You’re invited once again to join CaribDirect Multi-Media and Sankofa Televisual for an evening of discussion on the topic CARIBBEAN (IN)VISIBILITY ON BRITISH TV/CINEMA SCREENS. This production is part of the CaribDirect “The Caribbean And You” seminar series.
The event will take place on Thursday 5th December 2013 at the Dominica High Commission 1 Collingham Gardens, London, SW5 0HW. It will start promptly at 6.30pm and is being held in honour of the late comic genius and Kittitian, Felix Dexter who was due to chair this seminar. The proceedings will now be chaired by the multi-talented comedian, actor, writer, director, presenter and producer, Ms Angie Le Mar. Email: [email protected] to register.
Angie Le Mar. Photo courtesy www.noballgamesallowed.com
WHO IS ANGIE LE MAR?
Angie Le Mar (born 27 October 1965) is a British comedian, actor, writer, director, presenter and producer.
Le Mar is married with three children. The eldest, Travis Jay, is a budding comedian and radio DJ.
Early life
Born in Lewisham, London, of Jamaican parentage, she grew up with four older brothers. She attended Lewisham Bridge School, Lewisham Girls School, Blackheath Bluecoat School and Vauxhall College. Her experience at school was difficult, and it was not until she completed her education that she was diagnosed as being dyslexic.
At the age of ten, Le Mar appeared in a school play called In on the Island at the Albany Empire and then attended the Lewisham Drama Club, inspired by her primary school teacher Mr Woodgate. She then Joined Second Wave Women’s Drama group, where she performed Net Full of Holes, also at the Albany Empire, and was inspired by workshop facilitator Cathy Kilcoyne.
Career
Le Mar attended the Barbara Speake Stage School, and Afro Sax drama club run by Larrington Walker, Ellen Thomas and Treva Etienne. With two fellow actresses Le Mar set up her own theatre company, called the Bemarrow Sisters, which ran for seven years. Productions included A Slice of Life directed by Decima Francis, Gloria directed by Trevor Laird and This Way Up written by Peggy Bennette-Hume.
Angie loves shoes. Photo courtesy www.skiddle.com
She was the first Black British performer to appear at Harlem’s Apollo Theatre and had the first ever sell-out show by a female black comedian in London’s West End.[1] Her TV appearances include the BBC’s The Real McCoy and Channel 4’s Get Up, Stand Up, and presented The Saturday Morning Show on Choice FM. She was also a commentator on Grumpy Old Women in 2005.
Stand-up comedy
From 1985 Le Mar cut her teeth on the comedy circuit, by initially doing open spots and warm-ups at events such as fashion shows and parties within the black community. She later rose to prominence on the emerging black comedy circuit in the 1990s, sharing the stage with established comedians such as Felix Dexter, Curtis Walker, Ishmael Thomas and Leo Chester all members of the BBC comedy series The Real McCoy. Her popularity earned her the title “The Queen of Black Comedy”.
Her reputation took her to the mainstream circuit where she became a regular act at established comedy clubs including Up The Creek, Jongleurs and The Comedy Store, culminating in Le Mar performing her sell-out one woman show Off The Hook at the Apollo Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, in 2000. She also gained international acclaim when she performed at the Apollo Theatre, New York, and the Comedy Act Theatre in Los Angeles.
Le Mar recently celebrated 25 years in her show An Audience with Angie Le Mar, “Celebrating 25 years”, at the Barbican Theatre in September 2010. (Bio courtesy wikipedia.org)
WHO ELSE IS ON THE PANEL?
Angie will be joined by Ron Belgrave – Director of Sankofa Televisual
Samuell Benta – writer/producer/director of “All About The McKenzies”
Akin Salami – Chief Executive, OHTV
Detailed bios for each panellist will be released one per week until the event on Thursday 5th December 2013. To register email: [email protected]
REFRESHMENTS WILL BE AVAILABLE
Fruit and Rum Punch sponsored by Jewel Isle Rum Punch
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