Lyn Gardner featured as a speaker at Takeoff Festival last week. Here are her thoughts on the damage that proposed arts cuts will do:
Want to know the damage arts cuts could do? Visit Darlington
Wednesday, 17 November 2010
Wednesday, 10 November 2010
Countdown to Takeoff!
Friends and colleagues are arriving at Darlington Arts Centre in advance of tomorrow's Takeoff Festival, the 23rd Takeoff and the third consecutive festival hosted with our partners at Darlington Arts Centre.
Takeoff is a celebration of the best of children's theatre from the UK and abroad and a meeting place for the sector to come together to discuss the issues that face us as makers, funders, promoters and programmers of theatre for young audiences.
The festival is packed to the brim with treats, a sell-out with more delegates attending than ever before, but it is sadly overshadowed by the news of proposals from Darlington Borough Council of the plans to remove the Council's subsidy of the arts by 100%. This will almost certainly mean the sale or closure of both the Arts Centre and the Civic Theatre.
The partnerships at Darlington Arts Centre have ensured a brilliant offer for children and young people through Theatre Hullabaloo, National Association of Youth Theatres and the professional programme of theatre in the Arts Centre which will be lost to Darlington if an alternative venue is not secured. Theatre Hullabaloo will need a new home and we will need to take the festival with us. This is sad for us and for the local schools, children and families that have inspired our work, but it is particularly sad for future generations of Darlington children and young people who have had such a uniquely excellent arts offer, particularly through Takeoff, that has not directly cost the Council a penny, but has benefited so many.
The savagery of the cuts to Local Authority budgets, in combination with nearly 30% cut to funds distributed by the Arts Council, will hit arts provision of all kinds across the country and we will be much the poorer for the loss of a local arts centre, the closure of a rural touring company, the reduction in youth theatre provision. We must reinvent and refocus ourselves in response to this new climate and much good will come from the creative thinking that is needed to salvage the best of what we have achieved.
In the light of the extent of Darlington Council's cuts to its arts provision it is difficult, however, to escape the fact that these cuts are an attack on the very essence of our communities, that precious place where we can come together to dream of a better world. We need that place now more than ever. Miranda.
Takeoff is a celebration of the best of children's theatre from the UK and abroad and a meeting place for the sector to come together to discuss the issues that face us as makers, funders, promoters and programmers of theatre for young audiences.
The festival is packed to the brim with treats, a sell-out with more delegates attending than ever before, but it is sadly overshadowed by the news of proposals from Darlington Borough Council of the plans to remove the Council's subsidy of the arts by 100%. This will almost certainly mean the sale or closure of both the Arts Centre and the Civic Theatre.
The partnerships at Darlington Arts Centre have ensured a brilliant offer for children and young people through Theatre Hullabaloo, National Association of Youth Theatres and the professional programme of theatre in the Arts Centre which will be lost to Darlington if an alternative venue is not secured. Theatre Hullabaloo will need a new home and we will need to take the festival with us. This is sad for us and for the local schools, children and families that have inspired our work, but it is particularly sad for future generations of Darlington children and young people who have had such a uniquely excellent arts offer, particularly through Takeoff, that has not directly cost the Council a penny, but has benefited so many.
In the light of the extent of Darlington Council's cuts to its arts provision it is difficult, however, to escape the fact that these cuts are an attack on the very essence of our communities, that precious place where we can come together to dream of a better world. We need that place now more than ever. Miranda.
Tuesday, 28 September 2010
An Extra Pair of Hands
We are lucky enough to have the help of Anni Butler, a student at Dartington College of Art, as an intern during one of our busiest times of the year!
Anni is doing a degree in Devised Theatre and she contacted us earlier in the year with an interest in learning more about young people's theatre and the use of theatre to aid development in the very young.
The timing couldn't be better as we are currently in the middle of rehearsals for our delightful new show for 3 - 5 year olds, a stage adaptation of the much-loved picture book, The Night Pirates. We are also in the busy run up to Takeoff Festival 2010, for which tickets are selling out fast.
Learn more about Anni's experience here at Theatre Hullabaloo by following her blog.
Here are some of the photos Anni has taken during The Night Pirates rehearsals.
Anni is doing a degree in Devised Theatre and she contacted us earlier in the year with an interest in learning more about young people's theatre and the use of theatre to aid development in the very young.
The timing couldn't be better as we are currently in the middle of rehearsals for our delightful new show for 3 - 5 year olds, a stage adaptation of the much-loved picture book, The Night Pirates. We are also in the busy run up to Takeoff Festival 2010, for which tickets are selling out fast.
Learn more about Anni's experience here at Theatre Hullabaloo by following her blog.
