Beyond Face Associate Artists
South West based Theatre Company Beyond Face, launch their Associate Artists Programme for Global Majority artists within the region.
Two associate artists or companies will be offered the opportunity to create new, innovative, contemporary work for stage where they will be supported financially, practically and holistically.
The 15 month programme seeks to support two artists or companies based in the South West aged 18 and above. The successful candidates will be provided with a £5000 development fee, four performance opportunities at venues across the region, mentoring and tailored workshops delivered by Beyond Face Artistic Director/CEO Alix Harris and Artist Development Producer & Facilitator, Corinne Walker. Alongside this they will receive marketing, producing and dramaturgical support.
Candidates will be people who have work that speaks to the global majority experience. It might be one which explores with urgency, current socio political themes or it might be a universal story told through a global majority lens. The overall aim is that the artists will have a rigorously-developed full-length version of a piece ready for the next step, whether that be further development, a tour or a full commission from a venue.
Over the past five years, Beyond Face have hosted We are Here to Share scratch nights, offering a space for artists to test out a new idea for stage in front of a live audience. Throughout the process Beyond Face witnessed the challenges for early-mid career artists in taking scratch work into full-length shows. In response, Beyond Face designed the Artist Associate programme to help provide artists with the resources to invest in their work and bridge the gap between a seed commission and a full length developed piece.
The Beyond Face Associate Artists, We are Here to Share Programme is supported by Theatre Royal Plymouth, MAST Mayflower Studios, Bristol Old Vic and Landmark Theatres. Each venue has contributed financially, supported with providing space and will host one of the We are Here to Share scratch nights. Artists will have a meeting with each venue's Talent Development department. This partnership is testament to the need for more arts organisations to work closely together to support local artists and foster a sense of community.
Alix Harris, Artistic Director and CEO of Beyond Face, said: “We are delighted to launch Beyond Face Associate Artists We are Here to Share Programme to support the development of these stories, creating new pieces of work, strengthening artists’ connections with Beyond Face and other South West venues and shaping their own individual creative practice. Over the number of years that we have been running our We are Here to Share events, it has become clear the wealth of exciting talent and important stories that exist in the region. This new initiative seeks to deepen this offer for artists and amplify the region.”
Tom Jackson Greaves, Associate Director of Theatre Royal Plymouth, said: “TRP is excited to partner with Beyond Face on their new artist development programme 'We Are Here To Share'. The company will support artists to grow and develop a new piece of work, whilst offering invaluable care and expertise that is vital during these early stages. We look forward to building relationships with the artists selected and supporting and encouraging their explorations.”
Sara Scott, Executive Director of MAST Mayflower Studios, said: “MAST Mayflower Studios are delighted to partner with Beyond Face on their Associate Programme. Artist Development is key to our work at MAST, and we are passionate about ensuring that our communities see themselves represented both on our stages and across the industry. We are excited to work with Beyond Face to support artists from the Global Majority, ensuring that they have the space to develop and present their work here in Southampton.”
Bristol Old Vic, said: “Bristol Old Vic is excited to be working with our new Associate Company, Beyond Face, on their new artists development project. Their commitment to give space, time and support to Southwest artists to develop their work (and working practices) is important for the industry, and we look forward to seeing the work created and the artists grow.”
The programme is open for applications from Monday 15th July and closes on Monday 12th August at 12pm. Please submit your applications using the form. There is also an option to submit a video application.
