Theatre commission for new project ‘My Shout’

Farnham Maltings is looking to commission and present a new piece of theatre which will be created and performed by elders from the Farnham area.

What is ‘My Shout’?

This new creation will be one of four pieces of art created by elders for ‘My Shout’, a Celebrating Age project (an initiative funded by Arts Council England and the Baring Foundation). My Shout aims to challenge stereotypes of ageing and present a vibrant and surprising alternative for what it means to grow old in England. We want to enable elders from our community to create art that has integrity, resonance and perhaps a touch of mischief.

Theatre performance commission

We will commission a theatre maker (an individual or small group) to work with a newly-formed group of elders to workshop, devise, develop and create a new performance. The theatre maker(s) will be responsible for leading the group, as well as writing, rehearsing and directing the performance. They will also produce the technical and design aspects of the production (although we can work with you to bring in the right people, as required).

The production will be a short performance of up to 30 minutes. The performance will be presented as part of Spark Youth Arts Festival and the audience is likely to be predominately young people living in Surrey.

We are looking for makers that can demonstrate their ability to work on bold, considered ideas with communities.

Closing date 12pm on Thursday 20 July 2017

For more information, visit My Shout

Farnham Maltings announces its first production at Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Following on from its London run in 2016 at the Orange Tree Theatre, Jess and Joe Forever will play at the Traverse Theatre and features the same cast and creative team.

Meet Jess and Joe. They want to tell you their story. Joe is Norfolk born and bred. Jess holidays there with her au pair. They are miles apart even when they stand next to each other.

Jess and Joe Forever is a coming of age tale that explores rural life and what it means to belong. It is a story of growing up, fitting in (or not), secrets, scotch eggs, love and friendship that will make you both laugh and cry.

Gavin Stride, Director of Farnham Maltings said: ‘I am so pleased that we are working with the Traverse to show Zoe’s play. We are pleased because of the story it tells, because of the characters and people on the stage and everyone who made it and because we are really proud of it as a show from Farnham Maltings, the first we have presented at the Fringe.’

Zoe Cooper (Petrification and Nativities at Live Theatre Newcastle and Man on the Moon for New Writing North/Sage) received the Off West End Award for Most Promising Playwright 2017 for Jess and Joe Forever during its run at Orange Tree Theatre. Zoe was also longlisted for Most Promising Playwright at the 2016 Evening Standard Awards. The play will again be directed by Derek Bond (Sweet Charity and Little Shop of Horrors at the Royal Exchange Theatre, Stig of the Dump at Storyhouse, Chester and Alice Birch’s Many Moons at Theatre503).

Jess and Joe Forever was originally commissioned by Old Vic New Voices.

See the full Press Release

Tickets available from the Edinburgh Fringe website

Are you a brass musician in Brighton or Reading?

ugly chief brass musicians invitation - ACCA and South

Job Opportunity: Marketing Coordinator for house

We are looking to appoint a new Marketing Coordinator for house. This role works across the whole network supporting both touring companies and venue marketing teams as well as leading on all audience development initiatives. We are looking for someone with 2 years experience in an arts role, with excellent communication skills and knowledge of the South East and/or touring sector.

This is a full time role based in Farnham with a salary of £26,500.

Deadline for applications is 12 noon, Tuesday 4 July 2017. Interviews will be held on Monday 10 July 2017.

Marketing Coordinator Jobpack (May 2017)

an exciting opportunity for local brass musicians

ugly chief brass musicians invitation - all venues2

Advancing Artists in Surrey

“Completely inspiring two days […] I feel energised and excited about my own paths.” Participant, Advancing Artists in Surrey 2017
“We’ve been given such a golden opportunity through this course […] Sky’s the limit!”  Rachel Burn, Advancing Artists in Surrey 2017

Last week saw the first 2 days of Advancing Artists in Surrey: Working In A Social Context. Sixteen established Surrey-based artists (of a multitude of disciplines) came together to discuss and discover the world of creating art in social contexts. The course was guided by arts consultant and creative director Chris Fogg who created a warm and engaging atmosphere.

On day 1, there were sessions lead by guest speakers Maya Twardzicki, the Public Health Lead for Surrey County Council; Diane Amans, an Independent Performing Arts Professional who works predominantly with movement and older people; and Lucy Cash, an Artist and Moving-Image Maker.

Day 2 began with a practical demonstration with Digital Media Artist Richard Tomlinson and his ‘carrot piano’. Caroline Barnes, a Hospital Art Coordinator in Yeovil, and Viv Gordon, Artistic Director, Independent Artist and advocate of mental health awareness, demonstrated very different approaches to working with health and wellbeing. Ali Clarke, of Surrey Hills Arts, finished day 2 with a session about her experiences of commissioning and receiving proposals.

The participants got the opportunity to meet representatives of Watts Gallery, Ruth Williams, and Prospero Theatre’s Artistic Director Beth Wood, whose contributions as Surrey-based organisations were valued greatly.

The final day of the course will take place in June and will be a chance for the artists to reflect on their learning and network with local arts organisations.

Advancing Artists in Surrey was delivered by Arts Partnership Surrey and Farnham Maltings.

