Award-winning production company Spun Glass Theatre has secured emergency funding from Arts Council England to aid in the development of a new free resource for independent producers and touring arts companies.
As the industry searches for new innovative and imaginative ways to survive and rebuild following the unprecedented Covid-19 crisis, the team at Spun Glass Theatre is launching Theatre Search – an innovative database providing information about individual theatres and venues.
Supported by four project producers each concentrating on a different region and working closely with venues, Theatre Search is planned as a comprehensive resource listing the status of individual UK theatres and venues across the country.
The database will include details of theatres and venues that are open or are reopening (with reopening dates) and those that remain closed. There will also be information about venues who might be looking to programme work, helping new productions to be created and tours re-booked.
Commenting on the project, artistic director Jessica Cheetham said: “The task of rebuilding partnerships and re-booking tours that have been cancelled as a result of Covid-19 is mammoth and extremely overwhelming for many people, jeopardising their mental well-being. There will be a huge loss of high-quality productions and community projects as producers struggle to navigate the new landscape.
“At the moment, each producer and tour booker curates their own venue list for projects and sets up tours on the understanding that each venue is open and trading. As these lists will become obsolete as theatres close, this new resource will offer clear information to help producers as well as venues.”
The four project producers are: Sarah Crompton-Howes, senior producer at New International Encounter and executive producer for Other Ways Productions; Steven Atkinson, founder of Long Acre Arts, Roots and co-founder of HighTide; Sarah Sayeed, former Education and Outreach director for Peshkar Productions and curator on Sound Travels for Google Curate; and Fleur Mellor, co-producer and choreographer for Peter Corry Productions and board member for Theatre & Dance NI.
Available from September, Spun Glass hope Theatre Search will provide a link between producers and venues freeing them up to focus on re-connecting with their audiences and building confidence in the industry.
Venues are invited to get in touch with information about opening dates, closures and programming windows via the Spun Glass website.
Before the pandemic struck, Spun Glass had been working on an ambitious plan for theatre and community arts projects including a mobile arts space in Hastings working with theatre design consultants Studio Three Sixty. The company was also mentoring emerging producer Lizzie Franks and continuing its long-term partnership with Living Record Productions.
Angela Thomas
To receive access to Theatre Search free of charge, sign up at www.mailchi.mp/c26a7db89fbe/resourcesignup.
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