Contacting the World 2008 Information Sheet
What is Contacting the World?
Contacting the World is a bi-annual, intercultural theatre project on a global scale. It aims to build communication and develop understanding between young people from a diverse range of cultures and backgrounds. It is also strives to push understanding of what theatre is and can be, internationally. Since 2002, young theatre companies have participated from India, Sri Lanka, Nigeria, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Syria, Jordan, Trinidad, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, South Africa, Rwanda and Brazil, and in the UK, London, Manchester, Newcastle, Oldham, Cardiff, Bolton, Cumbernauld, Bradford/Leeds, Liverpool, Leicester, Stirling and County Durham.
What happens?
Theatre companies are randomly twinned (one European group with one non European company) in October 2007. Over the next nine months they develop and devise new theatre pieces, working closely with their partner company. Working collaboratively, they share ideas, methodologies, themes and materials to create twelve new and very different theatre productions. The main method of communication will be via email. There will also be a dedicated website, and a representative from each theatre will be able to take part in an exchange visit with their twinned group. In June 2008 each company will perform its CTW production at home, followed by a performance of the work in the UK in July/August. The eight day long event in the UK will also provide an opportunity to share skills and practice, through practical workshops sessions, discussion forums and other presentations of work.
What factors do I have to consider in making my CTW production?
Contacting the World is a unique project that focuses on international exchange between young theatre makers. Guided by an artist facilitator you will be expected to create a new piece of theatre that’s different to work you have created before. You may be twinned with a company with a very different background and experience to your own and you will be expected to be really open to the cross fertilisation, exchange and genuine collaboration of ideas. Creative exchange with your twinned company should be embedded
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into your production. Exchange could include methodological, material, inspirational and thematic ideas and approaches. Your production will be performed in the UK on the same evening, as part of a double bill with your twinned theatre. The get in and dress rehearsal will be on the same day for both companies so set and technical requirements will have to be minimal. Your final production should be no longer than one hour in length.
Who organises it?
Contact in Manchester has developed Contacting the World since 2002. Contact is one of the UK’s leading arts organisations working with young people. It aims to create a new vision of theatre by and for young adults (ages 13 +). It is renowned for its commitment to new work, diverse audiences and young people. CTW 2004 was co-produced with the British Council as part of the Connecting Future’s initiative. CTW 2006 was funded by the Arts Council of England. Contacting has also been awarded quality status by UNESCO’s International Fund for the Promotion of Culture.
What’s new for 2008?
In 2008, Contacting the World will be produced in a brand new location in Liverpool as a special highlight of the city’s 2008 European Capital of Culture Celebrations. We will be collaborating closely with a new set of partners and host organisations to create this exciting new development to Contacting the World. Also linking with Liverpool’s Cities on the Edge programme, we will be looking to involve companies who are creating work on the “edge”. This could include work that is created on the artistic, social, geographical or political edge.
What are its aims?
To create theatre that is genuinely intercultural and different to work companies have created before To facilitate international exchange between young theatre makers To devise and produce new work by young people To improve young people’s performance skills and vocabulary To develop the use of new technologies as a tool for international creative exchange To create a legacy for the project beyond its timescale To provide an international platform and profile for theatre made by young people To provide a forum for a range of international practitioners working with young people to create theatre. To stimulate new ideas about the processes of exchange in global theatre.
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How do we communicate?
The majority of communication for Contacting the World is through email and the internet. If you do not have access to the internet, this will not exclude you from participating. We will help you gain access to the internet either through your local British Council Office or other sources. However, it is important that you make a commitment to ensuring that regular communication with your twin company takes place. Participating companies may speak in a variety of languages. While the common language of the project will be English, Contacting the World welcomes applications to participate from non English speaking companies and we will help with translation facilities whenever we can.
What is the purpose of the exchange visit?
The exchange visit provides an opportunity to increase your understanding of your twin company’s work by visiting and meeting the company at its home site. Contacting the World will fund this visit by one member of your company (this must be a young person involved in the company). You can use the visits to further develop your ideas for your production as well as share your skills with your twinned company. The visit will last for approximately five days including travel. You will also host a visit by a member of your twinned company.
Who can apply to take part?
Any group of young theatre makers aged between 15 and 25 years of age. The minimum number of participants is 6, maximum 15. The company must be able to work on the project between October 2007 and July 2008 and to perform at a home site in June and in the UK in July.
