We announce today that the Chair of our Board of Trustees Caro Newling is stepping down from her role after nine years. Our Artistic Directors James and George pay tribute to a true legend of PP…

We’ve long been in thrall to Caro’s brilliance. As graduates running our fledgling company nabokov we read Matt Wolf’s book Stepping Into Freedom which captured the magic of the Mendes era Donmar at its hit factory heights. On stage, film stars fronted the hottest tickets in town while behind the scenes an extraordinary operation transformed a tiny warehouse with no funding into one of the mightiest theatres in the world. The mastermind and maestro of that operation was Caro Newling.

Years later when she agreed to become our Chair at PP we had the incredible opportunity to work alongside one of our heroes. Caro’s passion, imagination, inventiveness and drive has been the bedrock of everything we’ve done since. Galvanising, enabling, envisioning, problem-solving, mentoring, miracle-working, Caro has been our constant champion and confidante. Through strategies, business plans, rebrands, campaigns and fundraising drives her entrepreneurialism, wisdom and skill has powered Paines Plough.

Caro’s superpowers were never more evident than during the four years from conception to launch of Roundabout. Her indomitable belief in the project, acumen, advocacy, extensive contacts book and flair for corralling support and raising funds forged a dream into reality.

Our gratitude to Caro is shared by all our colleagues at PP past and present, our stakeholders and funders, our co-producers and partners and most importantly the hundreds of playwrights and artists whose work Caro has enabled, and the audiences across the world who have experienced it.

We’re thrilled that Caro will be succeeded by Kim Grant whose vision and leadership we have hugely valued as Chair of our Finance, Audit and Risk committee in recent years. Kim is the perfect person to take on Caro’s mantle and propel PP to an exciting future.

James & George

 

Our AD James Grieve has recently written an article for The Stage on how it really is possible to watch 3 plays a week for under £12.50. You can read it here:

https://www.thestage.co.uk/advice/2018/cheap-theatre-tickets-see-three-plays-week-12-50-less/

In light of this, we’ve decided to create an ongoing resource centre for all those that want to watch as much theatre as possible without breaking the bank! We also do not want this to be a London-centric space,  so are particularly interested in deals and schemes from regional theatres. Please DM us on Twitter with any further suggestions, or email jo@painesplough.com – we’ll just keep adding!

London Theatres:

Almeida Theatre

Under 25 £5 tickets UNDER25 code

https://almeida.co.uk/25-and-under

Black Ticket Project

An initiative giving young black people the opportunity to experience theatre free of charge / at a discounted rate.

https://twitter.com/btproject_?lang=en

Bridge Theatre

Young Bridge – 16-25 £15 Tickets

https://bridgetheatre.co.uk/frequently-asked-questions/#tickets-and-booking

Bush Connect

Under 26 / Student £5 off standard tickets and £2.50 off Studio tickets + 10% off in bar

https://www.bushtheatre.co.uk/your-visit/ways-to-save/bush-connect/

Donmar Warehouse’s Young Free

FREE tickets for under 25s

https://www.donmarwarehouse.com/visit/young-free/

Hampstead Downstairs Club

16-30 £5 tickets to shows in Downstairs theatre

https://www.hampsteadtheatre.com/about-us/the-downstairs-club/

National Theatre Entry Pass

£7.50 tickets + bring a friend for £10.00 – and workshops!

https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/entry-pass

National Theatre Standing Tickets

You can pay £5 to stand at the back of the Olivier or Lyttleton Theatres. Standing tickets can only be bought on the day of performance at the Box Office.

