Home » Supporting New Performance » EMERGE - Leeds New Work Festival
Some of the best new theatre and performance in Britain is coming out of the north, and Emerge aims to make a big noise about the great work being made in our region. It provides a platform to try out ideas, take creative practice to the next level, and connect with new audiences. We want to give artists, theatre-makers and writers a wide range of development opportunities to make sure that Leeds becomes a city that supports new talent. We run an annual summer festival of new work (this year taking place from 17-24 June), as well as a whole load of activities through the rest of the year. The project is headed up by venues including The Carriageworks and Seven, along with theatre companies Red Ladder and PLaY, working in partnership with artists, organisations and agencies across the region. It is funded by Leeds City Council’s Inspired programme and the Seedbed Trust.
Our commitment is to promoting and nurturing excellent work that is forward-thinking, adventurous and takes creative risks. If this describes YOUR work, then Emerge is for you. Summerfest 2012 Programme Buy an Emerge 2012 wristband and save money! These are just £20, and enable you to get into pretty much all of the events during Emerge SummerFest free of charge – so if you’re planning to come to a few events during the week they’re a great deal.
And that’s not all – you’ll be able to get into our great programme of events and workshops during the autumn. At The Carriageworks, we’ll also be offering a whole range of shows during the next year at a special discounted rate for wristband holders, saving up to £7 on full price tickets.
Please note that you still need to book your free tickets with Box Office (0113 224 3801) to be guaranteed entry to the event, even if you have already purchased your wristband. your wristband. SUNDAY 17 JUNE
Open Space:2.00 – 5.30, Left Bank, Burley FREE – no nee to book
This is a conference with a difference: the agenda is set up by whoever turns up, responding to the question “what are we going to do about theatre and performance in Leeds and Yorkshire?” Using the Open Space format popularised by Devoted and Disgruntled, this is a chance for people with all kinds of backgrounds and experiences to meet and talk about the things that matter to them outside of the usual hierarchical structures. One thing is guaranteed: lively and energising conversation and debate.
Whoever comes are the right people. Whatever happens is the only thing that could have. When it is over, it is over.
Facilitated by Annie Rigby, Artistic Director of Unfolding Theatre (www.unfoldingtheatre.co.uk)
Rehearsed Reading:A MUSLAMIC LOVE STORY BY NICK AHAD6.30pm, upstairs@thecarriageworks Tickets: £3 FREE to Emerge wristband holders
Following two work-in-progress showings at Bradford Theatre in the Mill, Nick Ahad presents a reworked version of his new play, A Muslamic Love Story. Nick says: “I’ve been living with this story for about a year as an idea I wanted to tackle. Until the actors breathed life into it, it was nothing but words on a page. All I’ve learnt from two weeks of rehearsals and two performances has gone into a new draft. It still isn’t finished. I don’t think it ever will be.”
The evening includes an opportunity for feedback from audience and industry professionals. This will be a script-in-hand production.
Suitable for ages 15+
MONDAY 18 JUNE
THE GREAT BIG EMERGE INDUSTRY FAYRE 6pm – 7.15pm, Millennium Room, The Carriageworks FREE
Join us for a relaxed glass of wine and the company of some of the best theatre makers and arts organisations in the region. We’ve invited a whole range of interesting people who are in a position to help you make your work, so come along and make some new connections. Get their advice, share skills and experiences, and make sure you’re plugged in to the right networks.
Move to Stand presents KIN7.30pm, Main Auditorium, The Carriageworks Tickets: £11, £9 (concessions £2 off) £6 to Emerge wristband holders
An award-winning show about three friends who lose one life to gain another. An international cast unearths a delicate story of home, foreignness and speaking the mother tongue. This is the tale of a young couple, their lodger and the big city in which they live. Will they re-find each other in their darkest moment? An enchanting and taut piece that draws its audience into a compelling story of tragedy and transcendence.
An early version of the show was first seen at The Carriageworks as part of The Best of BE Festival tour, and we’re delighted to be one of the first venues to be showing the complete piece. Audience comments said the work was “stunningly effective”, as well as “heartbreaking and beautiful”.
“An outstanding cast and highly evocative live music” - ***** - BROADWAY BABY
Suitable for 12+
TUESDAY 19 JUNE
SCRIPT NIGHT 7.30pm, Seven Arts Tickets: £4 FREE to Emerge wristband holders
Script writer’s work is rehearsed by professional actors and presented to an audience of general public and industry professionals. Writers who have shown their work at previous Script Nights have attracted commissions from theatre, radio and TV producers.
This is an opportunity to see some of the best new writing currently being developed in the region, as well as the chance to do some serious networking.
This will be a script-in-hand production.
WEDNESDAY 20 JUNE
WORKS-IN-PROGRESS I 7.30pm, upstairs@thecarriageworks Tickets: £4 FREE to Emerge wristband holders
An evening of three short works-in-progress some of the region’s best new theatre-makers and performers. Headlining the event will be Jaye Kearney, one of Emerge’s 2012 mentored artists, with a scratch performance of here new piece, One:
As an only child, raised by a single parent, independent and single, I’m used to being by myself. I like it. This is a solo performance about being alone, working alone, playing alone, and not being lonely. I want to share it with you because it’s really about the desire we all have to make connections.”
Also showing will be new pieces from Clayfish Productions and York’s Hinge Theatre.
