Three Box Theatre: Launch Night

Diversity is perhaps not Warwick’s strong point, least of all in theatre. Many might remember the unfortunate outcome of the Mind The Gap Collective’s prospective plays ‘Fewer Emergencies’ and ‘Othello’, which were finally unable to go ahead due to a lack of diversity in the sign up stage of auditions. What began as an already admirable project has since evolved into Three Box Theatre, a new theatre company created as the brainchild of a few of Warwick’s own theatre students concerned with the university’s general lack of diversity and space for minorities.

It goes without saying that Warwick produces a specific calibre of theatrical talent, but the launch went a little further in bringing together different kinds of performance. Three Box Theatre was launched last Friday with its first performance night. With audience and performers alike mingling to Lemonade, there was a friendly atmosphere that was maintained throughout the ensuing performances. There were performances ranging from monologues, acoustic music, performance poetry, opinion pieces, all loosely tied around the aim of giving a space to people and discussions often excluded from the theatrical spotlight. With performers divulging things as personal as the tentative imagining of a future relationship with their child, or the experience and manifest hurt that comes from being called ‘too skinny’, the genuinely supportive applause of the room shows there is a need and, indeed, an appreciation for the kids of performance such an event as this would bring about.

The project this year is themed on the refugee crisis, specifically on how this can be calibrated from a post-Brexit standpoint. Three Box have teamed up with Feat. Theatre company, who are also concerned with the crisis and specifically the island mentality that colours Britain’s response to the it. They plan to organise volunteer opportunities at the refugee camp in Dunkirk, so the project’s efforts will be truly grounded in tangible experience over the distant intellectualism it might otherwise fall prey to.

It is easy as a minority to forget the value of the kind of spaces set out specifically for you – the ones which tell of experiences similar to yours, or to others who share the experience of being side-lined. Three Box Theatre is in the beginning stages of carving out a space for minorities onstage and at Warwick, something long-overdue and of vital importance for those feeling underrepresented and voiceless on our campus. It is a chance for you to tell your story and experience on a platform set aside for you and others like you, all to a particularly receptive audience.

Three Box Theatre seemed genuinely interested in making the project as open and inclusive as possible, stressing anyone can get involved in ways not necessarily limited to performance. Auditions are already underway but if you missed them, or just don’t fancy performing, get in touch through their Facebook page to see how you can get involved.