The Pleasance Theatre Trust have announced a new partnership with VAULT Festival that will strengthen links between both organisations; working together, both Pleasance and VAULT are dedicated to developing and supporting the careers of new and emerging theatre makers, playwrights and comedians.
Pleasance’s annual Edinburgh Festival Fringe programme is one of the largest and most respected in Edinburgh, supplemented by its year-round programme across its three theatre spaces at Pleasance Islington. VAULT Festival has quickly established itself as London’s biggest, boldest and bravest arts and entertainment festival which runs from January – March across Waterloo.
Anthony Alderson, Director of Pleasance Theatre Trust comments, We are delighted to be working in partnership with one of London’s most exciting festivals. There is no doubt that festivals create an environment where artists can take risks, experiment and develop. Although each journey can be a daunting one, it can also be the best challenge where ideas can crystallise and new collaborations, both on and off stage, can flourish. By working in partnership we plan to develop new ways to support artists, both financially and as mentors, and to ensure that the spirit of risk taking, innovation and excellence is joined up across the country, opening up opportunities from Edinburgh to London, across the UK and worldwide.
Andy George and Mat Burt, Co-Founders of VAULT Festival say, This new partnership is particularly exciting for us. Our long term aims in the support and development of new work and artists is aligned with that of The Pleasance. We share in generating platforms where artists can launch new ideas and new companies. Be bold and brave, with a support network beneath them. We look forward to working together, supporting both our audiences and artists, and enabling great makers to create new and exciting pieces.
As part of the partnership, The Pleasance and VAULT Festival have both committed to support selected shows transfer between the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and VAULT Festival (Pick of VAULT Festival, and the Pick of Pleasance Edinburgh awards), alongside a wider commitment to sharing work between the two organisations.
This partnership comes after the Pleasance recently announced a refreshed Artist Support Offer across its London and Edinburgh programmes under the Pleasance Futures umbrella, a commitment of over £150,000 of both in-kind and direct financial support to artists and companies at all stages of their careers. From carpenters, crew, electricians, photographers, reviewers, bloggers and film-makers Pleasance Futures recognises how important those first opportunities into the creative industries can be and nurtures the Pleasance’s core beliefs about creating opportunities, supporting ambition, encouraging excellence and building reputations.
New schemes announced this year include Pleasance Associates Programme (for companies and artists with a track record of presenting excellent and innovative work at the Fringe), The Partnership Pathways Programme (working with five partner theatres across the UK to identify and support exciting local artists and companies), The COMMON Award (in association with COMMON, a nationwide arts organisation supporting the UK theatre industry in achieving greater socio-economic diversity) and The Popcorn Writing Award (in association with The Popcorn Group, providing a £2,500 cash prize to a writer in the Pleasance programme).
For 2019 the Pleasance’s Partnership Pathways Programme is working with HOME. Manchester, Leicester Curve, York Theatre Royal, Bristol Old Vic and Royal and Derngate Northampton.
Programmes include existing schemes The Young Pleasance, XYP (an associate company comprising of ex-members of the Young Pleasance), The Network with the Scottish Drama Training Network, The Charlie Hartill Special Reserve Fund for Theatre and Comedy, The LET Award – in partnership with Les Enfants Terribles and the Greenwich Partnership Award with Les Enfants Terribles and Greenwich Theatre.
