The Oreo Complex

My name is Isaac. I am a Hip Hop theatre dancer and multidisciplinary artist.

I am creating a 50 minute long solo show titled The Oreo Complex - using Hip Hop dance theatre and visual art, to address the discriminatory Oreo label (Black on the outside, White on the inside) prevalent in the Black community and diaspora.

I have been given the opportunity to show my work at Rich Mix London.

HELP ME MAKE THIS AS GREAT AS I KNOW IT CAN BE!

ABOUT THE OREO COMPLEX

Do you like Oreos? "Yes! They're nice!" What do you like about them? "The white filling."

Do you like Black people? "Yes! They're nice!" What do you like about them? "The white filling."

Let's talk! Through the Oreo label and 3 Black identity stereotypes (Foreign Fresh African/London Gang Member/Higher Education Graduate) I want to address ways that Black identity is viewed and evolving in the UK. What is being 'white on the inside' and is it used to exclude or accept the Black community? Has discrimination found a fun and tasty disguise in food? Why has this sentiment lasted so long and evolved under new names every generation?

Food has for years and years been a fun way to discriminate (curry, cracker, banana etc). From Coconut, to Bounty chocolate, to Oreo, they all reject Black identity at the core of the modern western Black diaspora & instead place a white culture of sorts ("Caucasian mannerisms" - audience member).

Photo by Foteini Christofilopoulou

WHY SUPPORT ME?

The Oreo Complex is the first major step in developing my artistic voice/identity and it has already made a lot of impact.

"Isaac has a unique way of conveying character through body and a very cerebral, internal way of creating audience engagement." – Carole Edrich

"The artist did a great job bringing aspects we discuss nowadays amongst our peers regarding race, habits, background and how we adapt in a society with strong beliefs. The way the work is delivered is very intelligent, between facts, movement and interaction with the audience" - Mary Feliciano

"The piece really resonated with me and loved the out-of-the-box approach to the devices used to get the audience to think about the issue from different angles - through the immersive walk-around nature of the piece, characters on and off screen, the museum, the microscopic breakdown, the visual piece on screen, and the direct address and separation of the audience into groups encouraging un/comfortable dialogue to make us think/share. I also liked that there was no 'end' and with the Oreos [offered at the door], we were engaged in the story before walking into the room." – Andre Bright

I want to share somethig new! I'm driven to create Art Exhibition Theatre – visual art brought to life through theatrical tools, & hip hop theatre enhanced by visual art.! And I want to share this work to raise awareness about the impact this label has on Black identity.

I want to make discussing Black identity/culture accessible through using food (a light approach to a heavy topic) & empower audiences to take ownership of their identities rather than it being dictated by others/labels.

FINANCIAL BREAKDOWN

Don't worry, your money isn't going towards a lifetime supply of Oreos!

I was unsuccessful with my Arts Council England funding application. Therefore, the £1600 will only cover artists and collaborators' fees - Production Manager Laurel Cummins, Photographer Carole Edrich, Cinematographer Imoje Aikhoje, and Music Producer Ffion Campbell-Davies. I couldn't deliver this work without them.

YOUR HARD EARNED MONEY WILL GO A LONG WAY!

I am very driven to share an experience universal to Black/Black mixed diaspora across the UK and empower!