Storytelling is my activism

The Cultural Frontline

On this week’s programme Anu Anand speaks to the theatre makers giving unheard and censored stories top billing.

Ron Simons is a multi-award winning theatre producer, as well as an actor and film producer. He’s won four Tony awards, the most of any Black Broadway producer. He explains why his mission is to put the stories and experiences of under-represented communities on stage, and make sure representation happens behind the scenes as well.

The Irish actor, director, producer and Hollywood star Gabriel Byrne is performing his own story. He’s created a solo show of his best-selling memoir, Walking With Ghosts, sharing moments from his childhood in Ireland, including how he turned to amateur dramatics after failing to become a priest or a plumber, right through to his major Hollywood career. Gabriel also tells reporter Paul Waters about the production that first enthralled him to the theatre.

Ming-wai Lit is the founder of Hong Kong theatre company Stage 64. It was created in 2009, and for a decade, put on plays to mark the anniversary of the violent crackdown on pro-democracy protests which took place in Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China, on the 4th June 1989. Mention of Tiananmen Square protests is censored in China, and in Hong Kong activists have been sentenced to prison for taking part in banned vigils. Ming-wai explains why she set up Stage 64 and the importance of theatre to tell these stories.

(Photo: Ron Simons. Credit: Jim Spellman/WireImage/Getty)