Theatre-makers, both individuals and companies, based in the North of England (North East, North West, Yorkshire & Humberside) who are interested in creating new work for the stage are invited to apply for one of two ‘seed pots’ of £1,000 from Newcastle Fringe Festival.
Work created with the seed pots will be presented in August 2021 to a live audience at Alphabetti Theatre as part of Newcastle Fringe Festival. Performances will be live-streamed from Alphabetti Theatre (and performed to a 'socially distanced' live audience if restrictions allow).
Seed Pot 1 is open to applications from anyone in the region, whilst Seed Pot 2 is aimed at those who identify as an under-represented person or group in the North East theatre ecology. Both seed pots may be granted to artists who fit this description depending on the applications received.
Clarifying the meaning of ‘under-represented’, the organisers say that anyone who feels that their voice is are not heard equally in theatre—due to race, sexuality, disability, background or something else—then they can apply for Seed Pot 2.
The seed pot money can be used to cover the development costs of an initial scratch performance that reflects £1,000 of investment or to support a larger funding application as matched funding, with the aim of producing a more fully-realised piece.
There must be a performance ready for early August 2021 for presentation at Newcastle Fringe Festival. If the seed pot is to be used by the artist as match funding then a scratch performance reflecting the £1,000 seed pot will need to be presented at the festival even if the larger funding application is unsuccessful.
In addition to the £1,000, successful applicants will also receive creative and producing mentorship from Alphabetti Theatre’s Artistic Director Ali Pritchard and Newcastle Fringe Festival’s Producer Kerrin Tatman. Where possible (depending on availability), rehearsal space at Alphabetti Theatre will also be provided to support the development of the work. This ‘in kind’ support can usually be used as part of matched funding applications.
The deadline for applications is Friday 26 February 2021 at midday and full details of how to apply can be found on the Newcastle Fringe web site.