New Diorama Theatre

£3 previews for unemployed / on job seeker’s allowance

https://www.newdiorama.com/

The Old Vic

£10 previews

https://www.oldvictheatre.com/your-visit/booking-tickets/pwc

Orange Tree Theatre

Under 30 £12 Tickets

https://www.orangetreetheatre.co.uk/your-visit/venue-booking-info

Royal Court

Under 26 £15 tickets + £12 Mondays, 10p standing tickets!

https://royalcourttheatre.com/your-visit/tickets/ways-to-save/

Young Barbican

14-25 £5 – £15 tickets + no booking fees

https://www.barbican.org.uk/join-support/young-barbican

Young Vic

Under 26 / full time student – £10 tickets

https://www.youngvic.org/visit-us/concessions

 

Regional Theatres:

ARC Stockton

Pay What You Decide nights

https://arconline.co.uk/about-us/how-to-book

Birmingham Rep

£5 Tickets

https://www.birmingham-rep.co.uk/get-involved/rep-memberships.html

Bristol Old Vic

£5 tickets for Bristol Uni and UWE students

https://bristololdvic.org.uk/booking-information/arts-ping

Chichester Theatre

PROLOGUE offers £5 tickets to 16 – 25s

https://www.cft.org.uk/your-visit/booking-information/prologue

Coventry Belgrade

19-25 FREE Tickets

http://www.belgrade.co.uk/your-visit/box-office-info/free-tickets-for-19-25s/

Glasgow Citizens Theatre

50p Tickets

https://www.citz.co.uk/press/release/citizens-theatre-launches-new-season-with-first-50p-tickets-sale-of-2018

HOME Manchester

£5 Tickets

https://homemcr.org/about/ticket-information/

Leicester Curve

16-26 Discounted Tickets

https://www.curveonline.co.uk/plan-your-visit/booking-information/

Lincoln Performing Arts Centre

Discounted tickets

https://lpac.co.uk/your-visit/how-to-book/

Live Theatre, Newcastle

16-26 discounted tickets

https://www.live.org.uk/whats-on

Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse

£5 Tickets

https://www.everymanplayhouse.com/yep

Nottingham Playhouse

Pay what you can nights

https://www.nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk/search/?search=pay+what+you+can

Royal and Derngate

Discounted Tickets

https://www.royalandderngate.co.uk/your-visit/booking-information/membersdiscounts/

Sherman Cymru, Cardiff

Half Price Tickets

https://www.shermantheatre.co.uk/access/your-visit/

SJT Scarborough

Under 30’s £10 Tickets

https://www.sjt.uk.com/search.php?term=&search_term=

Theatr Clwyd

£10 tickets

https://www.theatrclwyd.com/en/whats-on/

Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh

Under 30 £15 Tickets

https://www.traverse.co.uk/site-search.aspx?usterms=under%2030s

Theatre Royal, Plymouth

Discounts / Concessions

https://www.theatreroyal.com/your-visit/booking-information/

 

 

 

 

Elin has written this week’s blog post on her experiences working on Anna Jordan’s POP MUSIC over the past few months – and she’s done so in a suitably poppy manner!

I’m Elin, the Assistant Director on POP MUSIC, Paines Plough’s new show by Anna Jordan. POP MUSIC is a joyous roller coaster celebrating the last thirty years of pop. From Whitney to Oasis to Clean Bandit, there is something for everyone.

We are about to take this slice of pop magic on the road where we will be performing at venues across the country, so I thought I would sit down and fill you in on what has happened so far!

Track 1

It’s not every Monday that you come to work and learn the entire choreography for Single Ladies, but at Paines Plough HQ it’s becoming pretty standard. The office workers across the road are marvelling at our twerking and a pop party playlist of dreams is pouring out of the rehearsal room (thank you Anna Jordan).

We have a cast of three, the brilliant Katherine Kotz, Rakesh Boury and Ciaran Alexander Stewart. Together they are going to tell this brilliant story whilst integrating BSL into the production (including sign within the choreography!) I have been learning a bit of BSL too, including the sign for ‘Madonna’ and ‘MJ’. As the Assistant Director, I am making sure I know the show inside and out. I am making notes on all of the routines, the blocking and the rhythm of the words and how they fit with the songs. We are about to do a rehearsal room run for the Paines Plough team. It’s nerve-wracking but we are ready to put it in front of an audience. Roll on Latitude!

Track 2

The tents are up, the glitter is packed and we have arrived at Latitude with 100 metallic balloons and the biggest glitter ball I have ever seen. The Theatre Tent is gigantic, and we are waiting for the first performance, glow stick in hand! This performance is captioned as well as having BSL integration, which is great because as well as making it accessible, it means that we can sing-a-long to our favourite pop tunes, karaoke style. The audience are amazing, they dance and sing and shed a tear and we head back outside just in time for The Killers’ set!

