PRESS RELEASE 25 May 2018

The Andrea Project

  • Out of Joint launches fundraising campaign to discover and nurture next generation of playwrights.
  • The Andrea Project 2018 is open to teenagers from Sheffield. Future editions will reach young people in other areas.
  • James Graham, Barney Norris and Elinor Cook among playwrights giving masterclasses to raise money for the campaign.

Out of Joint will work with young people aged 15 to 19 to inspire the next generation of playwrights. Originally conceived to run alongside Out of Joint’s production of Rita, Sue and Bob, Too, The Andrea Project ran successfully last year in partnership with the Royal Court and Bolton Octagon and gave eight young people the opportunity to have a play staged at the Royal Court. This year’s project sees Out of Joint work together with Sheffield Theatres, co-producers of Close Quarters by Kate Bowen.

The project is named for playwright Andrea Dunbar, who wrote her first play aged 15 and began her hit play Rita, Sue and Bob Too when she was 19. Dunbar grew up on Bradford’s Buttershaw Estate, and was in a women’s refuge when her talents were discovered. The Andrea Project is a response to the question: would a writer like Andrea be found by theatres today?

Eight young writers from Sheffield will work with a professional playwright over a number of weeks to create their own short plays, which will be performed at Sheffield Theatres by professional actors to an invited audience. All aspects of the scheme are free, including any travel costs.

The project was conceived by Gina Abolins, who runs Education and Artist Development and Kate Wasserberg, Artistic Director of Out of Joint. Kate said of the scheme:

“Rita, Sue and Bob, Too, written by a teenager, connected with audiences all over the UK in the most extraordinary way. Andrea’s voice spoke of struggle and courage, uniting people and provoking them to both laughter and thought. The Andrea Project is all about finding more writers with stories to tell the nation, people who might otherwise go unnoticed or never even pick up a pen. It’s about saying to young people – write the future. We want to hear what you have to say.”

Gina said:

“Throughout our first Andrea Project I could see its power and importance. The participants grew in confidence, their writing sharp and shining with new ideas, and they left with the determination to write more. Through the opportunity to see their stories performed by professional actors in front of an audience, we hope to reach out to young people across the UK, regardless of their background, and say; your voice matters and we want to hear it. And by making every aspect free, we hope nobody will miss out because they can’t afford to take part.”

The Andrea Project will run alongside future Out of Joint productions too. Next year it will be open to teenagers in Northampton when the company co-produces The Remains of the Day with the town’s Royal & Derngate Theatres.

Funding The Andrea Project

The Andrea Project will be completely free to participants. In order to make this possible, Out of Joint is raising money, and is asking people to help via a new crowdfunding page: http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-andrea-project-drama

Playwrights Elinor Cook, James Graham and Barney Norris are each donating a playwriting masterclass with all proceeds going towards The Andrea Project. Elinor Cook’s will run on 18 July, with others to be announced.

Barney Norris said of his involvement:

“I’m very proud to be helping to raise funds for the Andrea Project. Discovering and nurturing new voices who can challenge the theatre to tell stories about more and more of the world is a crucial and profoundly rewarding part of working in this trade: the Andrea Project can be a machine for doing just that, with the appropriate dedication and resources.”

ENDS

Contact: Jon Bradfield [email protected] / 020 7609 0207 / 07968762339

Playwriting Masterclasses booking and info: www.outofjoint.co.uk/education/playwriting-masterclasses-in-support-of-the-andrea-project.html

Out of Joint

Dauntless, political, joyous: Out of Joint develops, produces and tours political, humane and socially engaged shows of outstanding quality, that spark and enrich conversations at kitchen tables around the UK. Passionate about playwrights, we believe that artists should be at the frontier of new ideas, and invest substantially in the development of writers, directors, actors and audiences to ensure that new plays are thriving, presenting them alongside timely revivals and adaptations that offer an exciting lens through which to view the world. Over 24 years we have premiered plays by such writers as Richard Bean, Caryl Churchill, David Hare, Mark Ravenhill and Timberlake Wertenbaker, and performed our shows on six continents.