All performances will include an opportunity for feedback from the audience on the night and a panel of industry professionals.
THURSDAY 21 JUNE
WORKS-IN-PROGRESS II 7.30pm, Seven Arts Tickets: £4 FREE to Emerge wristband holders
A second evening of works-in-progress from some of the region’s best new theatre-makers and performers. Highlights include LeCoq-trained Square Peg Theatre with Forwards and Backwards, which chronicles the life of a married couple, from their first chance encounter to their last goodbye. Broken Ground Theatre’s Hang Up charts themes of self-image, ageing and insecurity. Finally, live artist Selina Thompson presents Compulsory Show, a show that explores the “big” themes through semi-autobiographical material devised from a collection of personal memories.
FRIDAY 22 JUNE
Red Ladder, The Carriageworks and Leeds Civic Arts Guild presents PROMISED LAND7.30pm, Main Auditorium, The Carriageworks Tickets: £11.50, £9.50
Show runs until 30 June
The world premiere of a northern love story...
Nathan and Caitlin are young idealists growing up in the same city but on opposite sides of a cultural and religious divide. Nathan is Jewish, a Leeds United fan and a dreamer, Caitlin is a musician from a Catholic family and has more practical ambitions. What they have in common is a hope of escaping, but will that be enough to hold them together?
In the year of the Olympics and the month that the Olympic torch comes to Leeds, this brand new stage adaptation of Leeds-born journalist and writer Anthony Clavane’s best-selling book will be a large-scale celebration of the City of Leeds, the people of Leeds and Leeds United Football Club.
A co-production between Leeds Civic Arts Guild, The Carriageworks and Red Ladder, The Promised Land will be performed by a large cast of local actors with a live band playing original music.
SATURDAY 23 JUNE
WORKSHOP: ODD DOLL PUPPET THEATRE 11am – 1pm, The Carriageworks Tickets: £4 FREE to Emerge wristband holders
A practical introduction to puppetry and object manipulation from one of Emerge’s new mentored companies, Odd Doll. Creating work for audiences of all ages, the company draw inspiration from dark fairytales, the beauty of circus and dance, the absurdity of clown and the power of music. Their non-language based theatre aims to open up an imaginative world where anything is possible and nothing is predictable.
No experience necessary. Please wear loose clothing.
Rehearsed Reading: TERMINAL BY GEMMA HEAD / WHITEFACE PRODUCTIONS2.30pm, Millennium Room, The Carriageworks Tickets: £3 FREE to Emerge wristband holders
Following a showing of an earlier version of Whiteface’s new play as part of Emerge 2011, writer Gemma Head has been busy developing a new draft of her script with a view to producing a full touring version. Come along to give your input and help shape the development of the piece, a dark comedy based around a highly suspect euthanasia clinic.
The afternoon includes an opportunity for feedback from audience and industry professionals. This will be a script-in-hand production.
Daniel Bye presents THE SIX O’CLOCK NEWSUpstairs @ The Carriageworks, 6.00pm Tickets: £4 FREE to Emerge wristband holders
Ninety Team GB gold medals? Flash floods? War against newly-independent Scotland?
Apart from Doctor Who, who knows what will be in the news on Saturday 23 June?
Whatever the headlines that day, Daniel Bye and a team of specially-selected artists and company will digest and respond to them for your viewing pleasure, creating an evening of urgently topical contemporary performance about the big issues of today. Not yesterday, today.
We promise we do not have a time machine.
SUNDAY 24 JUNE
THE EMERGE BRUNCH 12.00noon – 1.00pm, The Carriageworks FREE
Join us over some very civilised coffee and croissants to reflect on a busy week of festival mayhem. Give us your thoughts, comments and feedback, and spend some quality Sunday time with friends old and new. There’s no need to book – just turn up.
WORKSHOP: DEAN NOLAN (Red Ladder / Kneehigh) 1.00 – 4.00pm, The Carriageworks Tickets: £4 FREE to Emerge wristband holders
A workshop in acting and performance from one of the most prominent actors on Leeds stages in 2012. In January, Dean starred alongside Phil Jupitus in Red Ladder’s Big Society, and he has just been cast by the world famous Kneehigh Theatre Company as Harold in Steptoe and Son, which will be making its northern premiere with a month-long run at the West Yorkshire Playhouse from 14 September.
Dean will be sharing some of the techniques he uses to prepare for productions, as well as talking about his experiences with some of the country’s leading touring companies. He is also a leading member of his own theatre company, BishBashBosh, whose last show Surfing Tommies appeared at The Carriageworks in 2011.
We are currently supporting shows by two theatre-makers who took part in last year’s Mentored Commission Programme.Lawrence Speck (left) has created a piece called The Boggle, based on Yorkshire myths and legends.Lawrence Speck. Photography©Matt Tullett
Lunabug Theatre (led by Naomi Rothwell and Beth Caudle) have produced The Dreams of Philomina, a charming tale of love and loss, with a whole lot of silliness in between. We are now helping to produce national tours for both pieces, including looking at joint fundraising to enable this to happen. Useful Emerge links: stage@leedswww.stage.leeds.ac.ukSevenwww.sevenleeds.co.uk Red Ladderwww.redladder.co.ukScript Yorkshirewww.scriptyorkshire.co.uk
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