BATS Theatre Hosts Fundraiser Event

BATS Theatre Hosts Fundraiser Event to Get Zimbabwean Wellington Actress to Drama School in London

All 154 of Shakespeare’s sonnets are to be performed at BATS Theatre in The Propeller Stage on Friday 1 July at 8.15pm in a special fundraiser event to support Zimbabwean New Zealand Actress, Keagan Carr Fransch in travelling to London to study her Masters at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama.

Keagan was born and raised in Zimbabwe and moved to New Zealand with her family in 2004. Since graduating from the Theatre Studies course at the University of Waikato and subsequently the Acting course at Toi Whakaari: New Zealand Drama School in 2013, Keagan’s goal has been to build a sustainable career as an actor in the New Zealand industry.

A few months ago Fransch applied to audition for the Masters in Acting (Contemporary strand) course at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, in London. Keagan will undergo a one year course focused on rigorous postgraduate training for actors in preparation for a sustainable career in the UK and beyond. Keagan was granted an audition in Sydney last month and was the only New Zealander and only person of colour auditioning for that course. Auditions for Central School’s various programmes are also held in Colombia, Chile, Singapore, and the USA (with local auditions in London), and the Masters course accepts 14 - 16 actors each year of which Keagan has been selected.

Some of New Zealand’s Wellington-based brightest talent have come together to read and perform all 154 of Shakespeare’s sonnets, which falls into the year of the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death. Audience will be invited to pay a cash only koha at the door to enjoy the show, where all proceeds go toward Keagan’s fundraising. The audience can leave and re-enter as they like

Keagan says, “The Masters is an experience that is vital to my improvement as a professional actor. During the year I will work with actors, teachers and writers of the highest calibre at a school that graduates highly skilled actors into an international industry of directors and companies that embrace diversity in employment, programming and casting practices. It will be the biggest challenge I’ve had to face, but I believe it is a necessary one.”

A Give a Little page has been set-up for those who cannot attend the event, but want to support Keagan’s journey. Already, $5,150 has been raised in Keagan’s support networks, friends and whanau.
Visit givealittle.co.nz/cause/helpkeagangotocentral to support online.

Please note: Bookings are not required for the event and the venue has limited capacity.

ENDS

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