Out of Joint co-produces with some of the country’s most exciting theatres: Consent by Nina Raine was commissioned by Out of Joint and co-produced in a sold out run with the National Theatre last year. It is currently playing in the West End. Our recent revival of Andrea Dunbar’s Rita, Sue and Bob Too, directed by Artistic Director Kate Wasserberg and co-produced with Octagon Theatre Bolton and the Royal Court, played to 36,000 people on tour.  This Autumn, with Sheffield Theatres, the company will produce Kate Bowen’s Close Quarters, an exciting drama set on a British military base in the near future, about the first women soldiers in close combat, frontline roles. And next year we present the world premiere of Kazuo Ishiguro’s The Remains of the Day, adapted by Barney Norris, in a co-production with Northampton Theatres in association with Oxford Playhouse.

www.outofjoint.co.uk @out_of_joint

PRESS RELEASE 30 April 2018

Out of Joint appoints Clare Lovett as Chair

Clare Lovett has been appointed Chair of the Board of Trustees of theatre company Out of Joint.

Clare founded her arts engagement consultancy First Penguin in 2015, with clients including the Royal Opera House, Hofesh Shechter Company and Barking & Dagenham Council. Prior to this she was Programme Director for Learning & Participation at Spitalfields Music, and served as the organisation’s interim Chief Executive. She founded Musical Rumpus, an opera series for the under 3s which has toured nationally and internationally, and she has worked with The Place, London Philharmonic Orchestra, PRS Foundation/Capital of Culture Hull, NESTA and Arts Council England.

Clare said of her appointment: “It has been inspiring to get to know Artistic Director Kate Wasserberg and to see her ambitious and tantalising plans for the company. The company is in a transitional phase, and we are in the process of putting together an experienced and passionate governance team. I look forward to working with Kate and Exective Producer Martin Derbyshire, and to playing my part in shaping a future for a company whose work is so vital to our nation’s theatres and audiences.”

Among others joining Out of Joint’s board will be Helen Boaden, former Director of BBC Radio and BBC News; Kim Lassemillante, Head of Finance at English National Ballet; and Charlie Thompson, solicitor at Harbottle & Lewis and a specialist in employment law. They join current board members Elizabeth Brenan, Danny Sapani and Aradhna Tayal.

Kate Wasserberg, Artistic Director, welcomed Clare’s appointment: “I am delighted to be working with Clare and our board at this exciting time at Out of Joint. We have responded to our recent challenges by bringing new voices into the organisation, including an employment lawyer and a finance expert, to join valued long-standing board members. Together we are looking to the future, planning to make more work than ever before, bringing great writing to audiences throughout the UK.”

Martin Derbyshire, Executive Producer, said: “After a year of success on stage and uncertainty off, it’s fantastic to start this new funding cycle with a reinvigorated board of directors led by Clare. With new artistic leadership and a new Chair, I believe this will be an exciting next chapter in the Out of Joint story and I can’t wait to deliver our vision around the country. We offer a great thanks to the outgoing board members, and in particular our former Chair Iain Gillie, for their service to the company.”

ENDS

Contact: Jon Bradfield
[email protected] / 020 7609 0207
www.outofjoint.co.uk @out_of_joint

Notes:

OUT OF JOINT

Dauntless, political, joyous: Out of Joint develops, produces and tours political, humane and socially engaged shows of outstanding quality, that spark and enrich conversations at kitchen tables around the UK. Passionate about playwrights, we believe that artists should be at the frontier of new ideas, and invest substantially in the development of writers, directors, actors and audiences to ensure that new plays are thriving, presenting them alongside timely revivals and adaptations that offer an exciting lens through which to view the world. Over 24 years we have premiered plays by such writers as Richard Bean, Caryl Churchill, David Hare, Mark Ravenhill and Timberlake Wertenbaker, and performed our shows on six continents.

