight Well Project

Inspired by the testimony of many black women, The Fight Well Project follows Ella as she embarks on a quest to be well when she starts playing The Fight Well Project, a hyper-realistic video game which might just be the demo version she needs to defeat the real world. Can she make it to the final Boss?

With atmospheric sound design, sharp visuals and infused with retro video game references, this work in progress show, explores just what it will take for black women to be believed when it comes to our bodies.

Artists Performing on Sat 19 Oct:

1. Maria Tarokh in Layli & Majnun: Layli’s perspective

In this retelling of the tale from Layli’s perspective, dance artist and choreographer, Maria Tarokh, examines her loneliness, heartbreak, and yearning for freedom. Through a mixture of contemporary dance and classical Persian dance we meet Layli trapped in a loveless marriage and yearning to be reunited with Majnun.

2. Yasmin Wilde in an excerpt from one woman show The Initimitable Miss Stella Jones

Della comes out on stage to tell the audience her superstar sister Stella is running late. She fills in for her sister. But as the night wears on, we learn that everything is not as it seems.

3. Jo Mason in Mags

A women in her 40s journeys through, dating, a former toxic relationship and the coming out of her trans son, through spoken word.

4. Jung Borthwick in 보따리 (Bo-tta-li) Meaning: Bundle

Set in 1980s Korea, Bundle depicts time spent with grandparents during childhood, expressed through dance.