Meet WOVEN Artist: Grace Francis
Grace Francis is a theatre and TV actress who has worked with Battersea Arts Centre, The National Theatre, Channel 4 and the BBC. In 2019, Grace founded an award-winning company called DramEd Ltd, to enrich children through Drama. Grace has written and published two children’s books and is writing her first business support book called Performers Who Pivot.
Grace will be presenting an extract from a new stage work at TANGLESPACE.
Tell us about yourself?
My name is Grace and I have lived in the South West of England with my family for two years. My mother is a Windrush Baby, who was brought over from Jamaica in the 60's. My father is English with other European heritage.
What is your creative/artistic discipline?
My background is in acting which evolved into a love of telling stories through various disciplines, including writing and dance. I still love acting, particularly when it's for theatre.
How are you feeling about TANGLESPACE in February?
My feelings of excitement and nervousness are intertwined.
Why did you apply for the micro-commission?
I initially thought, "I have written two children's books, but I am not a writer, so this is not for me". Then, my imagination took over. I asked myself if I were to write a play, what would it be about, and everything I am passionate about surfaced. I decided there was no harm in exploring that further and applying for the micro-commission, which was really easy to do.
What does TANGLE mean to you?
My experience of TANGLE has been one that has invited me into a safe and creative space with other African, Caribbean and Global Majority creatives through WOVEN. Shared values and challenges have been deconstructed or detangled from that space through conversation. I learned that much of what I feel and have felt as an artist over the years wasn't unique to me, and I am not alone. My playwriting potential is also being encouraged, nurtured and celebrated in the TANGLE community. TANGLE means a mix of ideas, feelings, stories, potential and untapped potential in the African, Caribbean and Global majority communities, that can be explored, championed and celebrated by coming together and working together.
Can you tell us a little bit about your performance?
My piece is called MUMMY I’M HUNGRY, which is a snippet of something bigger to come. It explores childhood poverty in the UK and generational trauma. This is a topic close to my heart. There are two characters, Melanie and Richard. Melanie is played by myself, and Richard is played by Colin Doubleday. Melanie and Richard are on a low income and separated with two children. The art form is acting for theatre. However, the director of this piece, Lau Batty, and I are open to movement too, so we shall see if that makes it into the piece! I am having a great time with Director Lau Batty in rehearsal. The sound engineering is significant too, this is engineered by Jordan Xavier behind Creative Music X with voice overs from his daughters.
TANGLESPACE is our curated platform for performance, networking and fellowship. Join us on Friday 16 February at Hoxton Hall (London) to celebrate our artists of African and Caribbean heritages and theatre traditions of the African diaspora on this unique night of food, drink and sharing. Find out more here.