Call Out for Puppetry Scratch Performances

10 x £100 travel grants for emerging puppeteers to help facilitate new scratch/short performance

excerpts at Skipton Puppetry Festival 2017. Open to applicants from across the UK.

Do you have an idea for a puppet show but are missing an outlet to perform it in? Do you already have the beginnings of a piece but need a professional outside eye and performance experience to drive it forward? Do you want the opportunity to showcase your in-development work at a prominent international puppetry festival?

Skipton Puppet Festival, in association with Moving Parts: Newcastle Puppetry Festival, is offering 10 artists/groups of any age, with strong interest in puppetry and creating work for the small stage, the opportunity to artists/groups to perform and receive feedback at an international puppetry festival. With the aim of developing emerging puppeteers and the growing, diversifying puppetry sector, this opportunity is open to any UK-based artist of any age. As well as gaining artistic development, successful applicants will receive a travel bursary and optional accommodation/food during their stay, giving support to participate more fully in the rest of the festival.

We are looking for submissions of between 5-15 minutes of scratch/short performances that heavily feature puppetry and/or object theatre. Performances can use up to three performers. Successful submissions will be performed at the festival in the festival hub site to a live audience, with opportunity to receive constructive feedback from viewers and create professional connections. Companies will receive a copy of all feedback gained from the performance. Skipton Puppet Festival is a key date in the UK and European calendar and there will be a number of highly regarded puppeteers in the area. This is a fantastic opportunity specifically aimed at budding puppeteers, emerging artists, and professional artists with fresh ideas.

Applicants must be available between 29th September - 1st October 2017.

Opportunity details

• Scratch or complete performances accepted as long as the piece is still in development at the time of the festival.
• Aimed at those wanting to gain feedback and insight into their work to progress it further.
• Pieces can be suitable for adults or children but this must be made clear on the application form.
• It is acceptable to submit work that has already been in-development for a while and has been performed at scratch performances before. We will not accept work that has been performed on an amateur or professional platform before, ie. at a ticketed event. We welcome entries of work that has been created specifically for this opportunity.
• Performances using up to three performers will take place in a marquee in the centre of the festival hub, possibly with at least one open wall, so artists should prepare for noise pollution and natural light affecting stage settings.
• Pieces must be between 5 and 15 minutes in length
• Pieces must be technically self-sufficient and not require a big, lengthy set up. Ideally pieces would require no tech as this opportunity focuses on narrative and puppeteering development. Basic tech of 2-4 simple spot lights will be provided as well as the ability to play music. Pieces must not require smoke effects or strobe lighting.
• Successful applicants will have the option to stay in basic accommodation nearby and receive hot food on the day of performing.
• A travel grant £100 will be given to support each selected piece. This is not a paid opportunity.
• We would hope that successful applicants make use of their time in Skipton during the festival and attend other events to gain inspiration, insight and experience.
• Applicants must be available between 29th September - 1st October 2017.

To apply:

• Complete the short application form showing particular weight to what this opportunity would do for you and where you see your puppetry piece going in the future.
• Attach a video of the piece in its current state. Video quality will not count towards the decision process, but footage must be clear enough to view properly. Phone footage is acceptable.
• Send the above to kerrin.tatman@gmail.com. Please use WeTransfer or Dropbox if files are too large.
• Send in your completed application and video to the above email address by Monday 31st July at 12 noon.

• CLICK HERE to download application/submission form

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