The Sweet Science of Bruising

The University of East London is partnering with The Space to showcase the energy, diversity, and raw talent of our second year emerging actors.

The Sweet Science of Bruising, as the dramatist Joy Wilkinson writes in her introduction, is an imaginative reconstruction of history from a new perspective: “whether it’s a true story matters less to me than if there is truth in the story.” It’s a gritty, sharp, and hard-hitting drama which will give you a completely different view of the Victorian lady, with her corset off and gloves on, fighting for her life in the ring.

Acting for Stage and Screen offers an intensive and dynamic actor training, developing acting skills for both on-camera and on-stage. From initial idea through to performance or screening we will encourage and support an understanding of the actors’ creative process. Alongside lecturers, students are mentored and taught by professional actors, directors, casting directors, film-makers and screenwriters, many of whom continue to work in the industry today. This practical training helps to develop an artistic identity, offering a creative performing arts community with plenty of opportunities to create original work. This course focuses on a collaborative approach, building an ensemble and creating a conservatoire atmosphere for students with a focus on developing the graduate with an extensive CV, a professional show reel and a resilience to make exciting contemporary work.

The Sweet Science of Bruising by Joy Wilkinson

Emily Jessica – Anna Lamb
Dylan Houseman – Professor Charlie Sharp
Mark Zatyko – Gabriel Lamb
Ana-Maria Lupulescu – Matilda Blackwell (Act 1), Nancy (Act 2)
Darrel “Kai” Masaire – Paul Stokes, Lord Cavendish
Fanta Dembele – Polly Stokes (Act 1) Gabriela Maksimova – Nancy (Act 1), Polly Stokes (Act 2)
Lauren May – Violet Hunter
Alexandra Chiran – Emily (Act 1), Matilda Blackwell (Act 2)
Gabriella Gwara – Aunt George
Dany Mutamba – Dr James Bell, Captain Danby, Referee
Wiktor Kujawski – Dr Forster

Director: Caroline Griffiths

Caroline has been a physical theatre lecturer and director for 30 years. Initially trained as a dancer and then subsequently in acting, Caroline has developed her skills in the fusion of both and has worked in inner London education establishments for the majority of her career.

Her experience as a director has focused primarily on youth theatre and dance. She set up a youth dance company called Rouge in 2006, a company who performed at The Place, Royal Festival Hall, site specific work at The Hayward Gallery as well as The Lilian Baylis. In 2008 The company was commissioned by Sadler’s Wells to tour London Schools with their performance of ‘Polish’ based on the sculpture of Rachel Whiteread.

In 2016 Caroline set up a youth theatre company called ‘See&Eye Theatre’ based at City and Islington College. The company created a fusion of physical theatre and naturalistic techniques and focussed on creating work by new writers. In 2016 the company performed ‘Children of Killers’ by Katori Hall at the Orange Tree Theatre and were selected to perform at the closing night of the National Theatre Connections festival on the Olivier Stage. In 2018 See&Eye were fortunate again to perform their version of [ BLANK ] by Alice Birch at the opening night of The NT Connections festival at The Dorfman Theatre and subsequently at the International Youth Arts Festival in Kingston in 2019. Caroline is currently studying for a PhD in new techniques in movement work in relation to anti-racist methodologies in the acting studio.

Course leader Juliet Knight credits include:

Alongside course Leading the BA Acting for Stage and Screen course at UEL, Juliet is a Director, writer and actor. She aims to make work that is playful, authentic and rooted in an ensemble base. She has established two companies ‘Project on a Bus’, partnered with Royal Docks/Newham and Bunch of People which supports collaborative productions. Most recently she developed a new play ‘Storm’ at The National Theatre Studio which premiered at Southwark Playhouse in August 2023. Her recent directing credits include ‘Zigger Zagger’ by Peter Terson at Wilton’s Music Hall with the National Youth Theatre, ’Bitched’ with Kali Theatre at Tristan Bates Studio, ‘A Raison in the Sun’ by Lorraine Hansberry with Synergy Theatre Project at HMP Thameside. ‘Runts’ by Izzy Tennyson at The Brighton and Camden Fringe Festival. ‘Variety Hall’ by Luke Barnes rehearsed reading at Shoreditch Town Hall with Soho Theatre and High Tide. ‘The Day after (they went off on one)’ by Miran Hadzic at Vaults Festival. ‘White Boy’ by Tanika Gupta at Soho Theatre. ‘Stars Over Kabul’ developed with the writer Rebecca Lenkiewicz and ‘Razia’ by Jamilla Gavin at The Tramway, Glasgow. ‘Weekday Nights’ by Luke Barnes Unicorn Theatre and NYT. ‘Cardboard Dad’ by Alan Harris at Sherman Cmyru. ‘A Just Act’ by E V Crowe, Clean Break Theatre Company. ‘Prime Resident’ by Stella Duffy at Soho Theatre. ‘There are Mountains’ developed with Chloe Moss at HMP Askham Grange for Clean Break Theatre Company. ‘Talking to Byron’ by Tanika Gupta for The National Youth Theatre. ‘Out of Me’ by Jane Bodie at Soho Theatre. ‘The Miracle’ by Lin Coghlan at Central School of Speech and Drama, ’66 Degrees North’ and ‘Little Bird’ at The Minack Theatre and touring Cornwall with CSSD. Her acting credits include ‘Caught in the Net’ by Ray Cooney at Vaudeville Theatre, ‘Tomorrow’ by Sam Evans at The White Bear, ‘The Smallest Story’ by R J Wilkinson at The Kings Head, “Eastenders’ BBC, ‘Faithless’ and ‘Trivia’ (short films)

Senior Lecturer and Director Majid Mehdizadeh-Valoujerdy credits include:
Majid is an actor, theatre director, writer and teacher with over ten years experience in the TV, Film and Theatre industry. As an actor I have worked extensively in TV, Film and Theatre. I’m best known for playing series regular Jesse Donovan in Hollyoaks (Channel 4). Notable other work includes Doctor Who (BBC/Disney+), The Girlfriend Experience (Amazon Prime), Chosen (Netflix), The Shape of Things (Park Theatre) and War Horse (West End). Other companies I have worked with include BBC, National Theatre, Everyman & Playhouse Theatres, Royal Exchange Theatre and Theatre 503. As a writer he has gained a place on the prestigious Playwriting Programme at the Everyman Theatre, Liverpool in 2018. Since graduating he has written and performed a solo show Y’MAM (Young Man’s Angry Movements) at the Everyman, Liverpool and Soho Theatre, London. The show received four stars from The Guardian and The Stage. Majid made his professional directing debut in July 2022 at the Blue Elephant Theatre, London, where I directed new play Give Me the Sun by Mamet Leigh. The creative team was made up entirely of Middle Eastern and North African artists. He has taught and directed at RADA, LIPA, Mountview, Drama Studio London and is proud to be teaching at UEL