Huge list of great practice
-Theatre In the Mill Bradford, digital artists and access.
-Ark At Stockton - democratising theatre, chocolate making day etc.
- working with parent Child groups to make theatre relevant for them. Mothers who Make.
- thinking of audiences as co-authors- vital that its not a one off, audience need to have consistency for a meaningful relationship.
- Deptford/Albany street characters promoting the theatre, market Stall. Teatro- Vivo working with Albany.
- working with 'Ambassadors' with wider connection to community.
- taking over local shop to give a different access point to the theatre.
- Bristol seems to be a growing creative hub.
- Artists residencies are igniting communities. (artist invited by theatre to be part of outreach program)
- Rural Touring Initiative is demonstrating to larger theatres that the outer reaches of the region are really open to 'non-traditional' work.
- 'new Directions Showcase' on the 16th Feb, China Plate are curating.
- main houses are making the audience interaction more meaningful.
- Audiences have an appetite for knowing process main houses can use tech to share. Is there scope for schools to come back stage , be in workshops etc?
-Salisbury playhouse education dept. have re-invented participation for schools v positive for the theatre challenging for local education companies.
-Derby Playhouse doing fantastic work democratising the theatre.
- the physical threshold is still a barrier. glass fronts are good but if everyone behind the glass is the privileged part of the local community it is prohibitive, theatres can think of how to fill the foyers will the community. IE Birmingham Symphony invite in local students on a fri to use the foyer it creates a buzz for everyone.
-Liverpool everyman put a local actor in the centre of a main house show very successful. casting call for only Liverpool actors. It makes a local hero.
-New Wolsey Ipswich nearly always have local community cast. next show 'Our Blue Heaven' young men aged 18-25.Tommy, local disabled actors huge hit.
- A women came in toward the session her show and I cant quite read my notes I think it says- 'Giant' has pre-show and after show events and is at Havant theatre plus show/event 'Bedtime Story'. Regional theatre and network v encouraging.
- Fevered Sleep making great use Strategic Touring Fund.
- Live screening have been a game changer bringing new audiences to regional theatres now the question is how to convince those audiences that the magic of live screening can be bettered by the magic of real live actors on stage.
- Captioning innovations is making regional theatres more accessible. Much more access generally.
- Doug Rintoul at the Queens Theatre Hornchurch - 'He gets it', he doing amazing work innovating and bringing creativity into the core of the building.