Convenor: Katie Day
Participants included: Gareth, Kate K, Claire, Steve J, Phil, Laura McDermott, Paul Warwick
Notes:
About a brand?
Look at NTS & NTW – they have proved it can work on a national level
Its kind of like what the REP are doing this year.
Using existing theatre venues
Start from the ground
exciting things about NTW: – range of places they do things, different kind of work. Does the fact that they are not in a building free them up to be diverse in their output. Genuine community engagement – that’s the point of not being in a building. Can’t just parachute in & dump it.
If going to the theatre building is one of the main obstacles for audiences accessing theatre, then taking it out has to be a plus for audience development.
A national & international institution. – based in WM.
NTW is nation building. In this case its building regional identity.
Cross fertilisation between city based and countryside based work. Bring one to the other. Exchange. Celebration of the geographical diversity of the region.
There is work happening that is like this – but gathering under an umbrella & becoming more than the sum of its parts.
People respond to an intitution – an umbrella to brand it. A core idea.
Why would audiences engage with national theatre’s work? – all reasons – personal connections, local, brand, writer or play.
A profile raising strategy for theatre in the midlands
Carl Chinn should not be the face of it!!
What is the region? West midlands? Larger? Midlands inc East Mids?
How can we increase our visibility of WM theatre nationally & internationally. – can an umbrella organisation bring more headlines.
But that only works with curation – trust in the quality.
Who is in and who is out? Who choose?
How do you keep it open at the bottom end? A rolling scheme? For one year 5 companies are the NT of West Mids.
Who is it for? Artists or audiences?
HAS to be for both.
A visionary Artistic Director – who can bring in the right expertise to make the best quality work with and for communities.
What the REP is doing now is actually this (a NT of West Mids). Just not what I have in mind.
Should go en-masse to visit the new REP director.
Is it about just work that doesn’t happen on stages? No.
Site -specific stuff can be too ephemeral. Any way to make more of it?
The Traverse events during the fesival – a venue, but all over the city. Good marketing activities during the fest.
Behna with the REP. – sells out too. Increase capacity.
How is that like BCT & rural touring schemes?
The BCT branding works on that sales level. A wide range of stuff is offered, and a much narrower stuff gets picked. They give local promoters support. People trust you to give that support. The way they work is not telling the promoters what to have. It can limit it. Its important that they choose, as they will bring their audience.
Actions:
AP – Invite Roxanne new REP Artistic Director to have a meet and greet with Midpoint – tie it in with First Bite? BE Festival. – something usefully neutral about AE harris.
Show hospitality.