Track 3

We are getting back to it after a break. Anna has had a baby and he is amazing. We are in rehearsals again at Paines Plough HQ to recap the show and make it bigger and better than before. The week is up and before we know it we are Birmingham-bound, heading to the REP for the start of our technical rehearsals. These rehearsals are very important for this show because the action is built around the music. The text is intricately woven in and out of songs so getting the microphones at the right level and making sure every word can be heard is crucial! We are ready to open the show and everyone is excited. The audience stick around after the curtain call to dance on the stage! We go and celebrate in the only way that feels appropriate … a night at Pop World!

Track 4

The show closes at the REP, but we aren’t quite ready to leave Birmingham. We are taking POP MUSIC on a community tour of Birmingham and the West Midlands. The spaces are not always theatre spaces, and some of them are smaller than our space at the REP. I rework some of the blocking with the cast for smaller spaces with different entrances and exits and we perform to new audiences.

 

Track 5

We are welcoming the fantastic Vedi Roy this week who is going to play G on the POP MUSIC national tour as we say Bye Bye Bye to Rakesh (turn of the century NSYNC, anyone?) This is where my note taking throughout rehearsals is going to be very useful because Director James is away, and I am in charge of bringing Vedi up to speed and getting him ready for his first performance, which is fast approaching. We can’t wait to see him out there on the stage with the team!

We are delighted to announce that the wonderful Vedi Roy will be taking on the role of ‘G’ on the PP nation-wide tour of POP MUSIC!

About Vedi Roy:

Vedi Roy trained at DNA Studios, Pineapple Arts, and The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts.

Vedi regularly Choreographs and directs movement for productions, workshops and classes in London and across the nation. He is currently branching out into directing whilst enhancing his writing practice, with a possible rehearsed reading of his first full-length play mid 2019.

Credits:

As Actor/Dancer – 

Genie in Aladdin (Watford Palace Theatre); Pinky in Miss Meena and the Masala Queens (Rifco Theatre Company/Watford Palace Theatre); Kazi/Ensemble in Laila the Musical (Rifco Theatre Company/Watford Palace Theatre); Banker in The Hunting of the Snark (Sherman Theatre/RGM Productions); Duke Theseus in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Theatre Royal Haymarket); Dancer for Ideal Home Show; Dancer for Britain’s Next Top Model Live.

As Creative collaborator – 

Co-creator and Actor in Pinky and Preetho’s Comedy Night (Rifco Theatre Company/Watford Palace Theatre), Writer for Future’s in the Making (Spread the Word). 

Social handles:

Twitter – @vediroy

Instagram – vediroy

 

Here at Paines Plough (PP) we’re passionate about bringing truly brilliant theatre to each corner of the UK, whether you’re in Liverpool or Lyme Regis, Middlesbrough or Maidenhead, we’ll be bringing one of our shows to you soon.

We tour all over map, which means we have audiences all over the map! PP CHAMPIONS is our new ambassador scheme looking to create a national team of 18-25 year-olds who are as excited about new plays as we are, and dedicated to championing theatre in their neighbourhood.

WHO ARE WE LOOKING FOR?

• Passionate about theatre in their local area.
• Outgoing personality: approachable, social and eager to get along with different people.
• Great communicator.
• Connected and in-tune with their local area: knows how to spread the word effectively to a broad range of people.
• Strong understanding of social handles (Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, etc.) and a creative mind to match.

WHAT DOES THE ROLE INVOLVE?

Role:

• Representing PP in your neighbourhood.
• Harnessing your social media channels to publicise the PP productions heading your way.
• Using your local knowledge and networks to introduce PP and your local theatre to new audiences.
• Engaging and exciting people about their local theatre venue and PP.

 

“I really enjoyed working with such a lovely, inclusive bunch of people… It was fantastic to feel like an important part of a large team…I had a ball, basically.”

Paines Plough Festival Team Member

 

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Management:

• All PP CHAMPIONS will be supported and line-managed by PP’s Assistant Producer Harriet Bolwell.
• All PP CHAMPIONS will be provided with a PP CHAMPIONS Tool Kit, providing you with everything you’ll need to get the word out to your area.

