Truth was an idea I conceived purely out of my own life choices and experiences. Firstly growing up in the multicultural postcodes known as NW9/HA3 made damn sure that I was well versed on different cultures.
I directed Truth using a handycam, given to me as birthday present and shot it in my younger brothers loft conversion. Shot on a budget of exactly £30. Taking about 7 hours to shoot on a hot summer's day.
Sweltering heat. Passion. Ambition. Were the co-contributors.
Assisting me was the muse of the whole story. Helping with the lights and camerawork...
But that's another story.
The lead actor was a work colleague of mine who had never acted before, who subsequently went on to do stage acting. One of the other actors on the project was a young actress called Kellie Shirley, who went onto Eastenders fame.
When Truth finally premiered in 2006 to a live audience in Farringdon, Central London, along with live music and poetry, it was amazingly received - I remember the audience laughing at the right times, gasping at the right times and being wowed by the end credit sequence which was accompanied with live music. Throughout the whole screening I sat, facing away from the screen, stroke, audience. I far too nervous to engage in the whole experience. Worried about the critical analysis each and every audience member were building in their heads. All of this nervous energy made the loud applauses at the end of the screening even more sweet. Interviews with the press and more films followed.
3 years later, the lead actor from the film, Neil Daley, spoke loosely about getting Truth onto stage. I questioned the logic...how could I turn Truth - a 10 minute short film - into a whole stageplay?
I didn't think it was possible.
Then one unplanned & impromptu four and a half hour trip back to London from Edinburgh in September (again, that's another story!) I wrote the whole of Truth the Stageplay. Later being assisted by the immense talent of new writer, Hema Kiya Kansara, to help thaw out the rough edges.
And here we are in 2010 with the first reading of Truth due to take place on the 31st of July.
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Truth is a modern hard-hitting stageplay, playing with themes of social and economics conflicts within the UK. Its strong narrative plays as a catalyst for something less literal and more deeper. Exploring the relationships between different racial and social groups in London with an ensemble cast.
Written by Marcus Flemmings & Hema Kiya Kansara
Directed by Neil Daley
Cast:
Jay Marsh
Mandeesh Gill
Haider Zafar
Hannah Neate
Ben Bellamy
Naomi Todd
Andrew Shire
Javed Khan
Umi Pratsis
Alexander Pritchard
Amber O'Shea
David Johnson
Lee Ravitz
Jing Lusi
Sheine Alexander
Nathsha Stokes
Chanette Powell
Nelly Elessa
The reading for Truth is on the 31st of July at 4pm in Mornington Crescent. It is an invite-only audience. Entry is free upon invitation. To attend please email: info@theconstantfilms.com
