Cahoots Callout

Image from Papergang Theatre’s Tiananmen 30 at Omnibus Theatre, London

Papergang Theatre: Cahoots

Cahoots is a new project from Papergang Theatre supporting six Wales-based East and Southeast Asian (ESEA) artists working in the dramatic arts. Each artist will co-create with a community of their choice across Wales. Running from October 2025 to March 2026, the project will culminate in a public showcase during the Lunar New Year celebrations in Cardiff, with performances at venues including the Red Dragon Centre, Porter’s Theatre, and Chapter Arts Centre.

Who We Are

Papergang Theatre (Charity No. 1180859, Company No. 08522007, registered in England and Wales) is a charitable organisation dedicated to advancing East and Southeast Asian (ESEA) stories and artists in the dramatic arts through education, performance, and practical activities.

We are known for supporting emerging artists in staging their first works, and for bold, socially engaged and politically resonant projects. Our aim is to influence public narratives around ESEA and Asian identity, while promoting societal harmony. Participation in our programmes is not limited by ethnicity or background.

Our core values are Collaboration, Commitment, and Communication. These are embedded across our artist-led, intersectional, and multi-disciplinary work. Papergang Theatre is led by Co-Artistic Directors Max Percy and Mehdi Razi.

Our Four-Pillar Strategy

1. Equip ESEA artists with the tools to express themselves.

2. Provide platforms for ESEA artists to share their work.

3. Remove barriers preventing ESEA artists from accessing opportunities.

4. Champion anti-oppressive work that supports wellbeing and fosters community healing.

Key Achievements

Productions

Tiananmen 30 (Omnibus Theatre, 2019), Freedom Hi (VAULT Festival, 2020 – Show of the Week), Invisible Harmony (Southbank Centre, 2020), Violet (Royal Court & PUSH Festival, Vancouver, 2022)

Community Initiatives

The Yard Hub (2023), immersive workshops for Newham Unlocked Festival, commissioned by Applecart Arts.

Impact since 2013

• 120 collaborations with ESEA freelance artists

• 100 new writing pieces staged

• 195 participants in masterclasses and sessions

• 5,000+ live audience members

Schemes

Rising Waves and #HereToStay supported diverse freelancers and institutions including the Royal Central School of Speech & Drama.

Funding & Recognition

Supported by Arts Council England, MGC Futures Fund, Newham Council, Phoenix Fund, and Stage One.

Audience

Diverse and youth-led: 37% ESEA, 37% White, 26% other ethnicities; 52% aged 25–35.

🔗 Learn more: papergang.co.uk

Who We’re Looking to Connect With

We invite Wales-based individual artists working in the performing arts who identify with the East and Southeast Asian (ESEA) diaspora. This includes artists from, or with heritage linked to: Brunei, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Mongolia, North Korea, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam.

Please share your interest by completing this short form by 6 July 2025:

🔗 Google Form Link

We ask you to tell us about your creative practice, ambitions, and ideas.

What to Expect

You do not need to pitch a finished project. You might instead share a vision for your creative path, an idea for community engagement, or a way you hope to grow artistically. This is an invitation for Papergang to listen to ESEA artists in Wales and learn from their work and lived experiences.

We will arrange brief and relaxed, one-to-one conversations with our Co-Artistic Directors, Mehdi Razi and Max Percy. These meetings will take place online and are open to artists based anywhere in Wales.

We’re keen to connect, listen, and potentially collaborate in the future.

When

Please complete the expression of interest by 6 July 2025.

This is a non-competitive open call. There is currently no cap on submissions. We may begin contacting artists before the deadline. Meetings will be arranged in consultation with each artist, based on their availability.

Community co-creation is expected to begin in October 2025, running through December. Public showcases will take place in February 2026.

Questions?

If you have any questions or access needs — including alternative formats for this call-out or the form — please get in touch:

📩 hello@papergang.co.uk