The Chronicle, No. 669, January 2016

15 ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE

The North Wall establishes ongoing, creative partnerships with theatre companies including: Iron Shoes, previously associate company at the Bush Theatre; and multi- award-winning international ensemble Theatre Ad Infinitum. We also work closely with individuals at all stages in their careers, including Tom Wainwright, alumnus of the prestigious Royal Court Young Writer’s Programme; Al Smith, under commission to the Royal Court Theatre and winner of the inaugural BFI Wellcome Trust Screenwriting Prize; and Barney Norris, winner of the Critics’ Circle Theatre Award for Most Promising Playwright in 2015. The shows developed over the holidays often become part of the public programme in later seasons, with writers and directors running workshops for St Edward’s pupils studying drama at GCSE and A Level. What do we do? ArtsLab Summer Residency The annual ArtsLab three-week Summer Residency focuses on all aspects of the performing arts including theatre, music and dance. Offered free of charge with up to 45 places each year, it offers talented young actors, writers, designers, musicians and directors the chance to work as an ensemble to create new work, in collaboration with highly experienced professionals, whose work you may have already seen as part of the public programme. Leading touring company OperaUpClose, who specialise in creating opera productions in small spaces, to great critical acclaim, have performed five shows at The North Wall over the last few years. As well as staging their latest venture, Ulla’s Odyssey , here in February, discussions are currently underway for the company to lead the summer residency in 2016, focusing for the first time ever on opera. StageWrite StageWrite, launching this year, is a new year- round programme of theatre-writing activities for talented young writers, building on the success of the North Wall’s Easter residency, TheatreCraft, which offers opportunities for talented individuals to gain experience in writing and directing for theatre. In addition to the TheatreCraft residency at Easter, StageWrite will provide a framework of support for emerging playwrights aged 18-25 to progress their work with The North Wall across the year - with the most exceptional

The North Wall in April 2015 before touring to Battersea Arts Centre in October 2015. How do we do this? The NorthWall Trust Since The North Wall’s inauguration, St Edward’s has generously supported the public programme and core costs of the arts centre, both as a home for drama and dance for the school, and as a resource for the benefit of the local community. 2012 saw the creation of a new charity, The North Wall Trust, to develop the increasingly diverse ArtsLab programme and the education and production work of the North Wall. This charity is becoming increasingly necessary as the effects of the funding crisis continue to hit young companies and small-scale work hardest of all. Crucial support from visionary trusts and individuals makes it possible for The North Wall Trust to support young people from all backgrounds in establishing a career in the arts, and to support professionals to develop and create important new work. We are extremely grateful for the generosity and commitment of our supporters, in particular The Garfield Weston Foundation and Backstage Trust. As the North Wall approaches its 10th anniversary year in 2016/2017, we are planning a series of exciting new initiatives and performances, and will continue to grow our ArtsLab programme, strengthening our mission to support the future generation of theatre-makers at the earliest stages of their careers.

writers invited to showcase their scripts to the public at the arts centre. In 2016, for the first time, The North Wall will be appointing a Writer-in-Residence: an early stage career professional who will work closely with the North Wall over the course of a year to mentor young writers and develop their own work. Productions and Co-productions The North Wall also produces home-grown work, as well as collaborating with leading theatre companies on new co-productions. Our most recent in-house production, Song of Riots , written and co-directed by the North Wall’s Artistic Director Lucy Maycock, marked the culmination of The North Wall’s long-term artistic association with European ensemble Awake Projects. Song of Riots premiered at

Mark Bruce Dance Masterclass: February 2014