Up In Arms announced as produced company

We’re pleased to announce that theatre company Up In Arms have joined the cohort of artists produced by the team at Farnham Maltings. Up In Arms was founded by the director Alice Hamilton and the writer Barney Norris, who grew up together making theatre in Wiltshire. Their plays have been seen in woods, schools, hospices, village halls and many of the UK’s leading theatres.

On talking about the new collaboration, Barney Norris noted  ‘We’re delighted to strike up this new relationship with Farnham Maltings. After years of envying the producing relationship some of the UK’s most exciting theatre companies have enjoyed with this organisation, it’s a coup to be joining their family. This new partnership will give Up In Arms access to networks and expertise that can exponentially develop our work, and ground us in best practice that will help us transition towards a sustainable, thriving business model. We’ve committed ourselves to telling and touring the stories of life on these islands, and finding a way to root ourselves in a region with so many stories to tell and so many audiences to speak to will galvanise our work, onstage and off.’

Up In Arms has featured in Theatre of the Year lists in the Times, the Guardian, the Evening Standard and many others, winning awards and international acclaim for their work. You can learn more about the company by visiting their website.

opportunity: Assistant Director, Jess and Joe Forever

 

We are looking to appoint a passionate Assistant Director to support Derek Bond through the rehearsals and premier and regional tour of Jess and Joe Forever by Zoe Cooper. Present for rehearsals, technical performances, press night and the subsequent tour the role of Assistant Director will be to manage the smooth transition of the production for touring, and ensure the quality and energy of each touring performance.

We are looking for directors with some experience and interest in regional touring, who are collaborative, team players, and would benefit from the experience as well as being able to undertake all the duties required. Please apply with a CV and covering letter explaining why assisting Derek on a tour of this scale would be helpful to you at this stage of your career.

Project dates:

Rehearsals begin:               Monday 15th August

Production week                 w/c Monday 5th September

First preview:                      Thursday 8th September

Press night:                        Monday 12th September

Run Ends:                           Saturday 8th October

Tour rehearsals:                   Monday 10th October

Tour begins:                        Thursday 13th October

Tour ends:                          Sunday 6th November

Please note that a specific schedule of dates required will be created in partnership with the appointed Assistant Director.

Fee:

£2,100 (plus an allowance for travel and accommodation on tour)

Making an application:

Please send your CV (no more than two pages) and a covering letter (no more than one page) by email to Sarah Wilson at sarah.wilson@farnhammaltings.com

Appointment schedule:

Deadline for submissions – 12 noon on Wednesday 3rd August 2016

Interviews – Monday 8th August 2016

 

The premiere of Jess and Joe Forever will take place at Orange Tree Theatre in a co-production with Farnham Maltings. Jess and Joe Forever was originally commissioned by Old Vic New Voices.

A Nation’s Theatre Event at Farnham Maltings: I liked it but I couldn’t book it

A Nation’s Theatre Conversation: Farnham Maltings

I liked it but I couldn’t book it

An afternoon conversation about the future of contemporary theatre in rural England.

Hosted by Farnham Maltings in association with Battersea Arts Centre and The Guardian

Supported by Unlimited Impact; supporting artists and venues to celebrate the work of disabled artists, funded by Spirit of 2012

Thursday 3 March 2016, 3pm

Followed by a preview performance of The Iranian Feast at 5pm. 

Many have observed that theatre has changed more in the past 5 years than in the previous 50. This can be seen as clearly in our rural communities as in our major cities. Artists are making work in increasingly varied settings and playful formats. They are using outdoor and unusual spaces, involving members of local communities, mounting wedding feasts, presenting plays that don’t look like plays and dealing with complex questions in their performances. All have in common an ambition to reach new audiences, in new places and reinvent the form – which creates challenges for artists, touring schemes, programmers and audiences. This continuing conversation asks how we ensure that the ambitions of each are shared by us all.

This 90 minute conversation will be a space to consider the question ‘How can we ensure that the very best theatre is being made and shown across the whole country?’ It will be hosted at Farnham Maltings and chaired by Lyn Gardner. The conversation will be followed by a preview performance of our rural touring production, The Iranian Feast, featuring traditional Persian food prepared by Abbas, his wife and his daughter with help from their friends and neighbours. Part thriller, part cookery lesson this is a story of a family working out how life will be in the future.

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opportunity: Project Assistant Intern, Arts Partnership Surrey

opportunity: Project Assistant Intern, Arts Partnership Surrey

Arts Partnership Surrey is looking for a Project Assistant Intern to support the delivery of its programme of activity. The Arts Partnership is a strategic alliance of nine local authorities working together through the arts to improve the lives of people in Surrey. The main focus of this role is to support the administration and delivery of art projects across the county.
For a full role specification and person specification please click here to download a job description. You should send your CV and Covering Letter to Christine Lee at christine.lee@farnhammaltings.com by 9am, 1 February 2016.
The post is 30 hours a week for a period of six months.
Interview date: Tuesday 9 February 2016.
Please note: This paid internship has been created as part of the Creative Employment Programme. At the time of applying you must be 18 – 24 years old and you must be registered as unemployed with the Job Centre Plus.