The ground-breaking work by Porl Cooper and his team at the Studio space within The Lowry arts centre in Salford has been given national recognition in its nomination for a prestigious award.
The venue will learn, early next month, whether it is among the winners of the Peter Brook / Equity Ensemble awards, handed out at the National Theatre in London.
The Lowry is shortlisted for the Peter Brook / Mobius award for studio theatres that have been developing writers and companies.
Their intimate studio space has developed a sense of adventure in the last year or two investing in up-and-coming artists, companies and writers from across the North West and beyond.
The result has been their showcase of ‘NeverBeenSeen’ productions and world premières each season. This includes the ‘in development with The Lowry’ programme, which has supported and presented the work of 10 talented, emerging companies over two years.
The Studio had originally focussed on being a rehearsal and workshop space for the Community & Education team, but in 2010—with support from the Arts Council Sustain programme—the space was dedicated to be a place where new and emerging artists could be supported in presenting their work.
Its mission has been to be the leading regional incubator for new work and the first point of call for emerging and mid-career artists and writers who want to develop.
Porl Cooper (Lowry Studio programmer / producer), Robert Robson (artistic director) and David Fry (head of programming) have sought partnerships with companies who excite and inspire them.
It extends to help towards direct production costs; up to three weeks rehearsal time; a full-time week with a technician; dedicated time with Porl to provide mentoring and advice; marketing support; even box office income and other promotional help.
Fifteen pieces of work have benefited, ranging over new writing, physical theatre, digitally-based work, musical theatre, chamber opera and cabaret and five of the pieces are currently touring nationally.
If you’ve seen, and enjoyed, performances such as Dancer and the Devil by Rogue Theatre, Folie a Deux by Green Eyed Zero, Ad Infinitum’s Translunar Paradise, Monkeywood’s Once in a House on Fire or Wrecked by Fiddy West then you will have sampled the quality for yourself.