How can I get selected to participate?
Interested companies that fit the eligibility criteria are invited to submit an application to the Contacting the World Steering Group. There is a two stage selection process beginning with the submission of the written application form. Initial selection of companies will be made by a panel consisting of representatives from the Arts Council of England, The British Council, Contact, former companies and young artists. The criteria for selection will include: The role young people have in creating the work The groundbreaking nature of your work. You must be able to demonstrate how your work is innovative and what you can contribute to other artists selected to be part of CTW. This can be through your artistic product, how you are organised, how you recruit and work with other young people or your aims in creating theatre. Commitment and ability to engage in the full CTW collaborative process
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Applicants who are successful after the first stage will be invited to take part in a second stage. The second stage of the application process will involve a practical activity. More information about this activity will be sent to applicants after successful first round selection. The selection panel will also be looking to choose a diverse range of companies reflecting a variety of work by young people from different, social, economic, artistic and cultural backgrounds.
What is the deadline for applications?
Please complete, sign and return the application form by post to Contact before Friday 4th May 2007.
Can I send supporting materials?
Yes. DVDs, videos, photos or other records of your work are welcome.
If I took part in CTW 2002 or CTW 2004 can I reapply?
Unfortunately due to demand we will no longer accept applications from previous companies who have participated in Contacting the World. However If you have formed a new company with different members since your involvement in CTW, this new company will be eligible to apply. Alternatively, please forward this information to other theatre makers you know. We also hope to develop new opportunities for former CTW companies to get involved.
What is the timescale?
Applicants who have been successful after the first round will be informed by Friday 18th May. The second stage application process will need to be completed by Friday 22nd June. Final decisions on selection of the twelve participating companies will be made by Friday 6th July. Theatres will be twinned in September and will start collaborating from October 2007 until July 2008. Between January and March 2008, representatives from each company will take part in an exchange visit to its twinned theatre. Home site performances will take place in June with the final performance week in late July or early August (exact date to be confirmed).
What do I have to provide?
A theatre group which meets the above criteria. A new production inspired by the exchange with a twinned theatre company All production costs for the home site performance A workshop devised and hosted by your company members for presentation during CTW Marketing costs for home site performances.
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A representative (a young participant) to travel to the twinned theatre’s country A welcome and programme of activity for a member from the twinned theatre company A representative to attend meetings and launches as necessary Regular company meetings/sessions Regular access to the internet for all members, or a commitment to working with Contacting the World to develop a means of exchange between participants in the twinned companies. Travel to the UK festival destination from home site.
If I am travelling from outside the UK, can I get help with my travel costs?
You will need to contact your local British Council office to discuss possible support for your participation in CTW 2008. We will work closely with yourself and the British Council to help identify and raise funds for travel and visa related costs.
What demands will be made on our company?
You will be expected to stay in regular contact with your twin (weekly) and Contacting the World’s Administrator (weekly). At times activity will be demanding with particularly busy times of activity in December, March and April onwards.
What will Contacting the World provide?
Project co-ordination and support Creative facilitation Expenses for an exchange visit to a twinned theatre group for one person Accommodation and hospitality for your company for the week long Festival event Venues for your performances and workshops at the Festival Technical and production support at the Festival Marketing support A dedicated website
Who are the key contacts?
Your twinned theatre company Project Director Administrator Artist Facilitator(s) Marketing Officer
Who can I contact to find out more about CTW?
You can contact the Project Director at juliaturpin@contact-theatre.org
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or on 0161 274 0631. A DVD documenting Contacting the World 2006 can be sent out on request.
Can I still get involved if I am not selected?
Yes. Contacting the World in July 2008 is a public event which is becoming an increasingly important feature in the international theatre calendar. All performances last year sold out with a growing demand for public workshops developing. Group bookings can also be arranged.
IMPORTANT NOTICE
We are currently working hard to fundraise for Contacting the World 2008. The results of our main funding applications will be known by July 2007. Although we are confident about the outcome, we will not be able to confirm that the project will go ahead until we have heard from these key funders. As soon as we have any new information we will inform companies who are selected to participate.
Visit the CTW discussion forum at www.contact-theatre.org for up to date news on the project or log on to www.contactingtheworld.org for information on CTW 2006.
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