Out of Joint co-produces with some of the country’s most exciting theatres: Consent by Nina Raine was commissioned by Out of Joint co-produced in a sell-out run at the National Theatre last year. It transfers to the West End in May. Our recent revival of Andrea Dunbar’s Rita, Sue and Bob Too, directed by Artistic Director Kate Wasserberg and co-produced with Octagon Theatre Bolton and the Royal Court, played to 36,000 people on tour. This Autumn, with Sheffield Theatres, the company will produce Kate Bowen’s Close Quarters, a thrilling new military drama set in the near future about the first generation of women in close combat, frontline roles. And next year we present the world premiere of Kazuo Ishiguro’s The Remains of the Day, adapted by Barney Norris, in a co-production with Northampton Theatres in association with Oxford Playhouse.

CLARE LOVETT

Clare’s career has spanned both music and dance, focusing on the development of young people, artists and work with communities.  She established, First Penguin, an arts engagement consultancy in 2015 working with clients from libraries to visual art studios and music development organisations.  Prior to establishing her consultancyClare worked at Spitalfields Music in Tower Hamlets as the Programme Director for Learning & Participation and interim Chief Executive.  She established Musical Rumpus, an opera series for the under 3s, which has toured nationally and internationally to over 3,000 under 5s and their families, as well as producing award winning large-scale community commissions Crowd Out:London and We are Shadows.  Awarded an MA Community Organising from QMUL, her career spans work with The Place, London Philharmonic Orchestra, PRS Foundation/Capital of Culture Hull, NESTA and Arts Council England.  Clare is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and Associate Governor of The Cherry Trees school in Tower Hamlets.  Current clients include Royal Opera House, Hofesh Shechter Company and Barking and Dagenham Council.

 

PRESS RELEASE 19 April 2018

Open auditions to be held by Out of Joint and Sheffield Theatres for new play Close Quarters

Out of Joint and Sheffield Theatres have announced open auditions for all roles in their co-production of Close Quarters, a new play by Kate Bowen. The auditions will be held in Sheffield, Glasgow and London in May and June.

Set in the near future on a British Army base overseas, Close Quarters is a taut drama about the first generation of women in close combat roles, offering audiences a fascinating look at gender politics in the world’s most dangerous workplace. It will play at Sheffield Theatres Studio in October and November, directed by Out of Joint’s artistic director Kate Wasserberg.

Announcing the auditions, Kate Wasserberg said:

“Close Quarters evokes the cameraderie and pressure cooker atmosphere of the best war films, putting women at the centre of that world. Kate Bowen has created a memorable and diverse cast of characters from a range of backgrounds, including several working class squaddies, and open auditions seemed a great way for us to meet actors who will bring both the authenticity and skills we’re looking for, as well giving an opportunity to actors who might not make it to the audition room through more traditional routes. I’m blessed to be working with two wonderful casting directors, Lucy Jenkins and Sooki McShane, who are supporting these auditions as part of our casting process.”

One of the play’s roles demands skills in parkour, the free running-style discipline inspired by military assault courses. And the military setting brings other demands: a second round of auditions will see shortlisted actors put through their paces in a combat workshop with fight directors.

Actors interested in taking part should read the character breakdowns and application instructions on Out of Joint’s website www.outofjoint.co.uk and then apply for an audition slot. Suitable applicants will then be offered a time-slot. Kate and the team will see as many actors as the time allows.

ENDS

Contact: Jon Bradfield, Out of Joint
[email protected] / 0207 609 0207 / 07968762339
T: out_of_joint

Notes to editors:

Full link: www.outofjoint.co.uk/productions/close-quarters-open-auditions

Audition Dates
Sheffield: Tue 15 & Wed 16 May (application deadline Tue 1 May)
Glasgow: Tue 22 & Wed 23 May (application deadline Sun 13 May)
London: Wed 6 & Thu 7 June (application deadline Mon 28 May)
Time-slots and locations will be sent to applicants

Close Quarters plays at Sheffield Theatre Studio from 25 October to 10 November.

Out of Joint

Dauntless, political, joyous: Out of Joint develops, produces and tours political, humane and socially engaged shows of outstanding quality, that spark and enrich conversations at kitchen tables around the UK. Passionate about playwrights, we believe that artists should be at the frontier of new ideas, and invest substantially in the development of writers, directors, actors and audiences to ensure that new plays are thriving, presenting them alongside timely revivals and adaptations that offer an exciting lens through which to view the world. Over 24 years we have premiered plays by such writers as Richard Bean, Caryl Churchill, David Hare, Mark Ravenhill and Timberlake Wertenbaker, and performed our shows on six continents.

