2014 – 2016
New Theatre in Your Neighbourhood was a three-year research project from 2013 – 2015, looking at new ways to tour live performance. I was involved as a part of the audience development team linked to Fuel’s programme of contemporary theatre at Malvern Theatres.
New Theatre in Your Neighbourhood aimed to explore ways in which Fuel could improve the way it toured shows; building stronger relationships with partners, connecting artists and the communities that it visited in inspiring and meaningful ways, developing audiences. It was a chance for Fuel to work out how to tour and present interesting new performance more effectively around the UK.
Fuel worked in partnership with organisations in six areas around England: The Lakeside in Colchester, Malvern Theatres in Malvern, Theatre Royal and The Tom Thumb Theatre in Margate, They Eat Culture in Preston, The Lighthouse in Poole and ARC in Stockton. They took productions to these places and, in collaboration with Maddy Costa, my friend and colleagues Michelle Pogmore and Pam Watson hosted workshops and post-show events.
Fuel wanted to create a following for contemporary theatre: one that is sustainable, growing and ever-changing.
Fuel wanted to open up opportunities for artists to explore different starting points for their shows rooted in the community. The legacy of this will underpin how Fuel can make new, high quality and adventurous shows in the future, and how we tour existing shows, that these communities will enjoy.
Fuel wanted to enable our partners to continue these conversations and local collaborations throughout the year, opening themselves up to new audiences and facilitating a richer, deeper cultural exchange in their constituencies.
In Worcestershire, the Fuelled by Theatre Facebook page was created as a legacy of this project.