What is The Playground?

<aside> ⭐ The Playground is a monthly space for theatre-makers of all kinds to explore, create, and PLAY. Each session is led by theatre-maker with an idea to explore or skill to develop, like:

• R&D of a new show by a director or writer
• Shakespeare workshop led by a a facilitator looking to get more experience
• Mock music call led by a new musical director

Think of it like a co-op: someone can be a Player in a clowning workshop one week, and a Leader of their own session teaching songs from Hadestown the next week. We’re all Leaders and we’re all Players.

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For Leaders

• Try out new ideas
• Receive feedback and support
• Practice leading a workshop
• Gain confidence
• Get testimonials
• Film for performance and funding applications

For Players

• Learn new skills & techniques
• Stretch your acting muscles
• Experience the R&D process
• Practice your craft
• Get back in a learning environment (anyone else miss drama school?)
• Explore roles you wouldn’t normally play
• Be part of new work and add it to your CV!

For Everyone

• Try new things!
• Learn!
• Make friends!
• Network!
• Play!
• Get inspired!

How does it work?

(Here’s a good biology word for you) It’s SYMBIOTIC 😎

Everyone contributes, everyone wins!

For people starting out in any role in theatre, it can be really tough to get enough experience to get started. You need experience to get experience!

AND

It’s tough to afford ongoing training!

That’s where we come in.

Someone has an idea for a session they want to run, we schedule it, and they’re the Leader. People come and play. They’re the… Players.

This isn’t a “serious teacher who is completely separate from the lowly students” sort of thing. No, we’re all on an equal playing field here — the Leader is helping Players develop their skills, and the Players are doing the same thing for the Leader.

How much does it cost?

It’s free! For everyone! (Provided we can get a free space. Otherwise it will be a liiiittle bit of money from everyone just to cover that.)

Who are the Leaders?

Anyone! Everyone! Could it be you? We invite anyone who has an idea they want to explore to apply to lead a session. We can help facilitate if you’d like some support, or we can be totally hands off if you’re confident and gung-ho. We anticipate Leaders often being directors, writers, and facilitators, and we’re wide open to other ideas!

Do a lot of things? Feel free to run an R&D for one session, and come back and lead an actor-muso improv game for another (or whatever the many things you do are).

<aside> ⭐ If you lead a session, we ask you to continue the cycle and attend at least one other session as a Player (but we bet you’ll want to come to more than one).

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<aside> ⭐ ****Making work shouldn’t require funding, or being 18-25 years old. The Playground aims to support working class theatre-makers of all ages.

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Who is The Playground for?

Actors, musicians, directors, writers, facilitators, and theatre-makers of all kinds! And we encourage wearing many hats. We’re a many-hatted people.

Who are the Players?

Anyone! Everyone! Could it be you? … but really. Whether you’ve been to drama school or not, all we ask is that you come with an open mind and be willing to play.

Ways to Play

These are just a starting point — if you have an idea for something else you’d like to do, please share it with us!

R&D