Made In Bristol 's newest company of emerging theatre talent announced today.
17 Sep 2021
Now in it’s 12th year, Made In Bristol is a scheme created by Bristol Old Vic which, this year, brings nine emerging theatre-makers together to become residents in the building for a year.
During their time, the group of 18-25 year-olds train as workshop leaders, assistants and theatre-makers, participating in classes that allow them to develop their skills and form a unique style of work as a company. The group's work leads up to creating their own theatre company and working towards an inaugural production at the end of the year.
The participants this year are: Weronika Dwornik, Claudia Kurucz, Lydia Lakin, Rosie Mullaney, Ben Notice, Sophia Oriogun-Williams, Andy Simpson, Alyssa Thomas and Sol Woodroffe.
The scheme originally began as a way for Bristol Old Vic's Young Company members to develop their passion into a professional career path when they may not have felt a traditional drama school or higher education pathway was right for them. It quickly developed to also include applications from youth community members across the region, university placements and this year also a member of Bristol Old Vic's new Young Company City group.
Hattie De Santis, Engagement Producer at Bristol Old Vic said:
"This is a really exciting day for us as the group of young people meet each other for the first time, taking those first steps towards becoming a company of theatre-makers.
Over the last twelve years, Made in Bristol has shown itself to be a really successful scheme. We've worked with over 145 individuals and over 90% of our "graduates" are working in theatre today. It's also completely free for the participants to learn and train in this way."
One of the most well-known groups to emerge through Made in Bristol is The Wardrobe Ensemble who have been making work as a company for over 10 years. Over that time they have had huge success across the UK and in the west end, with shows such as Education Education Education, Riot and The Last of the Pelican Daughters, most recently presenting an entire festival -Theatre on the Downs - this summer. Their next project is a co-production with Bristol Old Vic at Christmas with a major new work for families - Robin Hood: Legend of The Forgotten Forest.
FURTHER INFORMATION
What is Made in Bristol?
Made In Bristol is a group of up to twelve young people aged 18-25 on some sort of gap year – be it having graduated from university, finished school or being in part-time employment – who become resident at Bristol Old Vic for two days a week for one year.
Made in Bristol is designed to give young theatre-makers an opportunity to train together, to become workshop leaders, facilitators and theatre makers, creating work that can reach out across Bristol and the South West, engaging with other local arts organisations as well as working towards performing their own piece of work at the end of the course.
The group get the opportunity to work with freelance directors and arts practitioners (previously Tom Morris, Melly Still, Sally Cookson, Mike Shepherd and Emma Rice) to participate in the wider Bristol arts scene through collaborations and touring work nationally.
PREVIOUS MADE IN BRISTOL COMPANIES:
- The Wardrobe Ensemble (2010-11) – RIOT
- The Tin Can Collective (2011-12) – I Would Not
- Guilty Party (2012-13) – Conviction
- Hotel Echo (2013-14) – Wild Men
- Propolis Theatre (2014-15) – Spill
- Splint Theatre (2015-16) – Out of Sky
- INKBLOC ensemble (2016-17) – Lego Beach
- WILDERBEAST (2017-18) – In the Light Everything is Brighter
- Play the Goat (2018-19) - Off Peak
- Leave the Light Ensemble (2019-20) - Buffering
- The Owl on the Roof (2020-21) - The Story of Guts
Bristol Old Vic is the longest continuously running theatre in the UK, and celebrated its 250th anniversary in 2016. The historic playhouse aims to inspire audiences with its own original productions, both at home and on tour, whilst nurturing the next generation of artists, whether that be through their 350-strong Young Company, their many outreach and education projects or their trailblazing artist development programme, Bristol Ferment.
They use their funding to support experiment and innovation, to allow access to their programme for people who would not otherwise encounter it, or be able to afford it, and to keep their extraordinary heritage alive and animated.
On 24 Sep 2018, Bristol Old Vic completed its 2-year multi-million pound redevelopment project, which transformed its front of house space into a warm and welcoming public building for all of Bristol to enjoy, created a new studio theatre and opened up its unique theatrical heritage to the public for the first time.