THE SPACE - Theatre of Survival

A feature documentary

Synopsis

The Space: ‘A Theatre of Survival in a Time of Turmoil’

In 1972 at the height of the apartheid struggle in South Africa, when the government had silenced the non-white majority and racial tensions were reaching a breaking point, a group of artists risked everything to build a safe space dedicated to all freedoms—artistic, social and political.

When the ANC finally took power with the release of Nelson Mandela, many stories were lost - many of these accounts of those that had opposed the white, Afrikaner system of power. This is just one chronicle of a group of resistors, told by those who were there. 'The Space', born from the unremitting efforts of the government to silence all opposition, became the ‘Theatre of Survival’ for the voices of all artists - a place where, no matter the colour of their skin, they could be seen and heard.

The groundbreaking work of these brave artists reverberated worldwide at a time when the price of their artistic freedom was incarceration or worse. Their refusal to stay silent in the face of such danger helped shape and change the landscape of injustice for the better. As relevant today as 46 years ago, ‘Theatre of Survival’ celebrates the struggles and the successes of those people.

Featuring the late Brian Astbury, Athol Fugard (the most performed playwright in the world after Shakespeare), Tony award-winners John Kani and Winston Ntshona, Fatima Dike, Nomhle Nkonyeni, satirist Pieter-Dirk Uys Wilson Dunster, Percy Sieff, Academy Award Nominee, Richard E. Grant, and many more. ‘Theatre of Survival’, is narrated by Oscar winner and multiple award-winning acting legend, James Earl Jones, who also worked with Athol in New York.

About us

Mark Street

Director/ Producer

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Dan Poole

Director/ Producer

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Mark Street
Director/ Producer
mark@markstreetfilm.com
www.markstreetfilm.com
Mark trained as an actor before directing and writing plays on the London fringe circuit. He was a co-founder of 104 Theatre Company with which he won the prestigious Edinburgh Fringe First Award for a devised piece entitled ‘See Base Of Can’.

He then started his own production company ‘From The Streets Productions’ with partner and Producer Jane Street. Together they began working on short film projects alongside their theatre work. Marks’ first film ‘Lateman’ went on to showcase at London’s Raindance Film Festival and his second ‘The Noisy Neighbour’ a horror based on Edgar Allan Poe’s ‘Tell-Tale Heart’ was picked to play at ‘The Commonwealth Film Festival’. Mark has gone on to have a successful career directing for both stage and screen collaborating with a wealth of talented writers, editors, animators and producers.

Mark has been developing his next feature with Writer Mark Underwood whose previous film won the best feature at The Independent Film Awards. He will be starting pre-production in the summer and he has another doc in early development. Mark is also passionate about teaching. He teaches in many of the top drama schools in and around London and carries his professional work over in to his classes in the hope of inspiring the next generation of young filmmakers to go out and tell their own stories.

Mark has been working on ‘The Space- Theatre of Survival’ since 2011 when Brian Astbury first approached Mark with the idea. Mark went through the interviews previously shot by actor and longstanding member of ‘The Space Theatre’, Percy Sieff. After watching them all he was in no doubt that here was a story that had to be told. It has subsequently been a long hard road but more than worth it. Mark was taught by Brian Astbury at drama school and is acutely aware of how important the arts are to society. Arthur Miller once said “The Arts make us feel connected to one another and less isolated” This film is certainly a powerful example of just how true Arthur Miller’s quote is and is as relevant today as ever.

Dan Poole
Director/ Producer/ Actor
dan@timebombpictures.com
www.timebombpictures.com

From performing in the multi-award winning ‘Jerusalem’ at the Royal Court Theatre, through to ‘Batman’ and Mike Leigh’s ‘Peterloo’, Dan is a professional actor and film-maker. As an actor and story-teller he challenged himself to learn new skills to create, shoot and produce his own work. His love for film and socially aware projects has helped to bring many of the most talented of professionals onto his ultra-low budget projects.

Acting aside, he has twenty years as a Director/Producer/Cameraman, working on everything from broadcast TV; HBO, BBC, Discovery, ITV, C4, through to branded content for Nike, MTV, DOLBY and the development of his own work, has enriched his search for new and innovative ways to engage audiences.

His first feature documentary, the award winning ‘Muse of Fire’, spoke to experts, actors, directors and theatre artists about the contemporary relevance of Shakespeare (aka their fear), in an effort to de-stigmatize the great playwright for the younger generations. The film played at international festivals Inc. Raindance etc., and was aired on BBC TV to over a million people, whilst also winning a number of awards.

He has written and produced a number of short films, dealing with subjects from the loss of a partner, through to depression and PTSD. His last compelling short film, 'The Loneliest Time', which he wrote, produced and performed in, has been very well received among those in the British and US military, who have struggled with the difficult transition from conflict back to civilian life.

He is currently completing his next documentary ‘The Guardians’, that follows retired US special Forces soldiers, as they track down those responsible for the largest human sex trafficking network in the world- the film should be completed late 2019.

Having made commercials, music videos and documentary’s, the next project for Dan is a Feature Film, currently at the finance stage. His detailed overview of all aspects of film-making, has made this very important documentary financially viable and hopefully accessible to many. He runs his own production company, Timebomb Pictures with a full slate of work planned, and is a producer at GV Film,

Dan was trained at Mountview Theatre School by Brian Astbury, the founder of ‘The Space’ theatre; this is where he first heard the stories of this amazing place. Originally approached about the possibility of the film whilst finishing ‘Muse of Fire’, Dan came on board the project a year later in 2012. With a minimal budget it’s never been easy, but in the words of the late great Nelson Mandela, ‘It always seems impossible until it is done’.

Brian Astbury
Founding Artistic Director - The Space Theatre
brian@thespacetheatre.com

Mark trained as an actor before directing and writing plays on the London fringe circuit. He was a co-founder of 104 Theatre Company with which he won the prestigious Edinburgh Fringe First Award for a devised piece entitled ‘See Base Of Can’.

He then started his own production company ‘From The Streets Productions’ with partner and Producer Jane Street. Together they began working on short film projects alongside their theatre work. Marks’ first film ‘Lateman’ went on to showcase at London’s Raindance Film Festival and his second ‘The Noisy Neighbour’ a horror based on Edgar Allan Poe’s ‘Tell-Tale Heart’ was picked to play at ‘The Commonwealth Film Festival’. Mark has gone on to have a successful career directing for both stage and screen collaborating with a wealth of talented writers, editors, animators and producers.

Mark has been developing his next feature with Writer Mark Underwood whose previous film won the best feature at The Independent Film Awards. He will be starting pre-production in the summer and he has another doc in early development. Mark is also passionate about teaching. He teaches in many of the top drama schools in and around London and carries his professional work over in to his classes in the hope of inspiring the next generation of young filmmakers to go out and tell their own stories.

Mark has been working on ‘The Space- Theatre of Survival’ since 2011 when Brian Astbury first approached Mark with the idea. Mark went through the interviews previously shot by actor and longstanding member of ‘The Space Theatre’, Percy Sieff. After watching them all he was in no doubt that here was a story that had to be told. It has subsequently been a long hard road but more than worth it. Mark was taught by Brian Astbury at drama school and is acutely aware of how important the arts are to society. Arthur Miller once said “The Arts make us feel connected to one another and less isolated” This film is certainly a powerful example of just how true Arthur Miller’s quote is and is as relevant today as ever.

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Delivered in 2k or HD boasting a Dolby Atmos, 7.1, 5.1 or Stereo sound mix.

Mixed by Paul Massey at Twickenham Studios and posted at Technicolor, London.

For sales please contact our agents 7 & 7.

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