Creative Director Corey Campbell, CEO Laura Elliott, and the entire team at the Belgrade Theatre are pleased to announce the selection of three companies for the 2024 Springboard Programme. This initiative is designed to support early career artists and emerging companies based in the West Midlands.
Established in 2015, Springboard is a development programme that assists early career companies and artists in scaling their ideas, considering capital needs, fundraising, crafting business plans, and developing projects. Over the next three years, the Belgrade Theatre will provide support to these selected companies as they advance on their professional journeys:
Blindspot Theatre
Blindspot Theatre was created to lift working & under-class theatre makers out of our collective blind spot. They create opportunities to test, explore, and support brand new theatre & performance from Coventry and the wider Midlands region. They offer radical support for artists and approachable events for audiences, because they want to make sure they explicitly help artists move forward in their careers and help as many people as possible feel that making and seeing theatre is for them.
Blindspot Producer Georgia Kelly (They/She) said “Having this support and the infrastructure of the Belgrade behind it and all those opportunities, having access to professional development and learning, not just in a “oh okay, drop in when you feel like it” but they’re so active about it. We already feel so integrated into the building and that’s so wonderful, we feel part of the Belgrade for the long run, we feel part of the community, part of its outcomes, its aims and objectives. As a community hub, a part of Cov and of course the national theatre sector. Pun obviously intended… But it feels like such a Springboard into everything that all of us are here to do… so it would have been daft not to apply!”
Dauntless Evolution
A Midlands based Physical Theatre company that use fluid movement, dynamic imagery and an ensemble first approach to bring a sense of spectacle to the stories they choose to tell. Their work celebrates humanity, finding joy in their shared experiences. They believe in being bold and ambitious and They use their eclectic style to make theatre that reflects this. They are constantly looking for new ways to tell stories and connect with audiences, they endeavour to make each show an experience never to forget.
They said “Springboard represents a massive step forward for us as a company, to be working alongside the team at The Belgrade and the other Springboard companies will be an invaluable learning experience. We are so grateful to have been selected and can’t wait to bring some new projects to life.”
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That’s A Rap
That’s A Rap are a 2 strand company with a core focus on the representation and inclusion of working class young people in the theatre and beyond. Through the means of storytelling through rap music – Rap Theatre, That’s A Rap create shows and deliver collaborative extended projects with community groups and educational institutions, aiming to change the landscape brick by brick.
www.thatsarap.co.uk
That’s A Rap have said “Springboard is an invaluable opportunity that we at That’s A Rap feel truly honoured and humbled to have been afforded. The resources that we will now have access to will speed up our growth and development immensely so we can maximise the positive impact our work has on the world. The Belgrade is a theatre truly for the people and to be supported by them in an industry where it’s such a challenge to find those we morally align with is a blessing that is impossible to put into words. What we can put in to words however, is that we’re ready to work and can’t wait for the seeds we’ve planted to flourish under the Belgrade’s wing.”
Springboard Companies are able to access:
- Selected performance slots in the Belgrade season and free rehearsal space for Research and Development.
- Designated office space at the theatre
- An opportunity to register company addresses at the Belgrade Theatre,
- Monthly one-to-one meetings with the Creative Director,
- Tailored one-to-one meetings and support from the wider Belgrade team, across departments such as production, finance, fundraising and marketing (including applying to the Arts Council),
- Support from the Belgrade’s marketing team for shows being performed at the Belgrade Theatre.
Director of Producing and Co-Creation, Adel Al-Salloum, expressed his enthusiasm by stating, “We are thrilled to have these brilliant companies on board and look forward to supporting their development over the next few years.” He elaborated on the selection process, noting that the primary reason for choosing these particular companies is their commitment to social action at the core of their work. This commitment can manifest in various forms, whether through impactful performances or engaging community activities. Such values resonate deeply with our own vision as a co-created theatre, fostering a collaborative environment that prioritises meaningful contributions to society. Al-Salloum provided an example of this collaboration by mentioning the ongoing partnership with That’s a Rap on an exciting production of *Romeo and Juliet*. He emphasised that this initiative is more than just beneficial for the companies involved; he believes it represents a significant shift within the arts sector as a whole. “As a theatre,” he remarked, “we see this programme as a game changer—not just for the companies involved but more widely for the arts sector. It’s a crucible of talent, where we could witness the emergence of future Creative Directors who may one day lead major theatres.” He highlighted how Corey Campbell’s journey exemplifies this potential; Campbell began his career with his company Strictly Arts as part of our Springboard programme in 2018 at Belgrade Theatre. In tandem with Al-Salloum’s remarks, Associate Director Jay Zorenti-Nakhid added his perspective: “As we enter into the new year, we are delighted to welcome three new springboard companies onto the programme. We eagerly anticipate collaborating and supporting these organisations throughout their journeys over the next three years.” Zorenti-Nakhid underscored that Springboard has been one of the foundational pillars of their commitment to nurturing and sustaining local theatre ecology. He passionately articulated how “supporting artists and providing them with space to grow is not merely essential; it is a beautiful process to be part of.” Furthermore, he expressed excitement about what promises to be mutual learning experiences between both their organisation and these burgeoning companies as they embark upon this collaborative journey together.