plus and an Extended Artist Support Programme.
Oxford Playhouse is committed to discovering, nurturing and promoting the best emerging creative talent from Oxfordshire and beyond.
The Playhouse Evolve Artists-in-Residence programme sits at the heart of the theatre’s Artist Development programme. Now in its sixth year, Evolve supports emerging and mid-career theatre artists and companies by providing rehearsal space, seed funding for projects and assistance with research and development, alongside mentoring and advice from the Playhouse team.
Previous residencies include UK Theatre Award-winners Chris Bush and Matt Winkworth, Olivier nominated writer-performer Caroline Horton, founder of the award-winning company Opera Up-Close, Robin Norton-Hale, critically acclaimed performer Lanre Malaolu, and local companies Flintlock Theatre, Justice In Motion and Kuumba Nia Arts.
Today, Oxford Playhouse is delighted to announce its Evolve Artists 2020/2021, appointed in April:
Sarah Blanc– Irish choreographer and performer.
Evie Fehilly – Drag king, queen and winner of man up! 2019.
Jennifer Jackson – British/Bolivian theatre-maker, movement director and actor.
Sabrina Richmond – Performer, writer and emerging director.
Jennifer Jackson commented:
“I am thrilled to be an Evolve Artist In Residence, and am excited to be working with the Oxford Playhouse and their communities over the next year, especially at a time where assembly is challenged, and we are all looking to find new ways for meaningful connections within our communities“
‘Laura Elliot, Programme Director commented:
“We are hugely excited to be working with these exceptionally talented artists over the next year. They were all selected for their willingness to embrace artistic risk and their ambition to work in partnership with communities, both of which are at the core of Oxford Playhouse’s vision. Each artist has a history of working with diverse communities that is hugely inspiring, and we are looking forward to supporting them in creating work that puts this ethos at the centre.”
Since their appointment in April, the 20/21 Evolve artists have received online one-to-one and group mentoring alongside planning support for interim and future projects.
The current pandemic is having a devastating effect on artists and arts organisations all around the country, and, in response to this, Oxford Playhouse have adapted and extended their vision for artist development. They wish to support as many artists as possible through this difficult time and provide a platform to keep people connected.
In order to achieve this, they have extended mentoring support to previous Evolve artists, Oxfordshire based artists, and an additional four companies from this years’ Evolve applicants:
Todos Teatros
On the Run
WhatNot Theatre
Clodhopper
Oxford Playhouse aims to create a peer to peer support network of past, present and potential future Evolve artists, as well as artists who are Oxfordshire based, to enable them to collaborate, connect and share ideas, experience and practices during social distancing.
They encourage anyone who feels that they would benefit from this scheme now or in the future to get in touch via email: artistdevelopment@oxfordplayhouse.com
