One Year On from our Constellations program, we catch up with some of our alumni to see what they learnt while working with Tara Theatre and details on what projects they’ve been working on since their artist showcase in 2023…

One Year On from our Constellations program, we catch up with some of our alumni to see what they learnt while working with Tara Theatre and details on what projects they’ve been working on since their artist showcase in 2023…

What skills did you learn as a part of Constellations?

For Subika Anwar-Khan there were a wide range of brand new skills our programme developed, including the use of technology in theatre, lip syncing, physical theatre, dramaturgy, writing and the tools to develop and analyse ideas for a script.

Mohit Mathur tells us “I was always scared of writing as I thought my words are not poetic enough, that I don’t have an interesting story to tell… Abdul [Shayek] gave me the confidence to write my first play and the Constellations programme gave me the tools to present my first piece of work whilst being paid for creating my own work.”

Meanwhile, Thara Schöön highlights “I gained skills in dramaturgy, verbatim, and physical theatre as well as an understanding of cabaret and digital theatre. The dramaturgy and verbatim workshops in particular helped in understanding how to shape my writing and different elements of storytelling.”

Daniel Passi likewise underlines the exploration of cabaret in performance as well as finding ways to incorporate VR into his storytelling process.

How have these skills impacted your career as a creative?

“They’ve instilled a confidence in my work, in particular the piece that I developed on the Constellations programme. I have also used a lot of what I have learnt in other areas of my creative career such as facilitation, and during auditions” – Subika Anwar-Khan

“My skillset has broadened, allowing me to explore and develop different aspects of my creativity. I have become a more versatile artist as a result.” – Thara Schöön

“It widened my practice by expanding my understanding of the many artistic languages I can use on stage.” – Daniel Passi

What projects have you worked on since? Do you have any upcoming projects?

Since completing the Constellations programme, Subika Anwar-Khan has performed in Indigo Giant with Komola Collective which went on a UK tour. Subika has also facilitated workshops, worked as an actor for corporate clients and done some voice over work too. Additionally, Subika has applied for Arts Council funding for the play developed as a part of the Constellations programme for an R&D and showcase in Northampton at The Royal and Derngate.

“Apart from creating my own work and performing, the immense creativity and originality of my Constellations cohort have inspired me to start my own review platform, Seen Anything Lately, to support new work, and celebrate independent artists including Raimu Itfum, who’s part of the Tara Theatre community.” – Victoria Chen

Mohit Mathur has had a string of successes over the past year including working with Waterperry Opera Festival in a devised children theatre show of Roald Dahl‘s Revolting Rhymes, which toured around the UK. Mohit has also worked on several R&Ds including A Beautiful Lie at Tara Theatre; Happilessness, a show about mental health in collaboration with Riverfront, Newport; and Lose The Path, Find Your Way, a children’s theatre show in collaboration with ArtsDepot.

Mohit has also made his first Arts Council England bid with Abdul [Shayek] which while unsuccessful was a positive experience. Now Mohit is planning to put in the application again with Azaad, the show he created as part of Constellations. Mohit has been selected in Vital Exposure‘s Wellspring programme as a writer and wrote my first 60 minute play. A 10 minute excerpt of this was showcased at Soho Theatre in February this year.

Most recently Mohit has worked on Twelfth Night at the Orange Tree Theatre and Riverside Studios with Flute Theatre, making theatre accessible to people with Autism. Next up Mohit will be performing as Oberon and Theseus in Midsummer Night’s Dream at Craiova International Shakespeare Festival this May.

“I played Merle Oberon in the short film Oberon, written and directed by Michelle Williams Gamaker for the BFI‘s Powell and Pressburger season. I was also in Represent Theatre‘s production Trueman and the Arsonists by Simon Stephens at the Roundhouse. I will also appear in the upcoming  Star Wars TV series The Acolyte directed by Leslye Headland. I am currently working with director Michelle Williams Gamaker on a longer project about Merle Oberon, entitled Strange Evidence.” – Thara Schöön

Daniel Passi has gone global! Daniel has returned to Rio de Janeiro where he’s working with local performers at Desterro, an independent theatre space run with his theatre company there. In September, Daniel will direct the opening performance of the PUF International Theatre Festival in Pula, Croatia.

A word from our Artistic Director, Natasha Kathi-Chandra

Since launching the pilot of our Constellations programme in March 2023, we have been excited and proud to see how all of our first cohort have continued to navigate and thrive in their careers in different capacities. The most important aspect of this programme was to hold these talented theatre-makers in a safe and nurturing environment, encouraging them to experiment and play with their ideas and explore how they can push the boundaries of theatre form and storytelling. Additionally, the opportunity to participate in masterclasses with leading industry professionals positively influenced their ideas, alongside introductions to producing partnerships facilitated by Tara Theatre. This was an integral part of the programme, and kept to our commitment to nurturing and launching skilled, knowledgeable and experienced Global Majority artists and producers into the sector.

Constellations will return…