Who can take part?
RSC Open Stages is open to any amateur or community group to take part in. 'Amateur' and 'community' group is defined for the purposes of this project as a group run by volunteers, and whose participants are volunteers. It does not include commercial youth theatres, youth theatre franchises, professional led/run community groups or professional led/run youth theatres, or school groups. If the group is led or run by someone who is paid to do so you are not eligible to take part.
How do I/we apply?
Please note that the application phase of this project is now over and we are no longer accepting entries to RSC Open Stages. However the skill exchange, performance and showcase phase of RSC Open Stages has only just begun.
If you've submitted an entry to RSC Open Stages and have a query about your application, please email openstages@rsc.org.uk
When can I apply?
Application forms are available online or by post and the RSC will except applications up until the end of March 2011. The application phase of this project is now over.
Does it cost anything to be part of RSC Open Stages?
There is no fee for being part of RSC Open Stages, although each group will be expected to cover the cost of its own production.
Do we have to perform a Shakespeare play?
The production must be a Shakespeare, or Shakespeare themed. Possibilities include:
- A performance of a Shakespeare text in whole or cut form
- An existing Shakespeare adaptation e.g. West Side Story or Kiss Me Kate
- A new Shakespeare adaptation written for the group
- A new Shakespeare version devised by the group
- One of our new edits of Shakespeare's most popular plays. Edited by established playwrights for the RSC
- One of the back catalogue of new plays commissioned or produced by the RSC which was inspired by one of Shakespeare's plays
- An evening of Shakespeare extracts or Shakespeare related scenes or music
- A site specific event involving the performance of Shakespeare, or related theatre or music.
Are there any other conditions for productions taking part?
No, although we are encouraging productions to embrace an exciting new challenge for the group, and/or audience, by following the RSC's own principles of being inquiring, ambitious, collaborative and engaging. For example:
- Engaging with another art form e.g. music, dance or visual arts.
- Collaborating with a new partner e.g. a local amateur orchestra, a youth theatre or school, local Morris dancers or club DJs
- Show a spirit of inquiry by working with a new practitioner/artist and learning new skills e.g. a choreographer, fight director, artist, circus performer, poet or writer.
- Productions should be ambitious, not necessarily in size but ideas. Performances maybe site specific e.g. outdoors, in the crypt of a church, a castle or a disused factory.
- It will be the quality of the above elements of the pitch which will help us determine whether the productions are programmed to be showcased at a partner theatre or the World Shakespeare Festival.
When can we perform?
Group can perform at any time between April 2011 and December 2012.
The Regional Partner will run showcases in late spring/summer 2012. However we do not expect all companies to time their productions for possible inclusion in their region's showcase and to carry on producing shows right up until December 2012.
Who are the regional partner theatres?
National Theatre of Scotland
The Lyric Theatre, Belfast
Contact Theatre, Manchester
The Sage, Gateshead
Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon
New Wolsey, Ipswich
Hall for Cornwall
Nuffield Theatre, Southampton
Questors Theatre, London
We do hope to add at least one more to this list in 2011.
What do we get from the RSC?
Participating groups will:
- Attend a regional Open Stages exchange event, hosted one of 8 regional theatres across the UK. At which practitioners from the RSC, the regional theatre and amateur organisations will run performance, technical, design, and directing workshops. The aim of these events will be to inspire ideas and pass on new skills for use in the group's productions. It will also be an opportunity for amateurs and professionals to share experience and problem solve.
- Be 'badged' as part of RSC Open Stages i.e. they will receive and have permission to use the RSC Open Stages logo on all publicity materials for the production.
- Be part of a national campaign run by the RSC profiling the project.
- Receive a marketing pack, including PDF's for posters, press releases, quotes etc.
- Become member contributors of the RSC Open Stage website, where groups may share photos, films and blogs of their productions. This will act as a forum for ongoing debate and exchange of ideas.
Does each group have to attend the Skills Exchange Event?
The Skills Exchange Event will vary from region to region with some theatres holding several small events some one large event. A representative from each group must attend one of these events.
How do I know which regional partner theatre I will be working with?
Initially we will decide by proximity, with each group or society assigned to their nearest partner theatre. There may however be practical mitigating circumstances, such as transport links, where the nearest theatre is not the most appropriate.
Who will be showcased at the regional partner theatres?
Not all the participating groups will be showcased.
The 8 regional theatres will each host a showcase of Open Stages work from amateur and community groups. The groups performing will be a selected cross section from the range of amateur Open Stages productions in their region. The showcase will be selected to show the variety of groups and their approaches to performing Shakespeare. It will also take particular account of how much groups have embraced the idea of challenging themselves and their audience (see Question 2).
The showcases aim is to celebrate the work of amateur and community groups, as well as demonstrate the universal accessibility of Shakespeare for performers and audiences.
The showcases will be selected from the work that has already been performed up until spring 2012. We do hope that societies and groups will keep on producing productions right up until December 2012
What is the World Shakespeare Festival?
