Vanishing Point share resources with young theatre companies
05/01/2005
A new project that aims to help young theatre companies share creativity and collaborate to develop exciting new work has been launched with support from the Scottish Arts Council and Glasgow City Council.
Glasgow-based theatre company Vanishing Point will open its doors in 2005 to four up-and-coming arts organisations to provide a dedicated office space to work. Vanishing Point will also share its experiences in the year-long pilot programme, through a series of workshops in areas that the companies feel they need to enhance their skills.
Vox Motus, ek, David Leddy and Random Accomplice will move into the office at the CCA in Glasgow to learn from the experience, creativity and knowledge of the staff at Vanishing Point and that of the other companies. Each company has been asked to create short and long term objectives and Vanishing Point will help the companies to build and strengthen their organisation throughout the year on aspects such as administration, funding and accountancy, allowing them to maximise the time they spend on creating new work.
Matthew Lenton, Artistic Director of Vanishing Point, says: ‘We are really excited that we are able to take forward this project that will nurture creative talent in theatre and performance. The idea for the project grew out of our own experience as a young company struggling to create new work while also having to spend valuable time and resources on the administration side of running an organisation.’
‘The project will see a number of artists and organisations provided with a dedicated space in which they can work and an environment where these artists can learn from and support each other. It is also important that we enable them to maximise the time they spend doing what they really want – making new work.’
David Taylor, Head of Drama at the Scottish Arts Council, adds: ‘This is a fantastic initiative, which will provide developing Scottish theatre companies with the opportunity to share ideas and resources with an established and respected company like Vanishing Point. I am sure that this initiative will lead to some really exciting new drama for Scottish audiences.
Biographies of the participating theatre companies:
- Vox Motus is a project based theatre company directed by Jamie Harrison and Candice Edmunds and, through the pilot, aims to become a touring company devising new and imaginative narrative-based theatre using anything from photography to illusion, ice sculpture to rap. Vox Motus has devised, written and directed shows both in the professional arena and in the community including their first full-scale production, Interference at The Arches as well as participating in Singapore’s prestigious Youth Festival in 2003.
- ek was established in 2002 to make new performance work that responds to the contemporary cultural environment. Its first production Soul Pilots was commissioned by the Tramway and was performed in February 2004. In November 2004, ek presented a Scottish premier of Habitats, in partnership with Tron Theatre in Glasgow. During their time involved in the pilot, ek will develop and present a new piece of work You are the music as long as the music lasts while also co-ordinating a tour of Soul Pilots.
- David Leddy is a theatre writer, director, performer and producer based in Glasgow. Throughout his established career he has presented work at the UK’s most prestigious venues for contemporary performance, including London’s institute for Contemporary Arts, Riverside Studio and the Pleasance at Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
- Random Accomplice is a theatre company that devises and produces new work in a variety or arts and non-arts venues. Directors, Johnny McKnight and Julie Brown are both former students of RSAMD and have gained experience in producing and performing in many of Scotland’s leading theatre companies. During the pilot, Random Accomplice aim to create new work which engages in contemporary form, methors and ideologies and present this work on both a national and international level.
Ends
Notes to editors
- The Scottish Arts Council champions and sustains the arts for Scotland, investing over £60 million from Scottish Executive and National Lottery funding to support and develop artistic excellence and creativity throughout Scotland. Further information is available on our website: www.scottisharts.org.uk.
Contact email(s)
media.office@scottisharts.org.uk
Issued by: Scottish Arts Council
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