Downstage Theatre is a company dedicated to contemporary New Zealand theatre making in all its facets. We are committed to serving the community in which we exist, as well as strengthening the theatre sector as a whole by seeking out collaborations with independent artists and emerging or established companies — locally, nationally and internationally.
Our primary aim is to support individual artists, creative collaborators and companies by offering access to our resources and expertise and, by giving them the opportunity to be a part of a curated program encompassing innovation, risk and artistic excellence.
In an environment of limited government funding shared resources is smart business. You develop the work and retain control of your artistic product, we present it in a professional context, raise your profile through marketing and provide opportunities to get it tour ready.
While our focus is centred firmly in the hands of the creators of art and their aspirations, we are equally committed to our audiences and to building an appreciation and following for distinctive New Zealand works.
It is our firm belief that what brings audiences through the door is energy and vitality, they want to be part of the Downstage experience, they want to be stimulated by the creative investigations being made by the practitioners who work and live here.
Programming
Downstage presents two distinct seasons of works annually. Mainbill, late night, early evening or one-off presentations are considered from any combination of theatre, music, dance, and physical theatre disciplines.
Season One – Feb-Jun
Season Two – Jul-Dec
New Zealand is home to a vibrant arts community and our aim is to present within our limited resources the most bold and theatrically innovative work we can find. Offering professional theatre-makers opportunities to present their work within our Showcase Seasons means
We are seeking partnerships between a variety of practitioners and creative collaborators, independent producers and companies. The financial arrangements between presenting and producing partners will be negotiated on a case by case basis.
The Director may initiate or invite collaborations with a variety of partners including:
[Artistic associates are producing partners who have previously worked with Downstage or are of national and international repute.]
What we are looking for
We invite creative collaborators with a vision or artistic imperative to submit a proposal for a production of a new work through our submission process.
You must be working professionally in the performing arts, have a broad knowledge of New Zealand theatrical culture and a good understanding of where Downstage Theatre sits within this culture. We also anticipate that you are submitting a proposal with us, our interests and the Hannah Playhouse as a venue, in mind.
Please note we do not accept scripts – if you are submitting a proposal that involves a scripted work you must address the questions below, and include confirmed expressions of interest from a creative team including designers, director, actors and producer.
“Working professionally” means you have had at least one professional production of your work or are recognised as professional by the industry at large. Professional productions may encompass work staged in a variety of contexts (e.g. main stage, circus, youth and cabaret).
If you do not fit within the above description your proposal will not be considered and no dialogue will be entered into.
To make a “compelling case”, this is what you need to do!
Send in a proposal that addresses the following:
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Why you want to work with Downstage? |
Let us know what you believe a collaboration with Downstage will bring to your work and why? |
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What’s the thinking behind the idea/production/artistic vision? |
We would like to hear about the form as well as the content of your work, and how this matters and moves audience, and how you believe it can be achieved. |
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When and where has the idea been developed or performed? |
This can be a 1-2 page synopsis of the project, a 10-page extract of the script or the equivalent on another medium (e.g. 5-min DVD). |
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Who are you and who are your creative team? |
Who is the creative team behind your project? A one-paragraph biographical note of yourself and individual notes of similar length for any other artist involved. |
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What resources can you bring to the project? (Half A4 page only) |
Due to limited funding we are unlikely to fund rehearsals and development. Do you have funding available to you? How might you pull resources together to develop your project? |
All of the above should be presented in an appropriate, readable and single-sided format and postmarked or emailed no later than the due date. We will not accept faxed or handwritten proposals.
Proposals may include more than one artist. We ask, however, that individuals or teams send no more than one proposal. This does not preclude you from being named on several proposals. We will assume that any artist named has a commitment to the project in question.
Please note that due to time and resource limitations we will not accept anything that sits outside these guidelines nor provide feedback on a proposal unless we undertake its development.
What happens next?
After the submission closing date this is what happens:
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A letter or email acknowledging receipt will be sent to you. |
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Submissions will be read and assessed by the Downstage Director with the relevant staff and (optional) artistic associates or industry peers. |
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A short list will be compiled. If the company has an interest in the project, we will notify you within three months of the receipt of your proposal. |
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If your submission is not successful this time, we will notify you by letter. |
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For those projects in which the company has expressed an interest, a decision on further development and/or programming will be made and an offer made within four to six months of a proposal’s receipt, depending on programming schedules. |
Deadlines
5pm, 30 September 2009 Submissions for 2011
All proposals should be sent to the following:
or
Downstage Theatre
PO Box 9441
Wellington
We invite your engagement!
If you have any questions regarding the submission and programming process, call Angela on 04 802 6395.
Please also note that these procedures regularly reviewed and all feedback is welcome.