Here are some of the photos Anni has taken during The Night Pirates rehearsals.
Wednesday, 1 September 2010
BOOK YOUR TICKET FOR TAKEOFF 2010 NOW!!!
Takeoff Festival is the annual sector-development festival for those working in the field of theatre for young audiences. We invite a range of companies from the UK and abroad to present their work and provide a forum for debate and comparison to raise awareness of the achievement and potential of our field amongst funders, producers and promoters.
There are four routes to choose from at this year's festival and delegate packages are £150 each.
EARLY BOOKING DISCOUNT
10% discount if you book your place before 10th September
(maximum of five tickets per organisation)
Monday, 5 July 2010
Takeoff Festival Successfully Launched!
Takeoff 2010 was launched at LIFT (London International Festival of Theatre) on Friday 2nd July.
Miranda and Lucy embarked on the 'long' train journey to London (it's actually only 2 and a half hours from Darlington on the right train) to attend a panel discussion on Theatre For Young Audiences: An International Perspective. Presented by LIFT, TYA-UK and Takeoff Festival, the event was a unique opportunity to find out about and discuss international perspectives in theatre for young audiences. The discussion also included a presentation by Miranda and Steve Ball, the festival programmer, to launch this year's Takeoff Festival.
For those of you who don't already know, TAKEOFF FESTIVAL is the annual sector-development festival for those working in the field of theatre for young audiences. We invite a range of companies from the UK and abroad to present their work and provide a forum for debate and comparison to raise awareness of the achievement and potential of our field amongst funders, producers and promoters.
Miranda and Lucy embarked on the 'long' train journey to London (it's actually only 2 and a half hours from Darlington on the right train) to attend a panel discussion on Theatre For Young Audiences: An International Perspective. Presented by LIFT, TYA-UK and Takeoff Festival, the event was a unique opportunity to find out about and discuss international perspectives in theatre for young audiences. The discussion also included a presentation by Miranda and Steve Ball, the festival programmer, to launch this year's Takeoff Festival.For those of you who don't already know, TAKEOFF FESTIVAL is the annual sector-development festival for those working in the field of theatre for young audiences. We invite a range of companies from the UK and abroad to present their work and provide a forum for debate and comparison to raise awareness of the achievement and potential of our field amongst funders, producers and promoters.
Takeoff is an important part of Theatre Hullabaloo's offer as a member of the European Small Size network. Each year we work with our colleagues from the UK and beyond to present a programme of work within the festival that focuses particularly on theatre for the very youngest. Takeoff 2010 retains an Early Years element as well as presenting a range of work for young people across the age spectrum.
This year's festival programme includes a great range of shows, an opportunity to see a presentation from WebPlay, be 'In Conversation With...' representatives from the world of children's TV, the commercial sector and the media and share scratch performances in our Departure Lounge.
Takeoff 2010 will be hosted at Darlington Arts Centre on 11th and 12th November. Delegate packages are £150 and bookings will open 1st September 2010. Tickets will be available on our website
Tuesday, 22 June 2010
Excellent News!!! FIVE Nominated for Award
This is very prestigious, a real achievement for the exchange with Theatre Direct and fabulous recognition of this very lovely piece which has now been in our repertoire for nearly 3 years.
We are particularly pleased that the nomination will attract more profile in Canada for Early Years work. The awards ceremony is in Toronto on 28th June – fingers crossed!
FIVE is available for week long residencies and festival bookings in Spring and Summer 2011. Please contact Diann on 01325 352 004 or email diann@theatrehullabaloo.org.uk for more information.
Find out more about FIVE
Wednesday, 14 April 2010
Casting Call for The Night Pirates
We are currently casting for our autumn touring production of The Night Pirates. We are looking for a talented ensemble of four with a range of complimentary skills:
One Male Puppeteer to play: Tom
A highly-skilled puppeteer is required to manipulate and voice the puppet of little boy, Tom. There may also be some other minor puppetry work. Performer with a good singing voice preferred.
One Male Performer (actor/musician) to play: The Moon and others as cast
This performer must be a sensitive and playful story teller. Ideally they will play a musical instrument. An ability to play multiple roles and a good singing voice are essential.
One Female Performer (Contemporary Dancer) to play: the ensemble - girl pirates, Captain Patch and others as cast
This performer must be trained in contemporary dance to a high standard. A knowledge of ballet is also an advantage as is a playful and inventive approach to physicality. The ability to play multiple roles and a good singing voice are essential. Ideally they will also play a musical instrument.
One Female performer (Ballet Dancer) to play: the ensemble – leader of the Girl Pirates, grown-up pirates and other as cast. This part is already cast.
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