2020
Benny and the Greycats Script and Composition Development
Writer Suzanne Gorman and Composers Riz Maslen and Mike Gorman continue to develop the piece towards an online workshop to explore new songs planned for November.
See the project
Routes to Roots
This year we worked with students from schools and youth groups in and around Sheffield, delivering the project online in partnership with Ignite Imaginations.
See the project
Emancipation Day
Emancipation day is a play influenced by the African American Rice Family who resided in Sutton from the 1880s.
This little known black history was discovered in the local library archives by Delmozene Morris and following research, a script was developed by Sara Clifford to tell their story on the stage.
As part of Maya 25, Suzanne Gorman talked to the creators of the Emancipation Day for a podcast, exploring the themes of the play in the hight of the BLM movement in 2020.
Link to podcast
Sector Development
Artist coaching programme in conjunction with Home Slough. Launch of our coaching/mentoring programme in association with Stage Sight to support ethnically diverse industry professionals.
Read more2019
Routes to Roots
A Young Artist project, exploring cultural heritage and migration, culminating in a new piece of performance showing “the lives that brought us here and made us who we are”, at Migration Matters Festival.
See the project“Brilliant, inspirational and talented people. Loved hearing about their journeys and would love to see them spread their stories and inspire even more.”
Audience member
“Interesting and little explored story, Anglo-Indian v Indian/post-empire fallout. Right to be challenging and real – the price of dreams can be high.”
Audience member
“Really interesting the way the characters’ stories open up the politics of the time but how that directly links to issues of today related to immigration, Brexit, diversity of Britain.”
Audience member
Sector Development – Step Change Alumni Journeys
Research phase of this project that looks at the career trajectory of the National Theatre’s Step Change programme Alumni, comparing the journeys of those from ethnically diverse backgrounds with those from a white background
2018
The Croydon Avengers
A project by Oladipo Agboluaje, inspired by our Superheroes project work with young refugees, this new play told the story of three young refugees with amazing powers. Production and tour of this new play to Harrogate Theatre, Ovalhouse, Blue Elephant Theatre and Croydon Schools. The company also created an online educational resource for teachers and facilitators to use to explore the themes of the play, such as British Values.
See the project“I liked the fact that there was a strong and confident Muslim woman on stage because its not something that we normally see.”
Audience member
“I hope that this production will inspire other young minds like mine to understand to support refugees in every way possible.”
Audience member
Superheroes: South of the River
Alongside the Croydon Avengers, video artist Victor Rios worked with young people at the British Red Cross in Croydon to create their own superheroes video.
See the project
Benny and the Greycats: Barbican Open Lab
Initial ideas were explored to develop a new piece of theatre inspired by Artistic Director Suzanne Gorman’s family history. This piece will explore cultural heritage, migration and the legacy of colonialism through the eyes of the Anglo-Indian community.
2017
Barefoot Gen by Keiji Nakasawa
Seen through the eyes of an 8 year old boy Gen, the play tells the powerful story of an anti-war family living in Hiroshima at the end of the Second World War. Production at Rose Bruford College.
See the project“Just wanted to say thank you again for inviting us this morning. The play was absolutely fantastic!”
Audience Member (Teacher)
The Great Heroes of Croydon
Our second “Superheroes” project, this time working with young people from Croydon Youth Disability Project participation project.
The Croydon Avengers by Oladipo Agboluaje
Workshop and tour of work-in progress performances of this new play inspired by our Superheroes: South of the River projects.
See the project
Sector Development
Launch of the Pocket Guide to Ethnically Diverse Role Models and Leaders in the Arts
2016
Up North by Jonny Wright
Continued to develop this piece which was selected to be performed at the BEAM showcase.
See the project( Suzanne Gorman on sabbatical this year, to undertake a Clore Fellowship)
Festivals
This year we ran workshops at the Why? Festival and the BAM Festival at South Bank Centre
2015
Superheroes: South of the River
A cross-arts project bringing together theatre, martial arts and comic book storytelling to explore ethnically diverse role models and superheroes. We worked with young refugees and young people in Croydon to create a multi-disciplinary performance about superheroes.
Read more“It captivated me from the very beginning. I could feel their energy, and kept me smiling throughout the show.”
Audience member
“My favourite thing was doing the superhero play acting. I learnt that I can act.”
Participant
Up North by Jonny Wright
Development and workshop of this new play, a potent hip-hop journey through friendship, the North/South divide and black identity in an increasingly divided nation
See the project“We have so few musical theatre projects that are exploring these sorts of contemporary music territories, this project has potential to speak to a wide audience, many of whom may feel alienated from so much theatre.”
