Factory International is celebrating Black History Month with a glorious line-up – including a spoken word performance exploring the value of self-worth and the power of living authentically: There’s Always a Seat at the Table.
Haiesha Mistry, 31, is best known as Yasmine Maalik in Channel 4’s Hollyoaks – but on October 12 she’ll take to the stage at Aviva Studios to share her writing debut.
The award-winner is passionate about her craft and believes art should empower audiences.
Mistry, who grew up in Tameside, said: “There’s Always a Seat at the Table is about owning your voice.
“It’s about being assured and not changing yourself because you’re told to.”
And the actor has been defying the odds and exceeding expectations for many years.
She said: “You’re the one to put yourself in that room – there will always be a seat at the table for me because I will make sure that there is and even if there isn’t, I’ll create one.
“I’ll create the table. I’ll create my circle.”
But Mistry’s determination to hold space is often challenged – she is hyper-aware British-Asian actors like herself are limited because cultural stereotypes place them in boxes serving outdated narratives.
Mistry said: “I’m British-Indian – it’s difficult to be seen past my skin colour.
“That’s the battle.
“Any diverse actor I know is going to face that and I hate it – that’s why we’ve got to keep fighting, keep going and keep striving.”
Smashing barriers is a superpower of Mistry’s who recalls her first spoken word performance as a youngster when she was navigating an eczema condition that stole much of her childhood and left her in and out of hospital.
Mistry said: “That was personal for me, and it was a big thing to open up on a stage.”
But honesty is exactly what Mistry feels art is for.
She said: “I want to reach audiences who wouldn’t conventionally step foot in a theatre.
“I want to say you are welcome – we are welcome.
“Come and have a look – give yourself food for thought.”
When Mistry treads the boards at Factory International this month she wants those watching to have fun – but she wants to affect their lives beyond the theatre too.
Mistry said: “We want to create change for the right reasons and I hope this piece will be a seed for people to absorb.”
Feature image credit: Shay Rowan
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