Social Impact Theatre
SIT-UP Award WinnerChristina Murdock's production Dangerous Giant Animals at Underbelly Cowgate.
Dangerous Giant Animals is based on Christina's experience of growing up with her disabled sister. The £5,000 Award helped the production to further promote its message and improve its engagement with audiences and relevant charities. The play was shown at Sit-UP Sunday at Park Theatre.
Strictly Arts’ production of Freeman at Pleasance Courtyard.
This play passionately explores, racism, generational trauma and mental health in prisons.
"The SIT-UP Awards really made us sit up, think and act on trying to improve the real life situation around the themes discussed in Freeman. Creating work that raises awareness is very important but then doing something about it takes a greater ingenuity. The Sit Up Awards are helping to fuel that ingenuity."
Henry Bays of Strictly Arts.
The other shortlisted productions were:-
"All of the shortlisted productions shine a light on different issues and show the power of theatre to achieve change through their audiences. And that was the idea in setting up these awards in the first place”.
David Graham founder of SIT-UP awards.
Acá Theatre’s production, Better Together at the Pleasance Courtyard.
This physical theatre company was given the award for engaging with its audience in an innovative and hugely entertaining way. Better Together looks at how people communicate with each other and the increasing use of technology. To get their message across the company, started an online campaign entitled ‘peoplenotscreens' with badges handed out to audiences as well as providing a sheet with tips for a more screen-free day. During the Edinburgh Festival Fringe run, Acá Theatre also ran workshops at Edinburgh’s Whale Arts Centre and Mix Up Theatre.
"Because of the prize we have been able to make a more long-lasting impact on our audiences and raise awareness around the issue of establishing healthy boundaries around the use of technology for young people." Francisca Stangel - Better Together
Hoipolloi’s The Duke created by Shôn Dale-Jones at the Pleasance Courtyard.
This production has raised nearly £50,000 for Save the Children over the past few years.
Henry Box Brown from US based Children's Theatre Company at Assembly Rooms.
This musical journey about an 1850s Virginia slave who ships himself to freedom in a box.
The company invited audience members to sign up to a social pledge about race.
Adam Lazarus’s Daughter at Canada Hub, a head-on confrontation of toxic masculinity.
The company held an excellent daily post-show discussion with audiences in the café at the venue.
“The social action engagement with our audiences is not a thing apart or after-thought, but at the very centre of our artistic and programmatic vision.” Mehr Mansuri - Henry Box Brown.