James Hadley, Arts Council England/Musical Theatre Network
Festivals
Maya took our Superheroes workshops outdoors and on the streets, with martial arts, performance and visual arts workshops for families at the Croydon Ambition Festival and Upton Park Summer Festival,
2014
Walls Have Ears
We supported writer Anu Kumar as she and her Sensorinet Team began to create a new piece of Dance Theatre experimenting with new ways of communication for hearing impaired artists and audiences.
Read more2013
In Time by Shireen Mula
Directed by Suzanne Gorman.
A multimedia “First Bites” performance at Ovalhouse. This piece used live sound by Domokos Wootsch and video projections by Eva Auster, to create an accessible and highly theatrical performance exploring ageing and dying.
2010 – 2012 Sabbatical
2009
Write to Ignite Festival 2009
26 events throughout September engaging with a local audience and employing local artists, poets and writers.
2008
Hackney Streets by Michael Rosen
Performance at the Rosemary Branch Theatre. This was part of a mini Write to Ignite festival. The play was performed with a cast of 12 actors and directed by Christopher Preston.
“A great piece, very atmospheric though presenting a romantic view of Hackney: modern development seems bad, old development presented as good. This should be a radio performance. Actors were outstanding.”
Audience member
Playwrite 2008
10 week playwriting course.
2007
Write to Ignite Festival 2007
Maya Productions was the lead organisation on this festival heading the Hackney Literature cluster of 14 organisations and individuals. The festival delivered 49 events in 21 venues across the Borough.
Read the report2006
Babel Junction by Akkas AlAli, Michael McMillan, Stacy Makishi and Jessica Smerin
Directed by Suzanne Gorman. Production at Hackney Empire Studio. When Hackney district nurse Evelyn Brewster suffers a miscarriage, the ghost of her Tante Melde begins to take over.
See the project2005
Pacific Voices
A national tour of Polynesian stories and spoken word presenting the work of living Maori writers.
Read the reportPlaywrite
A playwriting course led by Christopher Preston for the Hackney Word Festival Write to Ignite.
2004
Babel Junction Workshop
This project brought together five London based writers of different faith or cultural backgrounds to collaborate in the experimental composition of a new play set in Hackney.
Read the report2003
Emancipation Day by Sarah Clifford
Rehearsed readings at Theatre Royal Stratford East and Stoke Newington High School.
Read the report
Purakau Pounamu (Stories of the Greenstone Islands)
Maori Storytelling rural touring in New Zealand.
Read the report2002
The Diary of an Edwardian Lady (of Colour) by Sarah Clifford
Research and workshops by Sarah Clifford around the true story of the Rice Family from Sutton.
2001
You’re In Danger by Jerome Thomas.
A drama and video project with the Queensbridge Youth Club, Hackney. A short futuristic space adventure was produced combining live action, illustration and narration.
What’s Your Story?
A research project gathering stories and photographic images from the diverse communities living around Islington Arts and Media School. 23 interviews were collected for publication and drama workshops held with year nine pupils on the theme of immigration.
1999
The Davids
A new comedy by Christopher Preston.
Co-production with the London New Play Festival.
Outwrite In East London
Workshop at Homerton College, Hackney.
1998
Memories of an Indian Childhood
Written and performed by Sita Ramamurthy.
Premiered at Leicester Haymarket Studio with a tour in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.
Outwrite In East London
Continued in Newham Schools and Homerton College site. 25 young writers in East London benefited from having their work performed.
Shooting Baskets and Shaving Legs
A short film developed and written with Waltham Forest Young Writers and Performers (LADDERS)
1997
Outwrite In East London
Maya continued working with three Newham Secondary Schools and Homerton College in Hackney.
Contemporary Classics – Antigone
A workshop and research to investigate the possible similarities in form between the Ancient Greek Drama and the Kuddiyatam, Sanskrit drama form which survives today.
1996
Outwrite In East London
Writing workshops with scripts developed by 29 teenage playwrights which were performed to an audience of families and peers.
The House in Highgate by Lena Dhingra
Workshop of this new play.
1995
Over Hear by Neil Biswas
Maya’s first production. A national small-scale tour including Plymouth, High Wycombe, Leicester, Harrow, Bristol and London.
1994
MAYA Founded
Company founded by Sita Ramamurthy and Christopher Preston to develop and produce scripted new drama reflecting cultural diversity.