Produced by actresses Louise Oliver, Elaine Stirrat and Misha McCullagh, Persistent and Nasty is a podcast series and creative activism initiative for women and other marginalised voices in the stage and screen industries.
“The exchange provided by P&N is electric, reminiscent of the consciousness raising gatherings of the second wave but with a focus on intersectionality that has been sorely missing from so much of the mainstream feminist movement”
We are committed to an intersectional approach and aim to use the space we’ve created to amplify the unrepresented voices in theatre and film. Our goal is to create a project that is fun, safe and supportive, but is also an act of protest. Persistent and Nasty is about changing the cultural narrative through the stories we tell.
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“It’s about the bigger picture, the bigger conversation and how we move forward, not just in our industry but socially, and in our culture”
(Photo by Sidey Clark Photography)
The COVID-19 outbreak brings scary and uncertain times for the creative industry. We’re trying to do our bit with some digital projects to keep you creative and sane while in quarantine.
Town Hall: Radical Dreaming and Practical Solutions
This digital event on 1st June 2020 was a faciliatated conversation about the future of theatre in the wake of the COVID19 crisis. It was attended by around 40 members of our community; ranging from freelancers to representatives of companies and bigger institutions. The full verbatim transcript, with a list of attendees and summary of key issues can be accessed here.
Follow-up events will be announced soon.
Persistent and Nasty are currently sitting on the Federation of Scottish Theatre’s Strategic Working Group for Equalities Diversity and Inclusion. If you would like an issue, question or suggestion heard at the meetings of this group, we can communicate this on your behalf. Just email us at persistentandnasty@gmail.com.
Coffee Mornings
Every Friday at 11am (UK time) on Zoom. An opportunity to check-in, chat, reflect and connect. Email us on persistentandnasty@gmail.com to join.
Monologue Slam
As part of a digital response to the COVID-19 crisis performers were invited to submit a two-minute monologue to be screened online on our You Tube channel. Split over four videos, the responses we received were bold, experimental and anything but monotonous. You can view them here.
“Persistent and Nasty’s Creative Quarantine programme is the perfect remedy for theatre-lovers and performers alike, but their Monologue Slam is a personal favourite”. – The List Magazine (read the full review here).
NastyCovid-19 Playlist
Does exactly what is says on the tin. Some feel good tunes, curated with our social media followers, to shake it off or work from home to. Listen here.
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Twitter: @PersistentNasty
Instagram: @PersistentandNasty
For any queries please email persistentandnasty@gmail.com
Meet the women behind Persistent & Nasty
Louise is an actor, producer, writer, and arts consultant with over a decade of experience working in theatre and festivals, both in Scotland and internationally. She came up with the Persistent & Nasty concept, and initiated the event series.
She trained in acting for theatre, film and television at the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts and got her master’s degree in Theatre Studies from the University of Glasgow. In addition to being the Performance Producer in the Renfrewshire Leisure Arts Team, Louise is the co-founder / producer of the Persistent and Nasty initiative and Associate Producer for live art production house Civil Disobedience. During her time living and working in New York, Louise worked with companies such as The Wooster Group and The Tank Theater, as well as co-founding, with some fellow NYCDA alumni, her own theatre company; the Blockheads Collective. Her practise and resume are varied and unique; from appearing in TVs Outlander to making ensemble driven feminist theatre in the highlands. You can find out more here: https://linktr.ee/MsLouiseOliver
Follow Louise on Twitter @MsLouiseOliver
Elaine trained at Langside College. After this, she worked with various theatre companies, performing in venues including The Citizens, The Tron, and The Royal Concert Hall. Elaine has also worked in Film and TV. Credits include Taggart, Crimes That Shook The World, and I Saw You, along with other work for the BBC. Elaine has been a core member of the ensemble for critically claimed theatre company Poorboy for five years. Her journey with Poorboy began by working on the Blast Hamlet, performed at the Tron Theatre. Over the last few years Elaine has been part of The Christmas Workshop, the second Blast Hamlet, Macbeth, Doctor Faustus, Measure for Measure, and Taming of The Shrew. Since working with Poorboy, Elaine has also been the production manager for Pirates and Mermaids when it was at The Edinburgh Festival in 2013. Poorboy has allowed Elaine to further her own writing and has supported development days on her current play. She regularly delivers bespoke training and workshops for children and adults. Follow Elaine on Twitter @ElaineStirrat
Misha is an actor, artist and creative arts coordinator. She trained at Glasgow Clyde College (Langside) and now works regularly with film and theatre makers across Scotland including GILR, Stoned Boned Sober Productions, BBC social, Chimaera Productions, Posturous Productions and Deadly Acts Theatre company.
As a creative producer and production coordinator Misha has worked with independent filmmakers and also with STV Creative on campaigns for Glasgow City Council, Hopster and House of Fraser. In theatre & live arts production, Misha works with Berlin’s Full Moon Cabaret, comedian Stuart Goldsmith and produced Denis Nikolin – Russian Comedian’s UK tour.
Misha is also a keen activist for equality, especially in the arts. She works with Scottish Drama Training Network to support practical based drama training in Scotland, helping link students with industry opportunities. Working with Persistent and Nasty, Misha is passionate about reaching underrepresented voices and helping Scotland’s theatre, film and TV industry to become even more diversely representative and supportive of women. Follow Misha on Twitter @MishaMcCullagh
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