RAFTA 2023

Rise Against Fanaticism Through the Arts

Based on the success of our previous call in 2021, RAFTA returns with another competition for creative and unique scripts against extremism, intolerance and xenophobia.

The winning script will receive £500 with the commitment to produce it for the stage. 5 runners-up will be selected for rehearsed script readings. The deadline for submissions is January 20, 2024.

Click here for Terms and Conditions.

We launch RAFTA 2023 as part of Black History Month with the production of two more RAFTA scripts for the stage, MABRUKA’S LAMENT and END OF THE LINE.

BOOK TICKETS

by Marc Littman

directed by Mukul Ahmed

Mabruka is an Ezidi

teenager who tries to

navigate the great

weights placed on her as

a woman and a carrier

of family and community

honour after she meets

a mysterious man.

Touching upon Ezidi and Sunni tensions in the deserts of Iraq at a time before Da’esh (ISIL) terrorised the community, MABRUKA’S LAMENT is both a seductive romance and an engrossing tragedy.

MABRUKA’S LAMENT with Rez Kabir, Suzanne Kendall, Kareem Nasif & Celine Shamdasani

Unknown, faceless woman' by Ivana Waleed, Yazidi Activist and Survivor.

END OF THE LINE

Photographs from Wikimedia Creative Commons

MABRUKA'S LAMENT

by Megan Hoche

directed by Sarah Jane Schostack

BOOK TICKETS

A funny and razor-sharp look at systemic racism in America.

Set in New York, this fast-paced play focuses on the energetic city lives of diverse people –Black, White and Muslim. It covers xenophobia and White nationalism during Trump’s era while seeking to create fundamental shifts in blinkered worldviews.

END OF THE LINE with Meaghan Martin, Steven Dean Moore, Adrian Richards & Yasmin Taheri

Madison_Square_Park_from_Above_at_Night_New_York_City.jpg

Rehearsed script-readings

Sunday October 15, 2023

6.30pm MABRUKA’S LAMENT

8pm END OF THE LINE

Crawley Museum, 103 High St, Crawley RH10 1DD

R&D staged performances

Saturday October 28, 7.30pm MABRUKA’S LAMENT

Sunday October 29, 7.30pm END OF THE LINE

Pinter Studio, ArtsONE, QMUL, Mile End Rd, London E1 9PA

All RAFTA events are free, but bookings need to be made on the links for staged performances. Suitable for ages 10+, each event is about 1 hour long and will be followed by a Q&A.

Photographs from Wikimedia Creative Commons and 'Unknown, faceless woman' by Ivana Waleed, Yazidi Activist and Survivor.

RAFTA 2023

Producers

Raminder Kaur and Mukul Ahmed

Stage Managers

Isobel Hobby Norris and Jaymie Stewart

Designer

Esme Solomon

Projections Designer

Jules Deering

Lighting Designer

Tracey Hammill

Sound Designer

Tarun Jasani

Publicity and Marketing

Prabhjit Singh, Sohana Kaur and Suraya Bains

ABOUT RAFTA

Inspired by their theatre production, TERROR, Sohaya Visions and Mukul & Ghetto Tigers launched a scriptwriting competition, RAFTA (Rise Against Fanaticism Through the Arts) in 2021.

TERROR's protagonist, Faraaz Ayaaz Hossain, received several posthumous awards for his bravery against violent extremism on July 1, 2016 at the Holey Artisan Bakery in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

This competition was held in honour of the memory and has the principal aim of tackling the rise of fanaticism through artistic expression.

From the 111 scripts received for RAFTA 2021, we have produced 15 script reading sessions online among other events, and produced two R&Ds for the stage.

RAFTA 2021 FEEDBACK

‘RAFTA was a great experience that allowed me to participate, observe, listen and gain a variety of global insights into artistic viewpoints of fanaticism.’

‘Hysterical!

Very timely. Sometimes I wasn't sure if I should laugh or cry!'

'The scripts were varied, took me into different worlds of perceptions and viewpoints and also the power of hearing different languages and cultures.'

'The acting and direction were outstanding. I also enjoyed the Q&A afterwards. Very insightful questions.'