Developed On Drummond Street 2023: To The Streets Commission
Proposals sought for innovative new outdoor performance for Camden in summer 2023
‘Developed on Drummond Street’ is a commissioning partnership between neighbours Old Diorama Arts Centre (ODAC) and Camden People’s Theatre (CPT), exploring new ways of making work in Camden, with and for Camden residents. 2022’s Camden NoW! commission, saw Mirrorball create GRILLS, inspired by the archives of the Camden Lesbian Centre and Black Lesbian Group, which had a sell-out run at CPT in December.
This year, 'Developed On Drummond Street' is going outdoors, to the streets themselves.
CPT and ODAC now invite proposals for small-scale, site-responsive contemporary performance made for outdoor spaces in Camden, that will engage with local residents. The production will be made this summer with confirmed performances at three local community festivals that ODAC and CPT are producing and/or involved in.
ODAC is an arts creation and community centre with Euston as our inspiration, collaborator and our stage. ODAC has been involved in various outdoor festivals over many years, and in 2022 was part of Cumberland Fun Fest and Camden Mela, and co-produced the inaugural Regent’s Park Estate Community Festival over three squares, attracting approx 1200 residents. Read more about ODAC’s vision here.
CPT brings together artists and everyone else to connect, imagine, be heard and be entertained. We support emerging artists to make inventive theatre - particularly about issues that matter to people right now. Alongside year-round, festival-focused programming in our theatre, CPT produces an annual family-friendly community celebration in Tolmers Square, and on Queen’s Crescent in Kentish Town. Read more about CPT’s vision and artistic policy here.
WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR
We’re looking for bold, topical, site-responsive ideas for outdoor performances from artists working in theatre and performance, connecting to issues and audiences local to the Camden area. We are also keen to support artists who have not made work for outdoors / public spaces before.
Projects will need to be:
A new idea for an outdoor performance to be shared with the Camden community at three festivals
Suitable for diverse audiences of all ages
A performance which engages with / explore stories/themes/ideas that have local relevance for Camden
A project that can only work outdoors and is specifically created for that purpose - not an indoor theatre show that can be performed outdoors
A project that does not require significant infrastructure i.e. stages / lighting - it should work easily in urban environments
A project that can be made and performed this summer and can be achieved without the requirement of additional funding
Available to perform at at least two festivals (dates below) this summer
We want proposals primarily in the field of devised and collaboratively made theatre and performance. For this commission, we’re keen on interactivity and excited by interdisciplinary practice.
Proposals are welcome to incorporate other forms including live art, dance, interactive installation and circus. We prioritise innovation and experimentation in form, and welcome some element of topicality and local relevance.
In acknowledgment of the significant barriers to professional participation in theatre, we welcome applications from artists from the Global Majority, Deaf and disabled artists, and artists from working-class backgrounds – and from other backgrounds marginalised in the arts. We will prioritise applications from Camden based artists / companies.
The projects need to be of a realistic scale to be fully made in the studios of, and performed in public spaces around, ODAC and CPT, for the commissioning fee provided.
Artists and companies will need to be able to produce the show independently (with our help). Projects should be new, and should not have received significant support or development time elsewhere. This commission is designed to cover or substantially contribute to your full creation and production costs. Proposals must not be dependent on as-yet-unsecured additional funding from other sources.
WHAT WE’RE OFFERING
£10,000 commission fee, to cover costs of creating and producing the project including the costs of 3 performances (no box office income).
Up to 4 weeks of rehearsal space at ODAC between May and July 2023.
Performances at 2-3 small free outdoor festivals in Camden in July and August 2023.
Dedicated producing support from CPT’s Artist Support Producer.
Mentoring from the CPT and ODAC teams; marketing support in advance of public performances; community engagement support where appropriate; technical support; support with access needs.
Marketing and communications support
Rehearsal and performance documentation photography
The currently planned dates of the performances so far are:
Saturday July 1st - Tolmers Square Festival
Saturday 29th July - Regent’s Park Estate Community Festival
others TBC
HOW TO APPLY
The application is a two-stage process: first, submit answers to our questions about you and your project; then, there’ll be an informal interview for a small number of applicants. The selection process will involve staff of CPT and ODAC, alongside invited representatives from Camden communities.
To apply, please submit your application using the form here. It will ask you the following questions and will not save your answers before you submit (so please prepare them in advance):
Who are you / your company? (up to 200 words)
What have you made before, and have you made work for the outdoors? (up to 200 words)
What is your idea for the commission? (up to 300 words)
How would you describe your relationship with Camden? (up to 100 words)
Please confirm that you have availability in your working schedule to create and perform the show this summer.
And fill in this Equal Opportunities Monitoring form.
The application can be in whichever form suits you best e.g written, video, voicenote. If you’re submitting a video or voice note, please submit a recording of up to 5 minutes in length. Please email links to community@olddiorama.com
Shortlisted applicants will be required to present a budget for the show ahead of interview.
Applications will be open Thursday 2nd March
Deadline for applications Monday 27th March at 10am.
Informal interview are expected to take place w/c 3rd April.
The Developed on Drummond Street commission is generously supported by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation for Camden People’s Theatre, and Old Diorama Arts Centre.
