New Diorama Theatre and Underbelly are announcing a renewed three-year partnership, relaunching their hit-making Untapped award, originally developed in 2018 and aimed at discovering and supporting emerging theatre makers at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
From 2023, Concord Theatricals also join the partnership, helping supercharge the support offered to diverse-led companies showcasing work at the Edinburgh Fringe.
The resurgent award will see up to three companies receiving £10,000 cash in 2023 – double the amount offered in 2022 – alongside a package of paid-for PR and marketing support, an enhanced Underbelly programming deal, and publication by Concord Theatricals under their UK imprint Samuel French Ltd. The expanded package directly responds to the challenges experienced across the festival by marginalised and under-represented artists attending the festival.
For 2023, the award is presented in partnership with previous Untapped winners Nouveau Riche (Queens of Sheba, For Black Boys…) who will support shortlisting and selecting companies, alongside bespoke workshop, wellbeing and mentoring support for diverse artists attending the Fringe.
The award has a remarkable record identifying stand-out companies presenting game changing-shows. Previous successes including Fringe First-winner It’s True, It’s True, It’s True by Breach, since adapted for BBC television; Nouveau Riche’s Stage Award-winning Queens of Sheba, recently performed at New York’s Public Theater as part of the prestigious Under the Radar Festival. Most recently, the 2022 cohort included Fringe First-winner This Is Not A Show About Hong Kong by Max Percy & Friends.
Applications for the 2023 Untapped Award open today for artists from anywhere across the country, a deadline of Monday 20th February at 10am for those wishing to be considered. The full criteria, application process and online portal are now live via the New Diorama website.
New Diorama Theatre artistic director David Byrne said: ‘Without the Edinburgh Fringe I wouldn’t have my career. By working with Underbelly to double the award, bring together these partnerships and support package, we’re doing our part to widen access to this crucial industry platform. This award has always been a driver for new, diverse talent – with three Untapped cohorts winning three Fringe Firsts, two Stage awards, and enjoying national and international tours and transfers. I can’t wait to see what this year’s artists achieve.’