Is an international festival of Shakespeare led by the RSC, inspired and funded by London 2012 Olympic Games. This festival culminates in Stratford with productions from around the world performing at the RSC. It is to this celebration we will invite a production from each of the regional partner theatre showcases.
How will companies be selected to perform at regional showcases and the World Shakespeare Festival at the RSC in Stratford?
The regional partner theatres will invite productions to perform in their showcase and the the RSC will invite productions from across the regions to perform at the World Shakespeare Festival in Stratford. The both the regional partner theatres and the RSC aim to invite shows that reflect the range, of amateur companies and the variety of RSC Open Stages work. We will also look for innovative and ambitious work (see question 6). Although we expect these productions to be of a high quality we view this as a process of programming similar to that of a festival or season of work, rather than a competition.
Can we perform our RSC Open Stages production in other festivals and competitions?
Yes. In fact the All England Theatre Festival's will be running an RSC Open Stages Shakespeare Festival within their regular festival in 2011/2012 with the overall national winner performing at the RSC as part of the World Shakespeare Festival.
Can we use the RSC Open Stages logo on our production publicity?
Yes, once your application has been registered by the RSC. You will receive a pack of marketing materials including a copy of the logo for use on all publicity.
Can the production involve any professional theatre practitioners, artists or musicians etc?
As long as the company/group are an amateur group as defined above then they may hire individual professionals such as directors, musical directors and musicians, although we would encourage groups to take on as many of these roles as possible themselves.
Will the RSC see each Open Stages production?
It would be brilliant if a member of the RSC team could see each production, and the RSC and the regional partner theatres will strive to see as many productions as they can. However given the number of possible productions and the geographical spread it will not be possible to see them all. We do hope groups will be able to keep us and their fellow companies up to date on their work through the Open Stages website which will allow the posting of video clips, photographs and blogs.
Can a production that takes place outside the UK be part of RSC Open Stages?
Yes. Productions outside the UK would be welcome. Although the RSC can not commit to funding companies to bring them to the UK for showcases and Skills Exchanges.
Will the RSC fund travel expenses to bring productions to regional partner showcases?
There is no funding available directly from the RSC for travel of groups to regional partner theatres. However companies are obviously free to raise funds themselves. The Regional Partner Theatres may also consider funding for travel depending on the nature of their region.
Do amateur groups need to be a member of an umbrella organisation e.g. NODA, Voluntary Arts Network or Drama Association of Wales?
Although we are working closely with these groups and welcome their members, a group does not need to be a member of an umbrella organisation to take part.
Can individuals not attached to an amateur group take part in RSC Open Stages?
RSC Open Stages is aimed at amateur groups/societies, so being a member of a society is mandatory. This does not rule out starting your own society with friends, or a member of a society or group performing a one man show. However it would rule out a one man society.
Can a small, inexperienced or new group or society, with little experience of Shakespeare take part?
Absolutely. This project is a perfect opportunity to try something new. We do not expect societies or groups to necessarily have huge experience in Shakespeare or for all societies and groups to mount large scale productions.
Many amateur companies have their own theatre space. Can an amateur society run its own RSC Open Stages showcase, with more than one group performing, either in its own venue or hired space?
Absolutely. We would actively encourage amateur companies to with their own venues to put on RSC Open Stages showcases of their own, or for groups to band together with other groups and hire a space. Although there is no funding available for this the RSC would want to be as supportive as possible and are in conversation with the Little Theatre Guild about how we could support such events.
The project has been described as an excellent opportunity for recruiting new members. Will every society or group involved have to take on new members?
We would be very pleased if groups were able to use the project to recruit new members and indeed will be making this a public part of the project in 2011. However this is not mandatory and no group will be expected to take on new members if it hasn't the capacity, or where this would prove difficult for other reasons.
How is RSC Open Stages funded?
RSC Open Stages is funded by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation.
Why do the RSC want to work with amateurs?
To broaden public participation in theatre beyond schools and youth groups.
To endorse and embrace the entrepreneurial, can-do, community spirit of amateur theatre.
To celebrate and showcase some of the great work done by amateur theatre.
To broaden access to the high quality resources of the UK's professional theatre sector both human and material.
To give Shakespeare back to the people, as performers as well as audience, by sharing the skills and experience of the RSC.
Is this project a response to the recent cuts in arts funding?
No. This project has been in development for over 12 months, and in no way seeks to replace or subsidise any part of the RSC's or any of the partner theatre's regular work.
Are the RSC concerned that a project encouraging greater engagement with amateur theatre will have negative effect on those professionals such as actors and technicians seeking paid work?
No. The RSC sees this work as additional and complementary to the work of professional theatres not a replacement of it. Sharing ideas, skills and resources can only result in a growth of interest in theatre of all kinds, encouraging those who perform as a hobby to see professional work.
Equity is running its own Shakespeare inspired engagement programme Shakespeare United to harness the skills and experience of the UK's professional actors. Shakespeare United and RSC Open Stages will run in parallel throughout 2011/2012 and are currently looking at points of crossover and collaboration.