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Birmingham Rep in Centenary Square, Birmingham
Nine young Black men who are members of Lightpost Theatre Company are sat spaced apart in levelled theatre seats. Some are looking at each other and laughing and others are facing the camera and smiling.

“Fix It” The Celebration

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Birmingham Rep hosts an all-day event marking the culmination of a three year long project focused on the issues facing young black men.

This March, the Shifting the Dial Partnership will take over Birmingham Rep with a day of activity to mark the culmination of three years of discussion, workshop, performance and action to aid in addressing the issues facing young Black men in the Midlands.

On 25 Mar, Fix It: The Celebration will take place in spaces across The Rep with a host of events that look back on the Shifting the Dial project, reviewing the impact the project has made to the young men who have been part of the last three years and celebrating the end of the Lottery funded project in its current form.

The day will feature keynote speakers from the likes of First Class Foundation, Birmingham Rep, Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Foundation Trust, talking through their experiences with the project and beyond. A number of panel discussions will also feature the young black men who have benefitted from the project, discussing how their lives have been impacted by Shifting the Dial and its output.

Lightpost Theatre Company, the theatre company set up by The Rep to explore and aid with the mental health of young Black men, will also preview their brand-new production. Members of Lightpost will also lead a selection of practical music and movement workshops.

The Black Pounds Project, led by Lightpost Lead Artist, CJ Lloyd Webley, will host a Marketplace in the venue showcasing a selection of black businesses from around the UK exhibiting products and services.

Anyone with an interest in the project, a desire to find out more or a want to contribute to the ongoing discussions and topics raised is welcome to book to attend for free including lunch and refreshments.

Price

Free

Presented by

Shifting the Dial (Centre for Mental Health, First Class Foundation, Light Post Theatre Company, Birmingham Rep and BSMHFT)

Event time

11:30am – 5pm. Doors open at 10:30am

Filming

Please note that this event will be filmed

What to expect

  • Keynote speakers from First Class Foundation, Birmingham Rep, Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Foundation Trust.
  • Preview performances from Light Post Theatres largest show yet.
  • Practical workshops from music to movement led by current and ex-Light Post Theatre members.
  • Panel discussions with young men who have benefited from the project.
  • Opportunities to share strategies on how we help young black men to thrive
  • Black Pounds Project Marketplace – A selection of black businesses from around the UK exhibiting products and services.

Over the course of the past three years, we have been able to lead the way in addressing some of the key issues that are effecting, and truly matter, to young Black men in Birmingham and the West Midlands. This special event will be a day of bringing all of those experiences and all of those findings together. This three-year long project may be reaching its end, but it is certainly not the end for these discussions and debate. It is also not the end for The Rep’s work in this field as projects such as Lightpost Theatre Company go from strength to strength. We hope that Shifting the Dial has pathed the way for work within theatre with and for young Black men.” Samina Beckford, Project Producer for Shifting the Dial 

Shifting the Dial (Centre for Mental Health, First Class Foundation, Light Post Theatre Company, Birmingham Rep and BSMHFT) is funded by the National Lottery Community Fund.

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