Introduction
Jonzi D Productions (JDP) was established in April 2005 as a result of the success of Breakin’ Convention, the international Hip Hop Dance Theatre Festival, curated and hosted by Jonzi D and produced by Sadler’s Wells. We are a regularly funded organisation (RFO) of Arts Council England, London and are an Associate Company of Sadler’s Wells Theatre (SWT).
The company has three key areas of work, all designed to achieve our mission:
Productions and Touring
By working with the most exciting artists from Hip Hop, dance and theatre, we aim to create dynamic and high-quality productions of varying scales in theatres across the UK and internationally. Our first production TAG…Me vs. The City was a resounding success playing to over 7,000 people in its first UK tour to middle-scale venues across the UK in February/March 2006. Venues included Nottingham Playhouse, Contact Theatre Manchester, Malvern Theatres and the Peacock Theatre. The 2006 production was co-produced with Nottingham Playhouse and Sadler’s Wells. For 2007, we changed the name to TAG…just writing my name.
Education and Artistic Development
Hip Hop culture is all about sharing knowledge, supporting creativity and a sense of individual expression. Through our education programme we are committed to working with everyone interested in learning or developing Hip Hop techniques.
There are currently three main strands to our education work:
Workshop Programme
JDP currently offers a wide range of workshops from Basic Breakin’, Streetdance and Locking to Rap and Lyrically Motivated Movement. Suitable for a wide range of age and ability – Hip Hop is open to all! Click here to check out all the workshops, meet our teachers and download a booking form.
Tour-specific Workshops
Whenever we tour, we are keen to engage with local artists and audiences. When we book dates, all venues are offered workshops with the cast, wherever it’s possible. If you know JDP is coming to your town, contact the venue listed and ask about workshops.
Hip Hop Theatre Workshops (HHTW)
These workshops are designed at artists from across Hip Hop culture who are already out there but want to improve their theatrical skills, work with different disciplines, develop new ideas or just want to explore Hip Hop Theatre with Jonzi D and other artists in a studio. HHTWs are always run in a series of seven sessions and work generated can be shown at The Surgery
Showcasing New Hip Hop Theatre Work
The Surgery
The Surgery is a regular gathering for artists, crews and Hip Hop audiences to get together and share the latest work from the HHTWs. Hosted by Jonzi D, The Surgery is a unique opportunity for exposing new and emerging Hip Hop Theatre work where the artists/audience have the opportunity to discuss what they’ve just seen.
Other Projects
JDP is also regularly asked to devise or deliver other projects throughout the year. Details of new projects are featured in the Breakin’ News and there is an archive of all the other projects we’ve done.