Applicants can also receive support completing their application from an unbiased member of the Beyond Face team who is not involved in the application process or delivery of the programme. If needed, applicants should contact opportunities@beyondface.co.uk
FAQs about the opportunity can be found here
More information on how to apply to become a Beyond Face Associate can be found at:
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NOTES TO EDITORS
Media contact: Tamera Heron, Company Storyteller, Beyond Face, tamera@beyondface.co.uk
Social Media: Instagram, X/Twitter, Facebook - @infobeyondface / LinkedIn - Beyond Face CIC
Link to application:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSecnEa9Ra1prgQ4g7GMk42DVq1ZCNafiyyiQP_i9L-9DU6ZuQ/viewform
Link to video application form:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScZaV0grM0DCBKdcs4pU-aCHSzMfvamLIvms5G6irHdT5E3bg/viewform
About Beyond Face
Beyond Face is a South-West based theatre company founded in 2015 by Alix Harris. Beyond Face exists to work with local global majority artists, young people and regional voices across the region, providing them with a variety of opportunities to develop their craft and share their work with live audiences. Beyond Face also creates their own productions that explore contemporary themes and issues, alongside playing with different genres and forms.
Their values are at the core of our four strands of work, the conversations we engage in and the way we operate as a team.They are Community, Joy, Care, Quality and Representation.
The Beyond Face Artists programme is called We are Here. Its aim is to provide the tools and space for global majority artists to grow personally and professionally and to develop a sense of creative community across the South-West region. Its offers include a writers’ group, scratch night events, one to one conversations & support for artists and commissioning opportunities.
The programme leaders
About Alix Harris
Alix is the founder, Artistic Director and CEO of Beyond Face. Outside of Beyond Face Alix is a writer, director and dramaturg. Alix has recently directed The Honeyman by Tyrone Huggins for Exeter Northcott, previous directing credits include, Contact Theatre, Manchester & assistant directing for the Barbican Theatre Plymouth and Theatre Royal Plymouth. In 2019/20 Alix was a Headlong Origins Director. Alix has a track record of working internationally and is passionate about what we can learn and appreciate from one another through international collaborations. Alix currently directs all of Beyond Face’s productions. She has written 2,000 stories for our 2019 production and is co-writing Snapshots and writer of Bigger than Lyrics. Alix is a board member for Indra Congress and advisory board member for Doorstep Arts, Impossible Producing and Exeter Culture.
About Corinne Walker
Corinne is Artist Development Producer & Facilitator at Beyond Face. Corinne graduated from East 15 Acting School in 2015 and began a career as a performer and producer. It is through performing, that she first worked with Beyond Face on devised showWho’s Looking Back at You? in 2018. She is passionate about using the arts as a tool to uncover untold stories, narratives and perspectives, and especially stories from global majority people based in the South West. Corinne is also a writer, working across Film, TV and Theatre.
About Arts Council England
Arts Council England is the national development agency for creativity and culture. Arts Council England champions, develops and invests in artistic and cultural experiences to enrichpeople’s lives. It supports a range of activities across the arts, museums and libraries - from theatre to digital art - reading to dance, music to literature, and crafts to collections. artscouncil.org.uk
Partners
Theatre Royal Plymouth
Theatre Royal Plymouth is the largest and best-attended regional producing theatre space in the UK. The venue features three stages, The Lyric, The Drum, and The Lab, which host an eclectic mix of productions, including theatre, musicals, drama, ballet, and opera, catering to an extensive regional audience. theatreroyal.com
MAST Mayflower Studios
MAST Mayflower Studios is a Southampton based cultural and community venue. Along with Mayflower Theatre under the Mayflower banner, they are committed to providing exceptional theatre and arts experiences for everyone, both in Southampton and beyond. MAST Mayflower Studios presents family shows, dance, musicals, music, comedy, circus, cabaret, spoken word, and visual arts. They are committed to providing inspiring experiences for all. mayflower.org.uk
Bristol Old Vic
Bristol Old Vic is a venue located in the heart of Bristol. Home to one of UK theatre's biggest learning and engagement programmes working across the city through pioneering outreach projects as well as creating major community productions. bristololdvic.org.uk
Landmark Theatres
Landmark Theatres have two venues in North Devon, known as Queen’s Theatre and The Landmark. Their auditoriums play host to theatre, dance, drama, comedy and a host of community theatre groups. queenstheatre-barnstaple.com
