A Thousand Cranes book 15 venue UK tour
Published 2 June 2010
Before coming to decibel Performing Art Showcase in 2009, A Thousand Cranes was still a relatively new theatre company receiving many of its bookings through word of mouth. With the help of artsdepot it has now booked a 15 venue UK tour for autumn 2010.
Here Co-Artistic Director Kumiko Mendl explains how the experience has put A Thousand Cranes on the map nationally:
“We applied for decibel because we hoped it would be an opportunity to raise our profile, create a tour or find venues willing to co produce The Paper Washi Wish. Up until then the company had very little infrastructure and we were receiving bookings by word of mouth. We had been working closely with Kerry Andrews from artsdepot and they were up for helping us produce the project.
“The Paper Washi Wish was a work in progress when we applied for decibel. We had received Grants for the Arts R & D money, so we reworked some of the work that was produced to take to the showcase. We only spent one night in Manchester, because of the costs involved, but our experience was very positive. We had a great response from the delegates after our showing and managed to catch a few other pieces.
“After the showcase we were contacted by venues that had heard about our work in progress at decibel and have booked us on recommendation. We now have an autumn tour going to 15 venues as a direct result of decibel, plus venues expressing interest for a further tour in spring 2011. The experience has put us on the map, so to speak, nationally.
“In October 2009 we were invited to be Artistic Associates of artsdepot. They are helping us to book the tour, produce publicity and marketing materials and are providing free rehearsal and technical space. The show will premiere there on September 17th 2010 for three days before going out on tour. We have also just received news that the Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation will be supporting us with a grant for the materials for the paper-making part of the show.”
http://www.athousandcranes.org.uk/
Kazzum book outdoor festivals with ‘Paper People’
Published 1 June 2010
Kazzum, the children’s theatre company, have been booked for two new outdoor festivals this year, the National Theatre’s ’Watch this Space’ summer series and ‘On the Waterfront’ festival in Liverpool.
Administrative Director Akua Obeng-Frimpong believes that the opportunity to perform ‘Paper People’ outdoors at decibel has helped Kazzum to establish itself in this area.
“Kazzum was new to the outdoor performance circuit in 2009, so we wanted an opportunity to showcase our work, ‘Paper People’, and make new contacts for touring.
“The experience was quite a whirlwind. We were only there for the last day of decibel performing on two sites. Everything was focused on delivering our performances and making new contacts in a limited space of time. Mainly we found it useful to meet the contacts we had initiated prior to the showcase and to consolidate our relationship with them.
“Now we feel as though we’re more on the outdoor performance map and have a greater understanding of the opportunities available to us. This has been worthwhile for developing plans for a larger scale outdoor piece we have in mind for 2012.
“The bookings we have received so far for ‘Paper People’ are all new festivals / events for Kazzum, including the ‘Watch This Space’ Season at the National Theatre on Thursday 29 July and ‘On the Waterfront’ festival in Liverpool on Saturday 7 August. We are also undertaking a tour of children’s play spaces in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets during August (9 -20).”
