CALLOUT TO ARTISTS

Cumbernauld Theatre Trust is looking to support a new interpretation of a classic Christmas or Winter story to be created and presented as our Main Stage production in December 2023.

We love a great story and so telling a good story should be at the heart of the experience you want to create for our audiences. Is there a story that you and your team are yearning to tell next festive season? What story do you think audiences will be excited to hear in Cumbernauld?

What we are looking for

We’re looking for daring and theatrical approaches to telling a well-known recognised story. It will be a story you love and believe in your heart that audiences in Cumbernauld will love too. It will be a story and production that appeals to family and school audiences. It may have puppets, it may have live musicians and dance, it may have live and recorded digital camera work, it may have no set whatsoever – it’s your idea. We just need to know what you are thinking and why you want to tell your story this way.

What we need to know

We’re looking for teams of creatives living and working in Scotland to articulate to us their approach to creating this Christmas production – with artistic idea development, script commissioning, and/or your devising process clearly defined. We want to hear: 

  • how your idea can be accessible and artistic, how it will be Scottish at its core but international in its appeal 
  • how you have given thought to the community the work is being made for and how the work will relate to our community 
  • how your idea relates to the community in Cumbernauld and North Lanarkshire and at the same time embody universally/internationally recognised themes 
  • how you will celebrate the cultural diversity of the audience as much as the story’s content – and we are keen to know how diverse voices will shape the work you want to make. 

First and foremost, we want to support a great idea for a great show. We welcome those with lots, or a little professional theatre making experience to submit ideas. As long as you can show us you have a level of professional experience that will allow you to realise your artistic and ambitious idea.

How to tell us

Tell us on no more than three pages of A4 (or by video – no more than 7 mins in length):

  • what story you want to tell and why it might appeal to audiences during the festive season 
  • how you plan to turn it into a piece of theatre – let us know what theatrical form, shape, structure, style, your show will take. Help us understand the type of show you want it to become and why 
  • a timeline for making the piece – who is in the creative team (at this stage) and what makes them the best fit for this production. If you’re whole team isn’t in place, just articulate what your next steps might be and why 
  • how you will ensure that diversity is being recognised and celebrated 
  • You may include any other information (eg CVs, reviews of previous work, examples of work) but do help make sure your main submission articulates all we’ve asked for. 

Application guidelines

  • Cast size should be between 2 to 4 performers 
  • Audience demographic: 5yrs to 105yrs, Schools, families – mums and dads and grandparents etc. 
  • To be in line with Cumbernauld Theatre’s mission statement (see below) 
  • Rehearsal period – Monday 30 October to Saturday 25 November 2023 
  • Performance run dates – Sat 25 November to Saturday 30 December 2023 
  • Cast size should be between 2 to 4 performers 
  • Audience demographic: 5yrs to 105yrs, Schools, families – mums and dads and grandparents etc. 
  • To be in line with Cumbernauld Theatre’s mission statement (see below) 
  • Rehearsal period – Monday 30 October to Saturday 25 November 2023 
  • Performance run dates – Sat 25 November to Saturday 30 December 2023 

What the selected artists receive

  • A professional production in our Main House auditorium (277 seats) 
  • A budget to cover all artist fees, performers, technical and production costs 
  • Access to clean, comfortable rehearsal space for 3-4 weeks 
  • Dressing room and Greenroom access 
  • Technical rehearsal week in our main auditorium 
  • Producer support from Cumbernauld Theatre from planning stages to production 
  • Technical support from our in-house team 
  • Marketing support from our in-house team 
  • Artistic support and guidance from an Executive Producer

How to submit

Submissions should be sent to our Creative Producer, Fraser Morrison on fmorrison@cumbernauldtheatre.co.uk no later than 5pm on Monday 17 October 2022. 
 
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to present their proposal on Monday 31 October 2022. The invitations to Pitch will be issued no later than Monday 24 October giving applicants one week to prepare. Please note all creative teams invited to take part in the pitch sessions will be paid £65 per pitch.

About Cumbernauld Theatre at Lanternhouse – Mission Statement

Cumbernauld Theatre is a performing arts charity that produces and presents theatre, music, dance and comedy for the community of Cumbernauld and North Lanarkshire. 

From our new arts centre, Lanternhouse, based on the Cumbernauld Academy Campus, we deliver an all engaging and professional programme for the entertainment, enjoyment, and enrichment of our diverse community. 

Cumbernauld’s new cultural home is a friendly and welcoming centre for inclusive community creativity, for performance practice innovation and experimentation in production. The venue is a platform for Cumbernauld Theatre’s in-house productions and co-productions, for leading visiting theatre, dance, music and comedy performers and multi-disciplinary creatives. 

Working at the heart of our community we are building creativity, broadening perspectives, supporting community cohesion, enhancing life experiences and investing in performance arts skills development for a creative, innovative, fairer Scotland. 

For more details visit our About Us pages.

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