Starting a Society Producing a Show
This eclectic and wide-ranging course is something very different for NODA Theatre Summer School. Taught by a team of tutors it will develop your knowledge of what goes on outside of a theatre to make a show happen
Whether you're dreaming of starting your own theatre company or simply looking to understand the nuts and bolts of producing a show, this course offers the essential tools and insider knowledge to make it happen.
Through a blend of workshops, seminars and presentations from a variety of guest tutors, you will explore the full production pipeline: from choosing material and budgeting, to fundraising and managing creative teams. You’ll also dive into the practical and legal steps involved in founding a theatre company. By the end of the course, participants will walk away with a practical toolkit, a personalised action plan, and the confidence to launch their own theatre production or society.
Key topics will include:
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Understanding the roles and responsibilities of a producer
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Selecting and securing performance rights for scripts
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Budgeting, fundraising, and financial planning
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Assembling creative teams and casting actors
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Venue negotiation and technical production planning
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Marketing, PR, and audience development
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Legal structures and registering your organisation
Designed for aspiring theatre producers, anyone curious about the behind-the-scenes world of theatre production and creatives who want to turn their passion for theatre into a sustainable and creatively inspiring venture.
Additional tutors to be announced
Sarah is an experienced and inspirational drama practitioner, director, producer and writer who has been working within arts, training and education (both mainstream and outside of school) for 30 years.
In addition to her freelance work, she is founder member and artistic director of Yew Tree Arts and Yew Tree Youth Theatre. She is director of NODA Theatre Summer School and project manager of Wakefield LitFest a project for 14 – 19-year-olds that inspires and empowers the next generation of playwrights. Finally, Sarah champions young people in the Wakefield District as Creative Voice coordinator for SPARK.
Her work in the arts focuses on creating quality theatre with and for community casts and young people, it encompasses a vast range of productions of established plays in addition to the devising, writing and direction of innovative new works many of which are ensemble based. At the heart of all of her productions is the search for truth, integrity and creativity.
In her work within education and training she uses drama to develop creativity, confidence and communication all essential elements in successful learning. Her education work is driven by the same ambition of excellence and opportunities for all as her work in theatre.
Denise started her theatrical life at the age of 14 after joining the Renegade Theatre Company in Ilford in Essex. Here she learned not only the basics of acting, but also stage management, how to run a theatre, how to build sets, how to build a theatre and even how to make coffee for 200 audience members during a 15 minute interval. Previous alumni also include, John Woodvine, Ken Campbell, Liz Robertson and the critic and author, Michael Coveney.
She then went on to study classical singing at Guildhall School of Music and Drama and Theatre at Guildford School of Acting. After twenty years as a performer, Denise turned her hand to producing and directing and has been awarded the Stage One Bursary and the Stage One Start Up Fund for production and General Management.
She is Artistic Director of Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap and has directed it in the West End, national tour and around the world.
Other current productions include: Musik with Pet Shop Boys, Jonathan Harvey and Frances Barber (Wiltons and feature film), Wilko (National Tour ). Wodehouse in Wonderland (Edinburgh and National Tour) A Thing of Beauty (National Tour), James Campbell Comedy 4 Kids: Reducks (National Tour) Mark Thompson’s Spectacular Science Show (Edinburgh and National Tour),Queen (National Tour) and She is also co-producer of Panto Online with Peter Duncan, making filmed pantomimes for cinema.
Previous Productions include: Andrew Pierce vs Kevin Maguire (Edinburgh) How To Survive Your Mother (King’s Head) Bloody Difficult Women (Riverside Studios and Edinburgh Festival) Don’t Call Me Nigel…an Evening with Graham Seed (tour), Dead Sheep (Park Theatre and national tour), An Audience with Jimmy Savile (Park Theatre and Edinburgh), J. B. Priestley’s The Roundabout (Park Theatre and 59E59 Theater New York), Deny Deny Deny, Twitstorm and Twilight Song (Park Theatre) Alex Salmond Unleashed and The Ayes Have It (Edinburgh Festival and tour), Makes, Bakes and Outtakes (Edinburgh Festival), The Dame (Park Theatre and National Tour), Late Lunch with Biggins (Edinburgh Festival), My Darling Clemmie (Edinburgh Festival and International Tour).
I would like to dedicate this talk to the founder of the Renegades, James Cooper, and his wife Yvonne, without who’s guidance from the age of 14, I would not be doing what I do today.
Website: www.cahootstheatrecompany.com @silveyden