AT THE time of writing the recognition of black excellence in film has been realised with the likes of Viola Davis, Daniel Kaluuya and the late Chadwick Boseman honoured in various internationally distinguished awards ceremonies.

My creativity and undying passion for writing and storytelling began there and is something which has continued to the present day

Mark Grey

Closer to home, British born film and theatre producer, Mark Grey, has been nominated in the Best Lead Actor category in this year’s International Christian Film and Music Festival for his leading role in The Convert – a short film exploring the values of truth, purity, forgiveness and faith when a Clergyman tries to convince a prostitute to drop charges against his son accused of sexual assault.

For over 35 years, the multiple award winning producer and writer has been involved in film and theatre and as this year June marks his 60^th birthday, Grey’s passion for the arts is as strong as ever.

“Since childhood I have always had a passion for writing,” says Grey.

“I remember whilst growing up as a teenager in Jamaica I found myself enamoured by the beauty, the sounds and the culture to be found in Jamaica and the people living there which I captured and wrote down in some exercise books I kept.

“My creativity and undying passion for writing and storytelling began there and is something which has continued to the present day.”

After graduating from West Indies College (now renamed the Northern Caribbean University) in Mandeville, Jamaica, Grey returned to his place of birth, East Dulwich in London where he formed his theatre company with his film company following soon after.

“I formed the Agape Theatre Company in 1985 and Carmel Greystone Film Company (named after my late mother) in 2000,” says Grey.

He continued: “We have come a long way since our very first stage production in 1989 and short film in 2000. Some of our first performances took place in various churches across the UK but over the years we have been fortunate to have performed in theatres across Europe and America.”

Grey, who studied writing for stage & screen with Screenwise International and completed Total Filmmaking workshops with the LA Film School, even recalls, with immense pride, a glowing review given on one of his first plays by The Voice.

“Our play – The Loser – was one of the first to stage at Brixton Village and a reporter from The Voice came along to review it. With some trepidation I remember opening the newspaper to be surprised with the headline The Loser is a Winner.

“To have received such a positive response in The Voice Newspaper, which not only campaigns for positive change on important issues but also celebrates black excellence throughout the UK, was a big deal for us since it’s declaration of our play as “A Winner” then led to us having a sell out performance at the Greenbelt Festival in 1990.”

Since then, Grey has gone on to produce 15 plays, among them Asylum and End The Silence, which after performing to sell-out crowds at the Waterloo East, Courtyard and the Omnibus Theatre (Clapham) was then performed, with glowing reviews, at the National Black Theatre in Harlem as part of a tristate tour of the USA in 2019.

With the likes of film producer and director, Menelik Shabazz describing the play as “thought-provoking and very good,” and Jamaican High Commissioner, H.E. Seth George Ramogan saying, “End the Silence is an emotionally and intellectually engaging play which is a must see for all,” Grey takes such comments in his stride with his main focus of bringing to his audiences performances which provoke thought while also offering hope especially during these troubled times.

“Often my work focuses on the complexities of human relationships and brings in elements related to faith and the challenges these pose based on our personal beliefs and behaviour.

“It is these aspects with which I am most fascinated with that I try to bring across in my writing for the both the stage and screen with the hope that audiences take from it something positive to reflect on in light of their own life experiences.”

Not wanting to rest on his laurels, Grey is currently developing three theatre projects for post lockdown.

The first, planned for October, is “Celebration to Scandal – The Windrush Story.” There is also another feature film and a Music Video in the pipeline. Exciting times indeed. 

But it’s his latest and first feature film, 3 Women starring the esteemed British actress – Judith Jacob, which is a prime example of a powerful yet touching character driven drama which examines the lives of three disparate women who battle domestic violence, the glass ceiling and street gang culture as they strive to gain respect from their peers, family and employers in urban London.

Grey, who already has two SONscreen Film Festival Awards to his name for Best International Entry (2006) and Best Drama (2009) and is nominated in this year’s International Christian Film and Music Festival in the Best Lead Actor category feels that there has been a real momentum shift for black actors and directors.

“With the recognition black actors are receiving in this year’s Academy Awards in Los Angeles along with the likes of our very own talent such as the incredible Steve McQueen, John Boyega and a household name in Judith Jacob – we are seeing that in a time like this our stories really do matter and it’s important that this current trend continues for many generations to come.”

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