WRITING HIGHLIGHTS
Goldfish, full length play currently in R&D (see below)
Hear Me Now, Volume 2 - Contributing playwright (see below)
Champorado (Chocolate Rice), short film (see below)
Graeae Theatre: Beyond Program (participant)
The Royal Court Theatre:
Shortlisted for Introduction to Playwriting Groups 2022-2023 and 2021-2022
Theatre503:
Writing Your First Full Length Play; Writing (via Share the Drama bursary)
Writing Your Short Play long course (via Share the Drama bursary)
Nottingham Playhouse: Playwright's Playground (via application)
New Earth Theatre: Writer's Academy (via application)
GOLDFISH
Write the roles you want to be and see. So I'm starting with one that represents me. With a page from Michaela, Phoebe, and Lin-Manuel's books, Goldfish was spawned through emerging playwriting courses. Still in early stages of development, it's thus far been supported by Furnace Scratch (Leeds Playhouse) and Beyond Showcase (Graeae Theatre) via performances of selected scenes.
Goldfish explores the story of JJ, a deaf Filipino-American, who's questioning their role in a close-knit family of grade school friends. The delicate balance of this 40-somethings' framily unit is threatened when JJ has an opportunity of a lifetime to chase his dreams abroad; only best friend Lina isn't having it. Forced to stop walking on eggshells, the gang must confront their "Midwest nice" state of minds around identity amidst their historically divided Black and white city of St. Louis, Missouri.
HEAR ME NOW
Of the many playwrights contributing to the Hear Me Now series, Richard recently contributed two monologues to Volume 2 of Hear Me Now: Audition Monologues for Actors of Colour.
As a member of Bush Theatre Eclipse Theatre and Black Womxn in Theatre's #HereToStay cohort, Richard was inspired to begin playwriting by peers and educators alike, but especially by Titilola Dawudu. By doing so we bring our stories from heart, to page, to stage or screen; all whilst providing opportinities for diverse artists and creatives in each journey.
CHAMPORADO
During lock down, I had a wonderful comissioned opportunity to write, produce, direct, and perform in a short film labour of love, as a part of a special project thanking Filipino health care workers in the NHS. Working remotely with talent in London, New York, St. Louis, Brighton, and Sheffield, Champorado (Chocolate Rice) was made. With producing support from New Earth Theatre and E.D.E.N. Film Productions, it was made on the E.D.E.N. Digital project, an online filmmaking project for the LGBTQ+ community funded by Comic Relief’s LGBTQ+ COVID-19 Recovery Fund, in partnership with METRO Charity, Yorkshire MESMAC and Birmingham LGBT.
Champorado (Chocolate Rice) follows Ness' journey as he navigates homesickness in Sheffield, somehow finding comfort 4,091 miles from home.
