Contact and Shakespeare join

Contact Partners Royal Shakespeare Company for Open Stages

Contact are pleased to announce that they'll once again be partnering the Royal Shakespeare Company in their Open Stage project 2013 to 2016.

Open Stages aims to embrace, develop and celebrate amateur theatre, re-forging the bond with the world of professional theatre. Eight-six amateur theatre organisations from across the UK have been selected to take part.

Open Stages 2013 to 2016 will focus on learning, with each company receiving training, director mentoring, feedback and support.

Contact will run a programme of 'skills exchange' workshops and events for the companies from the north of England as well showcasing the work they make. Workshops, scratch performances and master-classes for audiences and artists to get involved with will also be announced.

Contact partnered on Open Stages in 2011/12 when it culminated with performances as part of the 2012 World Shakespeare Festival in Stratford, as well as with the Open Stages Shakespeare Festival at Contact and Collaborative Project sharings.

Suzie Henderson, Contact's Creative Producer said:
'We worked with a huge range of amateur groups from across the north of England last time around. It is hugely exciting to be part of the project again and to collaborate with some brilliant organisations across the UK to celebrate our amateur theatre sector.'

Abbie Wilcox, Contact's Creative Projects Officer, Open Stages 2011 - 2012 added:
'Open Stages reconnected us to our surrounding community and enabled us to really push the boundaries of performance. Several of our participants are now engaged at Contact on other projects and this is really a testament to the impact and legacy of the project.'

A 2012 Open Stages participant said:
'The collaborative and informational approach to the workshops created an environment where groups and individuals were encouraged to question, make suggestions and find answers'

For more information on Open Stages see www.rsc.org.uk/openstages

Published: 26-Sep-2013: (2075)