This year, Bridging the Gap, the North East scheme to help develop new work, now in its seventh year, extends its reach to Yorkshire after York Theatre Royal joined as a new partner.
The scheme offers two theatre companies or individual theatre-makers support for an extended development period and the opportunity to present the work in a number of venues. The organisations taking part are ARC Stockton, which originated the scheme and now manages it, Arts Centre Washington, Durham’s Gala Theatre, Live Theatre (Newcastle), Northern Stage (Newcastle), Sunderland MACQ, The Maltings in Berwick, York Theatre Royal and The Witham in Barnard Castle.
There are two parallel schemes:
- Scheme A is in partnership with ARC, Arts Centre Washington, Gala, Northern Stage and York Theatre Royal
- Scheme B: ARC, Live Theatre, Sunderland MACQ, The Maltings and The Witham.
The support offered is flexible, according to the needs of the artists and their projects, but could include:
- Two weeks R&D space in 2017, leading to a work in progress sharing for Bridging the Gap venue staff and other artists/programmers.
- Up to four weeks rehearsal space in 2018.
- 10 performances—two nights in each of the five venues.
- Regular meetings with ARC as the project manager, and other venue representatives to offer advice/support, including guidance around funding applications.
- One-two days dramaturgical support from Live Theatre.
- Support to develop an audience development plan.
- Marketing support: the company is responsible for producing leaflets/posters, but venues will support via distribution, press, direct e-mail, web site and online listings.
- Support to develop an appropriate package of participatory and engagement activities to accompany the show.
- Technical support—each venue will provide a technician for the get in/performance days (but not during rehearsal period). In addition ARC will provide a technician for the production week, and help draw up a technical specification for the show.
- Box Office—full box office services available at all venues to manage ticket sales.
- Advocacy and PR—all venues would act as ambassadors for the company’s work, both in the lead up to the performances, and post-performance in terms of recommendations to potential touring venues etc.
R&D, rehearsal and performance space will be provided by the venues free of charge. Box office monies will be split with the companies 60:40 in their favour. Ticket prices will be agreed across all venues, with an allocation of complimentary tickets for both companies and venues for press and ‘showcasing’ purposes.
Artists/companies must be living and working in the North East or Yorkshire region, be professional, have produced at least one show (this project is not aimed at youth theatre groups or undergraduates) and be committed to making contemporary theatre.
The deadline for applications is 10AM on Monday 27 February 2017 and full details of how to apply can be found on the Bridging the Gap 2017 web page.
The scheme has supported ten productions in its 7 years:
- Rabbit Damage: Wherever I Lay My Hat (2010)
- INK Productions: Wanting for Anghus (2011)
- Daniel Bye: Ash or How to Occupy an Oil Rig (2012)
- Black Coffee Theatre: Found (2013)
- Amy Mackelden: Retail (2013)
- Encounter Productions: Choir (2014)
- Northern Nomads: Butterfly (2014)
- Camisado Club: You, Me and Everything Else (2015)
- Zoe Murtagh: The Lamppost Petition (2016)
- The Six Twenty: FANS (2016)