Corey Weekes & Keiren Hamilton-Amos are both all round creatives from Birmingham. Growing up in inner city Birmingham, rap music was ingrained in the culture. Keiren has been rapping since he was 11 years old, Corey since he was 12, giving them 34 years combined experience.The application of rap music to drama is also something that both are well versed in. Amongst a number of impressive writing, directing and acting credits between them, Keiren was movement director as well as playing the titular role in Birmingham REP’s production of Grimeboy, in which Corey also acted in, assistant directed and took on the role of musical director. Both also act in BBC/Netflix’s musical drama, Champion as well as writing music for the show and Corey being appointed Music Executive. Corey’s debut show as a playwright, Rapsody - a rap-based gig theatre piece on Britain’s underclass, was the recipient of the Pleasance’s Charlie Hartill Theatre Reserve 2022. They are now currently working as Lyricists for the upcoming Rap & R&B musical adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, set for Coventry Belgrade, Bristol Old Vic and Hackney Empire in 2025.With the ever growing popularity of rap music used as a tool in theatre & film, Keiren and Corey are the ideal candidates to create this work as well as teach others how to go about the creation of this work, how to approach this kind of work as an actor or how to realise the potential of a piece of rap theatre.That’s A Rap however, don’t see the craft of storytelling through rap, as simply a commercial entity. After extended academic research and in-house development, they are also certain of this art-form’s viability as a vessel for uplifting and empowering young people who have become disengaged from mainstream education. Keiren, having studied Applied Theatre understands the application of arts for change in social settings and Corey, having founded Vision - a free acting school for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds - has seen first hand the potentially life changing impact this work can make. This passion comes from a personal place rather than a purely observatory one, as both Keiren and Corey attribute the arts to the positive change of trajectories in their respective lives. It’s only right that That’s A Rap offers the opportunity for that change in the young people coming up, be that by participating in or simply consuming the work they do.Current Productions
Romeo & Juliet
Links to the show below:
Rap Theatre Consultancy - Half/Full Day/Residents on Production If the show has pre-written rap or rhythmical speech, we work with the performers by sharing our expertise to tighten up delivery by means of assisting with flow, tone, cadence and emphasis.
Lyricists for Rap Theatre - With this service, we will come on board to write rap lyrics for your show, honouring your concept, script and what it is you want the work to say.
Devising - Half Day/Full Day Covers the creation of story via different improvisational means, the writing of dramatically focussed rap lyrics based on said story and how to seamlessly transition into and out of musical rap moments.
Introduction to Rap Theatre - Half Day/Full Day Covers the foundations of Rap Theatre. This includes rhythm and rapping on beat, breaking down the text of dramatic rap as you would non-musical dialogue and beginning to fuse acting craft and rapping craft together.
Masterclass - Half Day/Full Day This is for people who already have an understanding of music. This workshop inspires artists to think not just musically & not just dramatically but to intertwine the two. This includes delivery, cadence, tone and how the above can influence or be influenced by the work being tackled
Storytelling Through Rap Extended Project - Half Term/Full Term/Agreed Duration With a holistic approach, influenced by the practise of Nordic Bildung, we work with primarily but not exclusively disengaged students in schools and alternative provisions.
Through the medium of storytelling and introspection through Rap Music, we implement life skills by collaborating with students towards a common goal (music videos, songs, live performances) with a view of increasing general engagement, morale, social skills and ability to be positive contributors to society. This approach is also applicable to community groups, care leavers, prisons and more.
