The Touring Network supports, represents and connects a vibrant community of independent promoters and performers who present high-quality live performance across the Highlands and Islands of Scotland – transforming remote community spaces into cultural centres and performance venues.
Each year, we bring those promoters and performers together, along with producers, funders and other creative professionals, to network, build key skills and showcase new work at our annual Gathering. This year the Gathering will take place in Forres, coinciding with the Findhorn Bay Festival, from Thursday 27 – Saturday 29 September 2018.
Following on from our successful showcase day at the 2017 Gathering, this year there will once again be a full day of showcasing at the event. We are in search of 12 performers – individuals or companies – who are able to perform a 15 minute, low tech excerpt of their tour-ready small-scale work, at Rafford Village Hall, Forres on Fri 28 Sept 2018.
Work showcased at the Gathering will be included in our Supported Programme collection, and promoters will be able to apply to The Touring Network for financial support in order to programme the work.
The Touring Network’s CEO, Jo McLean, explains more about our Supported Programme strategy and what we’re looking for:
“Our strategy over the next period is to work with individuals and organisations who show a commitment to developing deeper relationships with promoter communities. We would like individual performers and companies to understand the challenges of presenting work in the Highlands and Islands, and will work with those who show a commitment and love of rural touring. In addition, we would like to see work which addresses the following priorities:
– dance/physical theatre;
– new music;
– work which tackles qualities, diversity and inclusion issues;
– innovative children’s theatre.
Our recently launched BRAW programme is an example of how we envisage supporting new work to develop in the future, and will give you an understanding of our direction of travel.”
Whilst we cannot guarantee tour bookings as a result of the showcase, 78% of the performers who showcased at the 2017 Gathering have since been programmed to tour the region.
“Indepen-dance 4 performed an excerpt of their first piece of children’s theatre, Four Go Wild in Wellies, at The Touring Network event in Boat of Garten last year. At this event we met a variety of programmers and sold an Autumn and Spring tour across the Highlands and Islands. This event helped us reach rural touring venues, it was a great event, well worth doing.”
Karen Anderson, Indepen-dance
______________________________________
To find out more about the opportunity please download and read our Showcase Guidelines before applying at www.thetouringnetwork.com/showcase NOW EXTENDED UNTIL 5TH JUNE!
We will be in touch with successful applicants by Fri 8 Jun 2018.
______________________________________
*tour-ready means that funding is secured, or that the tour is not reliant on the outcome of a funding request.