Step into the Spotlight

Are you an actor, artist, or theatre educator seeking a transformative opportunity? Join a groundbreaking cultural exchange between the UK and Japan, where British and Japanese creatives collaborate to push boundaries and explore innovative storytelling techniques.

Experience script-free, co-creative methods that prioritise experimentation and tackle important social issues to spark meaningful dialogue. This unique opportunity also offers incredible networking, allowing you to connect with passionate artists and educators, break creative boundaries, and elevate your career on an international stage.

While open to all, we particularly encourage male artists from African and Caribbean backgrounds to join this unique collaboration with our Japanese counterparts.

What to Expect?

  • Workshops: Hands-on sessions with Japanese and British creatives that dive deep into unique theatre-making techniques.
  • Performance: Opportunity to showcase our work alongside international talent.
  • Creative Inspiration: Exposure to diverse cultural perspectives and social themes.
  • Networking: Opportunity to join social events and attend West End/off West End shows.
  • Professional Development: A certificate of participation and skills you can carry into your career.

Who Can Join?

This project is perfect for:

  • Actors who want to expand their skills and learn new performance techniques.
  • Artists ready to push boundaries and find fresh inspiration.
  • Theatre Educators eager to enrich their teaching practice with innovative approaches.

Dates

Weekly Rehearsals

Dates: Tuesday’s: 1st and 8th April, 2025

Times: TBC

  • Weekly in-person sessions, UK participants only.
2 Week Intensive

Dates: Monday 14th – Thursday 18th & Tuesday  22nd – Saturday 26th April 

Times: TBC (with some variation for rehearsal and tech times)

  • 2nd week of intensive for the UK and Japanese participants.
  • The Japanese team will travel to the UK, and we’ll hold joint workshops in London for that week. Based on the exchange of ideas and interactions, we will engage in creative activities that combine themes from the perspectives of both countries.
Performance

Date: Sun 27th April

Time: TBC

  • Perform our improvised scenes to an open audience. 
  • Certificate presentation.

Project Team

Project Leader UK: Natasha Cox

Natasha Cox is the Founder CEO & Artistic Director of Actively SeeK.I.N.G., an award-winning company dedicated to empowering predominantly young Black males through the performing arts.

A professionally trained musical theatre artist, Natasha studied at Millennium Performing Arts in London and is the recipient of the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Performance in a Supporting Role. She also holds a BSc Honours Degree in Social Sciences and an MA in Innovation, Creativity, and Leadership, graduating with distinction from Bayes Business School (formerly Cass).

In addition to her performing work on stage, Natasha choreograph’s and produces; she also directed her debut play, Don’t Write Me Off, which will tour London later this year.

Project Leader Japan: Shinji Betchaku

Playwright, director, actor, acting instructor, training instructor, film director, drama educator.

As the representative director of the Japan Global Theatre Education Association (GLODEA), he is working on the mission of popularising drama education in Japanese education, introducing global drama. education through training courses, and nurturing professional drama educators. After studying abroad at Royal Holloway University of London from 1999 to 2000, he began acting instruction and creative activities and has worked on full-scale stage productions as well as drama education plays.

Lead Project Coordinator and Assistant Interpreter: Hikaru Uozumi

Hikari Uozumi is the manager of the UK office of a Japanese travel company, promoting educational projects between Japan and the UK. Born in Kyoto, Hikari studied Political Science at the University of California, Los Angeles. She worked in sales strategy for international retail and consumer goods companies in Japan and Germany before moving to the UK in 2024.

In Japan, Hikari attended a speech course by Shinji Betchaku, where she discovered the value of theatre education. This experience led to meeting Natasha Cox in the UK, and together they launched a project focused on theatre education.

Participation Fee

A participation fee will apply (details to be announced).

How to Get Involved

Register your interest here

Contact

For more information contact info@activelyseeking.co.uk