Newcastle's Northern Stage has announced its third company of emerging north east actors, NORTH 2015. The project will be an opportunity for emerging actors to develop their skills and begin to build a sustainable, diverse and exciting career in the north east.
Unlike previous years, North will not be creating an ensemble devising company, following in the footsteps of NORTH 2013 (now The Letter Room) and NORTH 2014 (now Camisado Club) but its members will experience an intense and demanding 21 week paid programme during which they will:
- Receive high-level performance training in movement, voice and acting from leading national and international directors, teachers and practitioners.
- Form part of the ensemble company for Northern Stage's production of Cyrano de Bergerac (29 April to 6 May in Newcastle). Take part in a professional rehearsal process and perform a full run of a show including transfer to Royal and Derngate, Northampton.
- Develop audition skills and audition for a number of influential directors locally and nationally.
- Expand their professional networks through an extensive range of introductions to the key producers, programmers, funders, directors and venue managers in the region.
- Under the mentorship of a member of the core Northern Stage creative team and a leading industry mentor begin the process of developing their own individual performance piece for future production.
- Develop professional skills in budgeting, fundraising, producing, tour booking, technical theatre skills and other areas of the business of theatre, empowering them to make and produce their own work.
- Develop a long term relationship with Northern Stage which will be committed to supporting their future development.
The company members are Sian Armstrong, Sam Bell, Kylie Ann Ford, Sisley Henning, Matt Howdon and James Hunter. They will begin working at Northern Stage, full-time, in January 2015 and there are biographies of all six on Northern Stage's web site.