“I’ve been Born’t” w/ Zakiyyah Deen

Chai with Rai

We are back with delicious and juicy interviews and what a lineup I have coming for you babsies.

Warm up your cuppa because actor and writer Zakiyyah Deen is in the building and we spill it all. From discussing Why a Black Woman will never be a Prime Minister of the UK to how to pitch your theatre projects and your boundaries as an artist.

Topics breakdown:

• Can you Improv though- New Warm up games.
• Zakiyyah's current play- "Why a Black Women will never be a prime minister." Where did it come from? Where it is at? And WHY!?
• Because this is an exclusive interview- we get into it! Her story from birth to now and how the arts came to be?
• Commissioning and what doing programs such as Young Vic's Fresh Direction program has taught her?
• Discussing projects such as: Is dat u yh? The Brassic FM show? Enterprice? How do you find the ownership within what you input and placement within the show ? And how do you detach?
• Cultural identity and it becoming a kryptonite or your beacon? Niche as a performer?

Quick Round:

• A tip on being financial savvy?
• A tip on grant application or arts application in general?
• A tip on writing a project?
• Go back to any role or project what would it be and why? And if you were asked to do a part 2/ expansion of it- input
• A great thing about being an artist in today’s social, cultural and economical and a challenging thing about it?
• Getting into the role- auditioning or when you have booked the job? And how to let go or sepearate yourself from it?
• A thing you would like someone to take away with them having met you for a brief second or known you for a long time
• Your Favourite thing about yourself either as a creative or person and something you feel is a challenge and are working on
• A thing you would like to impart somebody but you never got told or
• Words to your mirror self
• 3 things the creative culture could do with or without
• 3 artists really admire their journey or would suggest in checking out their work
• Your thoughts on the entertainment culture or theatre culture in general and a thing you would challenge the industry on

Then we play Sippa Chai or Play with Rai, end with our "What the Chai" rant and what makes Zakiyyah joyful and how she brings joyfulness to others.

Note: Artists mentioned in this podcast are:

https://theartistspartnership.co.uk/artist/reda-elazouar/ https://www.hamiltonhodell.co.uk/talent/tobi-king-bakare/ https://www.dkfash.com/ You can also check out Zakiyyah's blog HERE.

To subscribe to Patreon and become a Patron/ supporter of Chai with Rai.

Social:

Myself: https://www.instagram.com/chaiwithrai_/ & https://twitter.com/chaiwithrai_ & https://www.tiktok.com/@chaiwithrai

Guest: https://www.instagram.com/zakiyyahdeen/?hl=en

Links:

Myself: https://www.raimuitfum.com/chaiwithraihomepage &

https://linktr.ee/chaiwithrai_

Guest: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm10987227/ , https://www.unitedagents.co.uk/zakiyyah-deen & https://creatorsprogram.youngvic.org/member/13746

Hope you all enjoyed it and Thank you for tuning in. To Subscribe, share, follow my work and everything else is listed above.