Conference 19: Programme
Centre Stage looked at how to put the needs of artist and audience at the heart of theatres.
From 8.45: Registration
Breakfast refreshments sponsored by Triple E
9.30: Welcome
Jon Morgan, Director, Theatres Trust
Plenary: Theatres and their Communities: People at the Centre
How do theatres connect artist, audience and the wider community? What is a democratic theatre and how do theatres, as physical entities, contribute to an inclusive, open society?
Speakers include: Anna Dinnen, freelance consultant and co-author of ACE’s 'Capital Works! Building Transformation’ report, Rebecca Holt, Executive Director & Deputy CEO, Battersea Arts Centre, Martin Lydon, Associate, Haworth Tompkins, Madani Younis, Creative Director, Southbank Centre
Session chair: Paddy Dillon, Trustee, Theatres Trust
Morning break
Refreshments sponsored by HQ Theatres & Hospitality
Breakout sessions
Choose one to attend on the day - no need to book
Breakout 1: Different Spaces, New Possibilities
Some theatre makers are choosing to make and present their work in non-traditional spaces such as shops and railway arches. What motivates them to work in these different spaces and what are the artistic and audience possibilities they create?
Speakers include: Jessica Brewster, Creative Director, Theatre Deli, Julia Negus, Producer, Theatre Absolute / Shop Front Theatre, Colin Nightingale, Creative Producer, Punchdrunk, Olly Royds, Joint Founder & CEO, Troubadour Theatres
Session Chair: Tom Stickland, Theatres Adviser, Theatres Trust
Breakout 2: Welcoming our Audience
What makes a theatre truly welcoming? How can we build and adapt our theatres to remove the barriers which stop them being accessible and inclusive spaces?
Speakers include: Phil Evans, Director of Tourism & Enterprise, Eastbourne Borough Council, Tim Foster, Partner, Foster Wilson Architects, Mark Lewis, Associate Director, Levitt Bernstein Architects, Lynette Shanbury, Executive Director & Joint CEO, Polka Theatre, Katie Town, Executive Director, Theatre Royal Wakefield
Session Chair: Anna Stapleton, Trustee, Theatres Trust
Capital Projects Lightning Round
A high-speed overview of eight projects offering a taste of current theatre building trends across the UK and the people considerations informing them.
Speakers include:
Rob Bearyman, Bennetts Associates on Woolwich Works, Liam Evans-Ford, Executive Director, Theatr Clywd, Roddy Gauld, Chief Executive, Octagon, Bolton, Russell Potter, Director, SODA Studio on Boulevard Theatre, Rachael Thomas, Executive Director, Birmingham Rep, Nicola Walls, Head of Arts & Culture, Page \ Park Architects on Leeds Playhouse, David Watson, Associate Director, MICA Architects on Fairfield Halls, Croydon, Mike Yates, Director, Austin Smith Lord on Shakespeare North.
Session Chair: Tom Stickland, Theatres Adviser, Theatres Trust
Lunch and building tours
Lunch sponsored by Theatreplan
Plenary: People-Centred Design
How do we engage with our audiences and other stakeholders to ensure their views directly inform our theatre capital projects? How does a democratic design process work and does it make for more ‘democratic’ theatre spaces?
Speakers include: Hannah Fox, Director of Projects & Programmes, Derby Museums, Matt Fenton, Artistic Director, Contact Theatre Manchester, Nasima Begum and Jake Howarth, Con:Struct capital project young people’s team, David Micklem, Co-founder & Chair, 64 Million Artists
Session Chair: Jon Morgan, Director, Theatres Trust
Afternoon break
Refreshments sponsorsed by GoboPlus
Creative Spaces
The new generation of Artistic Directors will discuss what it means to take on a theatre. What are the artistic and audience possibilities and limitations of their theatres and what ambitions do they have for their buildings in the future?
Speakers include: Joe Douglas, Artistic Director, Live Theatre, Newcastle, Nadia Fall, Artistic Director, Theatre Royal Stratford East, Tarek Iskander, Artistic Director & CEO, Battersea Arts Centre, Bryony Shanahan, Associate Artistic Director, Royal Exchange Manchester
Session Chair: Samira Ahmed, Theatres Trust Ambassador
5pm: Conference closes
Conference Reception
An opportunity to catch up with contacts old and new. Sponsored by Robe.