BME Regional Theatre Research

Caroline Routh of Empty Space recently secured the contract to deliver research into the viability of a professional BME Theatre Company in North East England.

Developing Black-led Theatre in North East England
 “the north east is not producing theatre companies of the calibre of those currently at the forefront of British theatre”[1] NECDAF is the umbrella organisation for diverse arts in North East England. Despite an intermittent stream of visiting companies, comparatively little ‘home-grown’ theatre representing BME lives and perspectives is presented in the region. As the above quote laments; our region is not known for its theatre in general and BME theatre is even more limited. In response to these issues, NECDAF submitted a successful proposal to Arts Council England North East to: - assess the feasibility of establishing a theatre company to raise the profile of black experiences in North East England  and to provide career development opportunities for theatre professionals ‘of colour’ to develop and present their work regionally, nationally and internationally.”We invite tenders to conduct this research and deliver a detailed report assessing the feasibility of a Black-Led theatre company to tour North East England and the broader infrastructural and economic context in which the company would operate.The deadline for completed tenders is 12pm Monday 21st April and we aim to commission the work on Wednesday 23rd April. We will consider itemised inclusive fees in the region of £3,000 - £4,450.

NECDAF needs to query the assertion that a black-led theatre company would be more effective in engaging broad and diverse audiences than (for example) an outreach programme delivered by an established mainstream cultural institution. The final report is to be rooted in economic pragmatism and address key issues including:
  1. What is the size of the market for BME Theatre in North East England (£) and its potential to attract commercial sponsorship?
2.    What BME theatre practitioners exist in North East England, (i.e. ‘map’)                               i.            Where do they rehearse and develop their work?
  1.  
    1. How many productions and performances do they present?
    2. What development plans/aspirations do they have?
    3. What barriers to development exist?
    4. To what support services do they have access?
 3.    Previous research[2] identifies a lack of support and development infrastructure as a key barrier to development and suggests the need for a coordinating support organisation to address this issue. The researcher is to assess the nature of the services needed to support regional development in BME theatre and to appraise the potential ability of NECDAF’s Regional Forum to deliver these services through a “Performance Development Sub-Group” and additional administration.·        Rehearsal/experimentation Space: map and assess existing provision. Identify requirements for managed resource(s).·        Mentoring/producing support + introductions to mainstream.·        Access to temporary/permanent office space and resources·        (temporary) administrative support·        Networking and mutual support opportunities.·        Tour booking/management support.·        Income generating potential·        Creative Industries development funding by regional agencies  
  1. Some Local Authorities have expressed in principle support for BME theatre development. The researcher is to assess the availability of space for development for rehearsal, experimentation, showcasing and administration owned by the following local authorities:
                               i.            Newcastle                             ii.            Gateshead                           iii.            North Tyneside                           iv.            Middlesbrough                             v.            Stockton 
  1. Previous research and recent consultation suggests a willingness on the part of the region’s venues to engage with BME Theatre, yet practitioners complain of difficulty in engaging those venues. The researcher is to:
                               i.            Map performance venues in North East England:·        Name, capacity, general programming, audience profile, incidence of BME programming, support to visiting artists.                             ii.            Identify the barriers facing venues wanting to engage BME theatre practitioners. Include details of additional costs to venues.                          iii.            Draft a detailed BME regional touring circuit.                          iv.            Research willingness to programme “showcase” presentations and assess their requirements.                             v.            Gauge reactions to existing targeted support e.g. residencies, soft loans, free advice, strategic introductions, touring support, theatre festivals, collaborations etc. 
  1. What development support is available to BME theatre practitioners and what services do they offer? How do the available services match the needs of BME theatre practitioners?
  2. Training and development: the researcher is to identify existing BME youth/training/amateur theatre activities, plans and tutors.
To provide a focus for this research the researcher is to explore a BME Regional Theatre strategy that maximises resources by investing in a regional touring company[3] presenting professional theatre, youth workshops and practitioner training from a BME perspective to a wide range of audiences in locations throughout North East England.The research will assess the viability of establishing a black-led touring theatre company to:
  • become a cultural asset for the region,
  • establish a diverse theatre audience
  • deliver additional services to support and promote BME theatre practitioners.
 The research is to assess the commercial sustainability of the proposed company by:
  • assessing its potential audience and capacity for earned income.
  • reviewing the range of charitable and public sector funders available to support it
  • and identifying potential commercial sponsors and charitable donors.
 The Research is to test the following Assumptions:i.                   That there is a need and an audience for high quality black-led theatre in North East England. ii.                That a professional black-led touring theatre company will be an appropriate and effective expression of the region’s increasing cultural diversity.  iii.              That the proposed company could provide effective employment and career development support to BME theatre professionals in the region. iv.              That the proposed company will be able to attract and entertain and maintain large audiences of people from different cultural backgrounds from communities across the region. v.                 That the proposed company will be able to secure charitable and public sector funds to underpin its earned income. vi.              That the proposed company will be able to attract and engage commercial sponsors and private donors.  vii.            That there is a sufficient market for “subsidiary services” to make a significant contribution to the company’s earned income and reduce its long-term reliance on public sector funding. Summary of Key Research Aims:i.                   To assess the size, extent and composition of the potential regional audience for BME theatre. ii.                To assess the potential value of ”subsidiary activities” such as youth theatre and artists’ agency services and their possible contribution to the company’s earned income. iii.              To research existing regional theatre development plans with reference to the Pakistan Cultural Society’s plans and the “virtual theatre company” ngoogled.com with the aim of maximising delivery through collaboration. iv.              To identify potential financial support from public sector and charitable sources to facilitate the company’s start-up, subsidise its 1st year of operation and enable its on-going development. v.                 To identify experienced individuals willing to form the first board of trustees of a new black-led theatre company. vi.              To identify BME performers and theatre practitioners to deliver professional touring productions and proposed subsidiary activities and to establish agency services for them. vii.            To assess employment opportunities in North East England for BME performers and theatre practitioners. viii.         To assess the viability of presenting showcases to casting agents and producers both here and in London. MethodologyTenders are invited to deliver the research detailed above. In assessing tenders, NECDAF will look for the proposal that combines a range of research techniques including:
  • Desk research: to review existing data, assess existing information re the ‘mapping’ of practitioners and resources, identify useful literature resources and avoid duplication.
 
  • Face-to-face interviews: with practitioners, venues, regional agencies, charitable and statutory funders and commercial sponsors to assess their responses to and expectations of BME theatre in our region.
 
  • Telephone Interviews: Where face to face meetings are impractical.
 
  • Questionnaires: to amass statistical data and to raise the profile of the emerging Diverse Theatre Strategy.
 
  • Focus Groups: to facilitate networking and to gain feedback on developing strategies before final draft report.
 Outputs
  • Draft Report: to be delivered in writing and live presentation to NECDAF Forum Theatre Development Sub-Group. The Sub Group will comment on the draft report to direct the researcher towards a final report.
 
  • Statistical information, contact details and mapping data is to be included in the final report as appendices.
 
  • A Final Report is to be delivered by e-mail and two hard copies to NECDAF.
 Oscar WatsonDirector

[1] Empty Space Final report on North East Theatre p1

[2] E.g. by “Empty Space”

[3] See attached outline “BLT”