Out of Joint co-produces with some of the country’s most exciting theatres: Consent by Nina Raine was commissioned by Out of Joint co-produced in a sell-out run at the National Theatre last year. It transfers to the West End in May. Our recent revival of Andrea Dunbar’s Rita, Sue and Bob Too, directed by Artistic Director Kate Wasserberg and co-produced with Octagon Theatre Bolton and the Royal Court, played to 36,000 people on tour.  This Autumn, with Sheffield Theatres, the company will produce Kate Bowen’s Close Quarters, a military thriller about women soldiers in close combat frontline roles. And next year we present the world premiere of Kazuo Ishiguro’s The Remains of the Day, adapted by Barney Norris, in a co-production with Northampton Theatres in association with Oxford Playhouse.

Sheffield Theatres

Sheffield Theatres is the largest producing theatre complex outside of London, home to three theatres: the Crucible, the Studio and the Lyceum. In recognition of its success in creating new work, its bold approach to new classics and accessible ticketing policy, the Theatre was named Regional Theatre of the Year 2017, by The Stage, for an unprecedented third time, adding to wins in 2013 and 2014. Sheffield Theatres has also celebrated exceptional success at the UK Theatre Awards over the last three years, winning a total of 12 awards. The 2017 UK Theatre Awards included two wins for Everybody’s Talking About Jamie: Best Musical Production and Best Performance in a Musical for John McCrea.

The company produces a diverse programme of work, spanning a range of genres: classical revivals, new work, large-scale musicals and innovative and immersive theatre experiences. It presents the best shows currently on tour in the UK and works with theatre artists locally and nationally to nurture and develop new creative talent.

Upcoming Sheffield Theatres productions include: One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, directed by Resident Associate Director Javaad Alipoor, Love and Information by Caryl Churchill directed by Caroline Steinbeis, and the spring season ends with Songs from the Seven Hills from Sheffield Theatres’ community company, Sheffield People’s Theatre.

Combining classic and contemporary programming with a bold and ambitious approach, Sheffield Theatres has firmly established itself as one of the country’s leading theatres.

Dan Bates is the Chief Executive of Sheffield Theatres. Robert Hastie is the Artistic Director.

www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk @crucibletheatre

 

 

PRESS RELEASE 24 January 2018

Out of Joint launches Writers Room – free writing space for playwrights

Out of Joint, the touring theatre company best known for new writing, is offering playwrights free writing space at their base in North London.

As Artistic Director Kate Wasserberg puts it: “Writing is tough. It can be difficult to find a quiet space, it can be lonely, it can be hard to prioritise, and having to buy a coffee every hour to work in a café can make that an expensive option. And we love writers. So we’ve cleared out our corner office and made it into a Writers Room, and we’re inviting writers who are looking for a quiet but friendly space in which to focus to come and work here.”

Out of Joint is based near Finsbury Park in North London. The Writers Room is equipped with a desk and chair, a rug and Wi-Fi, and has natural light. There’ll be free tea and coffee, and writers will be welcome to chat through their work with the Out of Joint team.

The company’s cats, Andrea and Dunbar, will also be on hand for a cuddle.

The Writers Room is available to one writer at a time, with slots from 5 February 2018. Each writer book up to three weeks of use, which need not be continuous.

ENDS

Booking:
Applicants should email [email protected], putting “Writers Room” in the subject. Tell us a bit about yourself and what you are working on and we’ll take it from there.

Press contact:
Jon Bradfield, 020 7609 0207 / [email protected]

Announcement 23 January 2018

Extra performance of Rita, Sue and Bob Too added.

Due to demand, we’ve added a performance to our otherwise sold out week at the Lawrence Batley Theatre, Huddersfield. This will be at 5.30pm on Friday 2 February. Tickets here.

This page is where we share any recent press releases and other news that is not directly related to our productions. Find out about our shows here.