The North Wall Announces The Alchymy Company Award

The North Wall today announces a new award as part of the continuation and expansion of its annual celebration of emerging theatre, Alchymy Festival. The Alchymy Company Award offers a young theatre company ongoing support to develop and showcase a new piece of written or devised theatre at Alchymy Festival in 2019.

The award will be judged by journalist, Lyn Gardner, co-Directors of The North Wall, Ria Parry and John Hoggarth and Alchymy Festival producer, Ellie Keel.

Ten applications will be shortlisted and will receive feedback from the judging panel. The winning company, announced in November 2018, will receive:

Free rehearsal space at The North Wall with accommodation and meals included for up to eight company members for two weeks preceding Alchymy Festival which will take place in April 2019.

Performances of the show at Alchymy Festival in The North Wall's main space (180 seats), with a 50:50 box office split.

A contribution of £1,500 to the company's fundraising.

A contribution to travel expenses of up to £40 per person for eight company members.

Artistic, technical and dramaturgical support from The North Wall.

Production support from Alchymy Festival.

Ongoing support after the festival to help get the production programmed in other venues.

Ria Parry, co-Director of The North Wall said today, "The North Wall has always supported emerging companies through our ArtsLab programme, but this new Award formalises and increases our offer to one company to rehearse in residence at The North Wall and be part of a hugely exciting festival of new work."

Lyn Gardner added, "It's tough being an emerging company, and this award is a bold new initiative to create and support an ongoing relationship between The North Wall and the winning company."

Alchymy Festival is a festival of new theatre made by early-career theatre makers, produced by The North Wall Arts Centre in Oxford. It exists to nurture the development of new plays and those who make them: writers, directors, actors and other theatre-makers. The festival showcases work at all stages of development, from full shows to rehearsed readings, and has provided a platform to many emerging artists. It also hosted the first performance of Monica Dolan's Olivier-nominated show The B*easts in 2017. The festival also presents a series of talks, workshops and panels with leading theatre professionals. Previous guests have included Ella Hickson, April De Angelis, Stella Duffy, Laurie Sansom, Imogen Stubbs, Ellen McDougall, David Mumeni, Tobi Kyeremateng, Kirstin Shirling, Jo Crowley, Melanie Aram, Katherine Soper, and Zoe Cooper.

Alchymy Festival forms part of ArtsLab, The North Wall's flagship artist development programme for 18-25 year olds. Since 2007, ArtsLab has invited early career writers, directors, actors and designers to take part in free residential training opportunities led by professional mentors. Alchymy Festival acts as a platform to showcase new work produced by artists in the ArtsLab network as their careers progress.

To apply please send the following documents to keele@thenorthwall.com by Monday 1st October 2018 at 12pm. Applications received after this point will not be considered. All enquiries relating to the Alchymy Company Award should also be sent to this address.

1. A pitch document of no more than 2 A4 pages. This pitch document should describe (in whichever way you like) the show you want to make, and the ways the show and your company will benefit from the Alchymy Company Award.
2. In no more than 1 side of A4, please highlight who is involved in your project.
3. If the work is scripted, a full draft of the script must be submitted alongside this.

Guidelines

Applications from companies that foreground working class, BAME, migrant, and/or LGBTQ+ theatre makers are strongly encouraged. Alchymy Festival and The North Wall are committed to the diversification of the theatre industry and to supporting those who face disproportionate barriers to accessing and establishing themselves within the industry.

The Alchymy Company Award is open to new writing, new adaptations of existing texts, or devised work. The show must not previously have been performed or developed elsewhere.

The finished production must be no longer than 2 hours in duration.

Companies who apply must have been formed no more than 5 years ago. They do not need to be Limited Companies, or registered in any official sense, to be eligible for the Award.

Companies must include a director, a writer (if applicable), a designer, and a producer. The production does not have to be cast at the point of application.

The winning company will be asked to commit to raising enough additional funds to pay all team members Equity minimum rates for the duration of their rehearsal period.