Congratulations to Citizens Theatre, Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Bristol Old Vic and Watford Palace Theatre who have been announced as the hosts for the Stage One’s Regional Producer Placements in 2017.

Stage One is delighted to announce 4 x 12 month Producer Placements in Regional subsidised theatres and/or organisations across the UK and in return the host organisation will train a new entrepreneurial producer by providing them with hands-on experience.
Our objectives for the scheme are:
• Stage One will graduate 4 outstanding entrepreneurial Trainee Producers who have developed their knowledge through hands-on experience and increased their commercial contacts.
• The subsidised houses we work with will be more ambitious in their plans to exploit more of their work and ALL will acknowledged the importance of the Trainee Producers in supporting this cultural change.

Citizens Theatre
The Citizens company was founded in 1943 by James Bridie, and the Citizens Theatre was permanently established in 1945. Since then it has been one of Scotland’s flagship producing theatres.

The Citizens has a distinguished history that continues today. They aim to present a mixture of contemporary versions of classic plays and new Scottish drama. They work with writers, directors and companies that have a reputation for producing outstanding work to deliver truly inspirational live theatre. They have extensive backstage workshop facilities and make their own sets and costumes.

Judith Kilvington, CEO/Executive Producer, Citizens Theatre said:
“The Citizens Theatre is delighted to be have been invited to host a Stage One Trainee Producer for 2017. At the Citizens, we are committed to nurturing new talent both on and off the stage and this coveted opportunity will have a huge impact on our ability to deliver our touring and commercial ambitions for 2017-18.”

Birmingham Repertory Theatre
Birmingham Repertory Theatre (The REP) is a local theatre with an international reach, acting as a cultural hub in the centre of Birmingham with the mission to create a vibrant programme of performance work that enriches the lives of the wide range of communities it serves and to inspire artists to make their best work with the theatre.

As well as presenting over 60 productions on its three stages every year, the theatre tours its productions nationally and internationally, showcasing theatre made in Birmingham. Most of that work beyond Birmingham is delivered through partnership and co-productions with other regional producing theatres, touring companies or commercial managements. The theatre has thus developed a considerable degree of expertise in working in partnership with a wide variety of organisations on all scales.

Nisha Modhwadia, Senior Producer, Birmingham Repertory Theatre said:
“Birmingham Repertory Theatre is delighted to be selected as a regional host venue for a Stage One Producer Placement. The REP has an exciting and ambitious programme planned for 2017/18 and is looking forward to working with an emerging entrepreneurial Producer to exploit the new work that we’re developing and in the process to gain hands on experience to hone their craft.”

Bristol Old Vic
Bristol Old Vic’s mission is to create pioneering twenty-first century theatre in partnership with the people of their energetic city; inspired by the history and magical design of the most beautiful playhouse in the country. Bristol Old Vic is the longest continuously-running theatre in the UK, with 2016 a milestone year for the organisation as they celebrate their 250th birthday by both reflecting on its rich history and looking towards its future.

They are led by artists who see the world with distinctive clarity and whose ability to articulate what they see allows us to understand and engage with our world afresh, whether that be through their 350-strong award-winning Young Company, outreach and education projects or helping ascendant artists by nurturing the spark or seed of an idea into something fully-formed through their trail-blazing development programme, Bristol Ferment.

Catherine Morgenstern, Producer, Bristol Old Vic said:
“Stage One does such a terrific job of supporting early career producers, and I’m delighted that Bristol Old Vic can be part of the scheme by hosting a Regional Trainee Producer. It’s vital, as an industry, that we spot entrepreneurial spirit and theatrical flair, encouraging it to grow in a supported and well networked community. Stage One is simply the best charity for achieving this. I am particularly thrilled that a trainee producer can join us during such a busy time, with exciting projects being generated here in Bristol, along with a number of shows set to transfer and tour.”  

Watford Palace Theatre
At the heart of Watford since 1908, Watford Palace Theatre is a local 21st century producing theatre with a national reputation for excellence. The Palace is proud of the outstanding diverse work that it makes in Watford and then takes on the road to other communities, both nationally and internationally – developing audiences, artists and communities of all generations through exciting opportunities to participate.

Watford Palace Theatre commissions and produces plays from a range of new and established writers. Recent productions and premieres include Arms and the Man by Bernard Shaw; Poppy & George by Dianne Samuels; Folk by Tom Wells (in co-production with Birmingham Rep and Hull Truck); Laila The Musical by Pravesh Kumar, Sumeet Chopra and Dougal Irvine (a co-production with Rifco); Wipers by Ishy Din (in co-production with Curve Leicester and Belgrade Coventry); Jefferson’s Garden by Timberlake Wertenbaker; Love Me Do by Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran; An Intervention by Mike Bartlett (in co-production with Paines Plough); Shiver by Daniel Kanaber; Perfect Match by Gary Owen, Virgin by E.V.Crowe (in co-production with nabokov), Override by Stacey Gregg; Jumpers for Goalposts by Tom Wells (in co-production with Paines Plough and Hull Truck Theatre); Our Brother David by Anthony Clark; Our Father by Charlotte Keatley; and Family Business by Julian Mitchell.

Jamie Arden, Executive Director, Watford Palace Theatre said:
“Watford Palace Theatre are delighted to be selected to host the Stage One Regional Producer Placement. Over the years I have always been impressed with the professionalism and entrepreneurial flair shown from the new producers who become involved in the excellent Stage One programmes and we look forward to working with the Trainee Producer over the next stage of our own programme development. Through a very hands on approach and fulfilling practical experience in our busy Producing Theatre – working on a variety of exciting Theatre projects that we have on the horizon – we are thrilled to be supporting this placement, nurturing a blossoming career and sparking their creativity as a new Producer.”

Applications for 2017/18 apprentice’s open on Monday 14th November till Monday 19th December please keep checking the website and sign up to our newsletter to keep up to date with Stage One news!

For more information please contact Louise on: 0207 557 6737 / [email protected]