Artist Development
Red Ladder has a long history in supporting artists and writers to launch their projects and careers. And although we are made up of a very small team, we want to use our resources to support as many as we can and in the best possible way, as we know just how tough it is being a freelance artist just now. We have a new policy that we hope is fair and transparent.
Aside from exceptional circumstances, we only ever produce one show a year. We can’t support every writer or project that we would like to, but we’ll do our very best; and we particularly encourage artists from the North of England to get in touch with us. Find out how below…
How it works
Scripts: We commit to reading at least the first ten pages of every script that is sent to us. As a team, we will meet each month to discuss all that we’ve read, and decide whether we’d like to hear more. If we would, we’ll let the writer know, and negotiate a next step. At each subsequent step, the team will decide how or whether to continue– and the artists will have that same choice.
Other Enquiries: If you are looking for some help – for example advice about a project, or in-kind support to add into a funding bid, or simply some advice about the industry – we will also review your enquiry at our monthly meeting. We will set aside a number of ‘Coffee Hours’ in which we meet with artists to discuss projects and offer advice.
Types of support
There are many ways in which we might be able to lend a hand. Some examples are:
- Reading a draft script, and giving dramaturgical feedback
- Advising you about Arts Council funding
- Making some introductions to other artists/organisations
- Assisting you to write a funding bid
- Producing advice (casting, project management, fundraising)
- Answering budgeting questions
- A general chat about your work
- Advice about the Northern theatre landscape, and building a career here
- Producing your show (in a very small number of cases!)
Who we’d like to hear from
We’re interested in hearing from artists across all theatre disciplines, e.g. writers, theatremakers, producers, technicians, directors, designers.
We’re interested in supporting people who are contributing to the theatre ecology in the North of England. You might be from here, or you might be from somewhere else, but a link to the North is important. Please let us know what your link is when you make contact.
In terms of the work you approach us with, it doesn’t have to be a show that you think Red Ladder would produce, but it needs to chime with our ethos in some way – ie. making work that feels culturally accessible, that is socially minded, and relevant to the contemporary world.
Please keep in mind that we won’t consider already-existing work that is considered “classic”, whether plays, musicals, or operas.
If you are a theatremaker or company with a show that you are taking on tour, you may like to look at our Red Ladder Local page.
email: info@redladder.co.uk
Main image: The cast of Leeds Lads on stage in early 20th Century costume credit Malcolm Johnson
