Northern Young Theatre Makers LAUNCH Careers at Industry Showcase at Unity Theatre
9 emerging artists and companies will showcase their talents at the first ever LAUNCH Industry Showcase at Unity Theatre this March.
The event will be attended by a host of established artists, producers, artistic directors and other industry professionals with the aim of connecting the talent of the future with them.
The showcase will include presentations and performances demonstrating how each artist and company has developed their art-forms and brand identity, as well as detailing the projects they have in development as a direct result of the LAUNCH programme.
20 Stories High, in partnership with the Unity Theatre, introduced LAUNCH, a brand-new professional development programme for emerging theatre makers in Merseyside, in summer 2018.
Funded by Arts Council England, its main mission is to equip emerging artists, theatre-makers and brand-new companies with the right tools to enable them to launch a career in the arts.
The first LAUNCH Academy members have undergone a rigorous 6-month training and development programme with a wide range of industry professionals and organisations including Arts Council England, Sky Television, Young Vic, the Regional Theatre’s Young Directors Scheme, Contact, Sundae PR and the 20 Stories High and Unity staff teams.
The LAUNCH Academy artists presenting at the showcase are:
Amina Atiq – a Yemeni-Scouse Writer, Performance Artist and Activist
Kitchen Sink Live – Youth Theatre Company led by Co-Artistic Directors Abby Melia & Bradley Thompson
Paislie Reid – Actor, Theatre-Maker and Facilitator
Anita Welsh – Writer, Creative Producer and Consultant
Chris Maylor (aka Renegrade) – Beatbox Performer and Workshop Facilitator
Joe Taylor – Spoken Word Artist
Meg McFarlane – Co-Director of Jack of All Trades theatre
Raven Radha – Multi-Disciplinary Artist
Steph Peet – Director of Unorthodox Theatre
Kitchen Sink Live, a new youth theatre company on the programme said:
“LAUNCH has been like university for emerging artists, but all covered in 6 months… and it didn’t cost us a penny. Now we feel equipped and empowered to kick-start a sustainable career in the arts.”
Award-winning 20 Stories High, a theatre company that has championed diversity in the arts since 2006, aims to tackle the under-representation of working class and culturally diverse artists by offering the professional development programme entirely free of charge.
20 Stories High’s Co-Artistic Director Keith Saha says:
“LAUNCH formalises our commitment to investing in the development of new practitioners over a wide-ranging four-year programme. It’s part of a national movement in the industry and we’re proud to be working with other arts organisations to find creative ways to support emerging artists under-represented in the arts.”
“That’s why we’ve delivered LAUNCH in partnership with Unity Theatre and a range of industry experts that have shared their knowledge with the Academy. Liverpool and the North West are leading the way with strong partnerships that help protect the diversity and future of our industry in the wake of austerity.”
The LAUNCH Industry Showcase will take place at Unity Theatre, Liverpool on Wednesday 20 March at 5pm.
The event is by invitation only. If you are an industry professional with an interest in emerging talent and would like to attend, contact LAUNCH Programme Co-ordinator Lucy Graham on 0151 708 9728 or lucy@20storieshigh.org.uk
For more visit: www.20storieshigh.org.uk/launch