Preview: NORTH Festival at Newcastle Northern Stage

NORTH Festival

Newcastle Northern Stage

Tuesday 4^th – Saturday 8^th June 2019

NORTH Festival is a new industry event offering practical advice and skills development to North East artists, theatre makers and producers.  Led by artists and industry professionals from across the performing arts sector and beyond, Northern Stage will host a week of industry focused talks, workshops and professional development sessions as part of its ongoing programme of industry support in the North East.

• Led by artists and industry professionals from national and regional companies incl. Northern Stage, National Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company, Audible and the BFI

• Pay What You Decide tickets go on sale Wednesday 24 April 

NORTH Festival is for artists, theatre-makers and producers - both early-career and more established. It’s a chance to make new connections, brush up on skills and get practical advice on developing a career in the arts. National and regional industry experts will run sessions offering practical advice on a range of subjects including auditions, producing a festival, funding your project, motion capture acting, avoiding the pitfalls of working in entertainment, directing and casting.

Companies leading sessions include the National Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company, the BFI, Regional Theatre Young Director’s Scheme, Equity, Arts Council England, Janet Plater Management, Independent Theatre Council, Sam Claypole Casting and the MoCap Vaults with more speakers to be confirmed.

Northern Stage Associate Director Mark Calvert said, “NORTH Festival is all about opening doors and creating opportunities. The sessions all have a focus on practical advice to help your career in the arts, hosted by some truly brilliant and generous companies from the North East and across the rest of UK. But beyond the learning and skills developed during the sessions, the festival is just as much about making new connections, meeting people, discovering new opportunities and inspiring your next project. I can’t wait for it to get started!” 

Tickets go on sale on Wednesday 24 April and will be Pay What You Decide, giving participants the opportunity to make a donation of what they decide they want to, or can afford to, pay. The only exception is the MoCap Vaults session on Saturday 8 June which costs £20 but a whole day course like this would normally cost over £100.

Northern Stage is committed to supporting, development and showcasing of independent artists, empowering individuals and companies to further their careers and strengthening the arts infrastructure in North East England.  The company has pioneered a number of initiatives as part of its talent development programme, including launching an associate artists programme in 2018 to support established artists alongside its NORTH programme for emerging artists.

Tickets:

NORTH Festival will run from Tuesday 4^th – Saturday 8^th June 2019 at Northern Stage in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. For event listings, more information or to book a place visit www.northernstage.co.uk/north-festival call the box office on 0191 230 5151.