The Albany in London’s Deptford and ARC in Stockton are inviting submissions for Christmas shows for children aged 3 to 7. There will be two commissions and each selected show will be presented in one venue in 2019, and then in the other in 2020.
The decision to commission follows successful productions of Pinocchio at ARC and The Ugly Duckling at The Albany in 2017.
The venues seek to support two companies to make exciting and diverse Christmas shows which have a wide appeal to local primary schools, nurseries and family audiences in both South East London and the North East.
Each successful company will make and present a new show, in one venue in 2019 and the other in 2020, delivering up to 50 performances in December 2019 and December 2020.
The commissions will include £40,000 in cash funding plus in-kind support, including four weeks' free rehearsal space, technical support and marketing support including design and print of publicity.
The venues are seeking:
- to commission artists or companies that have experience of making work for this age group
- book adaptations, shows that draw on familiar titles or new stories that respond to seasonal themes, with a contemporary bias
- shows that will appeal to both nursery / primary school audiences and family audiences
- a company that considers our local demographic in the making and content of the work
- a show that is as accessible to as many people as possible
- a show that responds to their performance spaces
The proposed timescale for the project is:
- Deadline for proposals 10AM, Monday 23 April 2018
- Shortlisted candidates will be informed by Friday 4 May 2018
- Interviews on Tuesday 15 May 2018
- Confirmation of selection by 31 May 2018
- Contracts and confirmed funding in place by 31 December 2018
- Tickets go on sale 1 April 2019
Full details, including how to apply, will be found on the Albany’s web site.
Details about each venue will be found on the web sites of The Albany and ARC.
Gavin Barlow, Chief Executive at the Albany, said, “following the success of our initial commissions for 2017, we’re confident this approach allows us to bring work of the highest quality to our family audiences at Christmas.
“The first commissions from tutti frutti and Nearly There Yet in association with Proteus allowed us to show exciting, original and excellent work to our audiences in December 2017 and to champion companies capable of making that work.”
Annabel Turpin, Chief Executive at ARC, Stockton Arts Centre added, “we’re looking for companies with experience of making work for families that will consider the local audiences of both venues when making the work. We’re excited by companies who make work that’s accessible to as many people as possible and that reflects the diversity of 21st century Britain.”