Ella
- 1986
Documentary following a Liverpool based youth theatre and dance company as they produce their rendition of Cinderella
Realising the lack of opportunity and local spaces for youth to express creativity, Marcia Davis - at only 19 years of age - decided to create theatre and dance company, Catalyst 1+2. Based in Liverpool and honouring her Jamaican heritage in her work, this intimate documentary invites us into the behind the scenes, cast profiles, dress rehearsals and production of her take on Cinderella, titled 'Ella'.
After deciding to shift away from plans to work in London, Davis instead directed focus towards her community and the local youth club in an attempt to make the study of performance arts more accessible. Little did she know this would open up doors for them to perform across schools and venues like the Royal Albert Hall, allowing this young team to showcase their skill, passion and talent on the big stage. The collaborative nature of Catalyst 1+2 is highlighted throughout this piece and is something to be celebrated - taking on a classic tale known and loved by many and presenting a reimagined piece that reflects the experiences of their community, Davis' dedication to her craft is nothing short of admirable!
ELLA is a reimagined version of the fairy-tale story 'Cinderella', cleverly adapted and performed originally as a play, by Catalyst - a group of young black people based in Liverpool, who started their own drama/dance group and are involved in all aspects of production: choreography, scripting, directing, producing, song-writing, search for venues, costumes... the list is endless.