Founded in 1972, Contact Manchester has played a vital role in engaging artistically with its local community. A theatre particularly committed to supporting the young leaders of tomorrow, the multi-disciplinary venue continues on with its mission of placing the voices of the younger generation to the fore – its mission to place young people at the heart of decision making and help decide the artistic programme. Having been associated with Contact from the age of 15, poet, performance artist and producer Keisha Thompson has recently been announced as the venue’s incoming Artistic Director and CEO. The artist now gearing up to help programme the venue’s 50th birthday from June. Keisha tells us more about how she feels and what her hopes are for the theatre moving forward!

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The Jerwood Compton Poetry Fellowship awards poets funding to help support their creative practice for the year. Awarded to talented practitioners who have been recognised as being able to open up poetry to new audiences, making the form a lot more accessible to all, the award concludes its five year run with its third and final round of recipients. One of three to receive the final round of awards, which also follows their Evening Standard Future Theatre Fund Award win in Directing/Theatre-Making earlier on this year, scriptwriter/screenwriter and essayist Jamie Hale continues to inspire and trailblaze. Having just hosted CRIPtic Pit Party at the Barbican, a culmination of a year long programme run by his CRIPtic Arts organisation supporting d/Deaf artists and having published his pamphlet Shield about disability, treatment prioritisation and the COVID-19 pandemic last year, Jamie looks forward to continuing exploring various pertinent within his practice. Jamie tells us more about what it means to have won the award!

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Founded in 1997 by British Nigerian actor Femi Elifowuju Jr, tiata fahodzi, meaning ‘theatre of the emancipated’, has been a leading force in regards to producing works placing the British African experience centre stage. Nearly 25 years on, their initiatives expanding on this crucial mission. Previous Artistic Director alumni including critically acclaimed actor Lucian Msamati, and current Artistic Director and CEO of the Northern Stage Theatre Natalie Ibu. Leading tiata fahodzi into their next chapter, critically acclaimed theatre and screenwriter Chinonyerem Odimba has recently announced a new Executive Director and Board of Trustees. Chinonyerem Tells us more about the appointment and what her hopes are for the theatre company moving forward.

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As the industry continues on the roadmap to recovery a year post the pandemic, we’re reminded of just how crucial the arts are in terms of bringing communities together, wellbeing and creativity. In a year that has brought with it various challenges and difficulties for many, it’s a case of rebuilding a more hopeful and sustainable future. Committed to supporting a mid scale production suitable for both a live and digital space, Arch 468 present the Arch 468 Hope Prize, a £10,000 commission supporting a creative team realise a new work offering the vision of hope. Artistic Director Rebecca Atkinson-Lord tells us more about the award.

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Courtesy of Smart Banda.

With theatre becoming increasingly more accessible to view online, this has opened up the possibility for cross cultural collaborations and audiences to watch performances they perhaps wouldn’t have been aware of before. Renowned for staging works showcasing the diversity of African culture, Artistic Director of Utopia Theatre Mojisola Elufowoju has introduced a season of rehearsed readings, each one off events taking place monthly, introducing to viewers a range of important African works. Ahead of the season’s second show ‘And the Girls in their Sunday Dresses’ by Zakes Mda, Mojisola tells us more about what inspired her to curate the shows chosen for the readings, how she’s approached creating work for the digital stage and what to expect from the season.

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Welcoming the next phase of Jacksons Lane’s architectural and artistic journey, Artistic Director Ade Berry and Executive Director Monique Deletant realise the venue’s vision of becoming ‘welcoming, inspiring, accessible, visible, inviting and reflective of its personality and ambition’ – a vision brought to life by architects Citizens Design Bureau. Currently under redevelopment, Ade and Monique tell us more about what to expect from the newly redeveloped venue.

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Set on empowering the next generation of artistic leaders, Artistic Directors of the Future, founded by award winning founder and artistic director Simeilia Hodge-Dallaway seeks to demystify leadership roles; ‘celebrating the Black, Asian, Middle Eastern and Ethnic Minority talent which exists in our community.’ Formed 6 years ago, the charity’s impact has been significant within the theatre industry, conversations geared towards diversifying leadership a key factor in regards to advocating for change. Reflecting on the charity’s impact so far, Simeilia tells us more about the organisation’s journey, their Board Shadowing programme and Diversifying Boards event and her hopes for the organisation moving forward.

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An opportunity for leaders across industries to connect on a global scale, International Leadership Week, taking place from Tuesday 16th until Thursday 19th November 2020 will offer insight into how best to achieve effective leadership. A digital initiative encouraging inclusivity and transparency – the week looks to inspire, celebrate great leadership and bring about changes. Driven by inspiring social change within her work, Cut the Cord’s Artistic Director Camilla Gürtler, in collaboration with Nordic Council of Ministers will present a trio of podcasts connecting Nordic and UK leaders on how best to achieve sustainability within the arts. An advocate of the Nordic model of sustainability, having started to explore this within her work, Camilla tells us more about what to expect from the conversations.

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Marking its 50th year, the Young Vic celebrates with a year-long programme paying homage to the venue’s legacy of creating ‘an experimental workshop for authors, actors and producers’ as well as factoring in affordability. Established by Royal National Theatre Associate Director Frank Dunlop, successive Artistic Directors Michael Bogdanov, David Thacker, Julia Bardsley and Tim Supple, Tim Supple, David Lan and now currently Kwame Kwei-Armah have shaped the venue into what it is today. Commemorating the past as well as envisioning the venue’s future, Kwame tells us more about the venue’s initial programme, possible plans for a block party to mark the important milestone and his hopes for the theatre moving forward.

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An exploration of the Universal Credit System, Laura Lindow’s pertinent show Credit utilises research gathered by various organisations in Gateshead and Newcastle as well as the experiences of people on Universal Credit to start up a conversation and examine whether the system benefits those its meant to support. Initially programmed for April earlier on this year, Credit will be exclusively previewed online on Tuesday 16th September, followed by Q & As discussing this important topic further. Ahead of the streaming, Cap-a-Pie Theatre’s Artistic Director Brad McCormick tells us how he’s worked with Laura to develop the show, developing the show during this unpredictable time and the importance of the Q & A aspect of the preview.

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