S01 E03 - Philip ‘J’ Morris & Keiren Hamilton-Amos - The Lightpost Company

Keiren & I interviewed Philip Morris about their experiences producing and facilitating ‘The Lightpost Comany’ during their time working for Birmingham Rep. We then spoke to Philip about his career to date and his journey from a graduate to now working for Young Vic.

Thank you to both Keiren and Philip.

The Lightpost Project. -

"The aim was simply to create a safe space where young Black men could feel acknowledged, listened to and celebrated. We had wished something like this had existed when we were younger so it only felt right to seize the opportunity and do so." - Philip Morris

"The joy of Black men couldn't always be seen through all the stigma and stereotypes, we wanted Lightpost to be a place for them to see it in each other and themselves" - Keiren Hamilton-Amos

Successfully receiving funding from MIND, at the end of the two years Philip felt that there was a real need for a young Black male theatre group. He wanted to run something that would continue beyond a limited time frame and create a group where the devised work reflected who they were. Above all, he wanted to form a brotherhood that could and would always support each other. 

After securing a permanent job as Youth Theatre Director at The REP, Philip (with support of his best friend Keiren Hamilton-Amos) began a theatre group of young Black men, creating theatre in a rehearsal room. 

Following the success of the 'Up My Street' pilot, the project partners successfully secured significant funding from the Lottery Community Fund for a 3 year programme called 'Shifting The Dial'. The project is a unique partnership between The REP, Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Foundation Trust, First Class Legacy and the Centre For Mental Health.

Shifting The Dial funding enabled Philip to develop his theatre group into Lightpost Theatre Company - an incredible training ground, but also a safe space to develop confidence and resilience. Performing in shows that actively challenge social stigmas, and ideas associated with young Black men, the group used theatre as a gateway to create new plays of social and historical context.  Lightpost remain a key element of the Shifting The Dial project.

The impact that Lightpost has had on The REP is immeasurable, performing work to national decision makers and commissioners in theatres and at conferences. Not only that, their alumni have gone onto many things, from becoming actors and writers to going to University or working in different sectors, but one thing remains, they have a brotherhood forever. 

Today, the group continues to evolve, but it started with 2 young Black men wanting to create theatre, make change and provide support and mentorship to young Black men in the West Midlands. 

With Philip's vision, Keiren's experience and their combined hard work, the Lightpost baton has been passed onto the next generation of Black male theatre makers (CJ Lloyd Webley & Mathias André), leading Lightpost into a new iteration. - Courtesy of Birmingham Rep. - https://www.birmingham-rep.co.uk/news/in-the-spotlight-with-madeleine-kludje.html

To find out more about ‘The Lightpost Company’ please visit:

https://www.birmingham-rep.co.uk/get-involved/youth-theatre/

Applied Theatre Podcast.2020

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