Fee:

• PP CHAMPIONS will be paid at a rate £10 p/h, working for a maximum of 15 hours in the lead up to PP productions arriving at their local theatre. Hours will be logged on online timesheets to be submitted alongside an invoice and a signed PP Champion Agreement.

BENEFITS

• Access to free tickets for you and a friend.
• The chance to network with other ambassadors and arts professionals.
• Working in collaboration with PP and our touring venues.
• Opportunity to develop networking, communication, organisational and marketing skills.
• A chance to be part of a nationwide network of like-minded theatre lovers.
• Signed playtexts.
• Meet the cast of PP productions.
• An insight into a career in theatre.

TO APPLY

Please apply here.

You will be asked to upload your CV and/or a video application.

Submissions close on Thurs 25 October 2018 at 12 noon.

Successful applicants will be invited for a Skype interview the morning of 28 October.

 

Requirements

• Must be 18 to 25 years-old.
• Must be based at an address with one of the following four areas in the UK: Lyme Regis,  Middlesbrough, Guildford and Tunbridge Wells.
• Must have a UK bank account and required visas to work within the UK.

Please note you must be over 18 to apply for this position.

Whilst PP CHAMPIONS is in four areas for now, we are hoping to roll out more locations across the UK soon –keep your eyes peeled for more news on PP CHAMPIONS in your area.

If you have any questions or problems just give us a ring on 020 7240 4533 or drop Eman an email on emanpreet@painesplough.com.

Paines Plough is committed to being an equal opportunities employer.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Paines Plough is looking to extend our network of movement directors. Polly Bennett is looking to meet movement directors at the beginning of their careers with a view to offer mentorship.

Cue Paines Plough’s STEPPING INTO MOVEMENT workshop with Polly Bennett:

Movement Directors are becoming an increasing part of the theatre-making process, but how do you become one?

One of Movement Director Polly Bennett’s first solo jobs was at Paines Plough, where working with small companies, getting quick results and engaging actors from all backgrounds is the name of the game. With a view to meet movement directors at the beginning of their careers and offer mentorship, Polly Bennett invites you to come and share practice and rehearsal room ideas in this session. Working with text, space (and lack of space) she will create a dialogue around establishing and acknowledging your own movement practice and how to take your first steps into production work.

This is an opportunity to share your ideas and experiences of movement practice and to learn more about the work Paines Plough are doing to support emerging creatives. If you have an inclination for movement and want to explore the next steps this is a session for you.

Expect to move, work with text and meet potential collaborators.

The workshop will take place on Thursday 22nd November, 10.30am – 5.00pm at The Mono Box Studio in London.

TO APPLY:

Please apply here. We ask for a copy of your CV and a short paragraph about why you would like to take part in the workshop.

Deadline for applications is Monday 29th October, and you can expect to hear from us by Friday 12th November. 

—–

ABOUT POLLY BENNETT:

Polly Bennett is a Movement Director and Choreographer working nationally and internationally. She holds an MA in Movement from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama and is Associate Movement Practitioner at the RSC.

Theatre includes: The Village (Stratford East Theatre), The Lehman Trilogy (National Theatre), As You Like It (Regents Park Open Air Theatre), Travesties (Menier Chocolate Factory, West End and Broadway), The Great Wave (National Theatre), Circle Mirror Transformation (Home), People, Places & Things (National Theatre; also West End, UK Tour and off-Broadway); Touch (Soho), Don Juan in Soho (Wyndhams), Blush (Soho), Salome (RSC), Woyzeck (Old Vic), Junkyard (Bristol Old Vic), How My Light Is Spent (Manchester Royal Exchange), A Streetcar Named Desire (Manchester Royal Exchange), My Country; a work in progress, (National Theatre and UK Tour), The Deep Blue Sea (National Theatre),Three Days in the Country (National Theatre), Pomona (National Theatre, Royal Exchange and Orange Tree), Henry V (Shanghai Dramatic Centre of Performing Arts), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (RSC), The Famous Victories of Henry V (RSC), Doctor Faustus (Duke of York’s), The Maids (Trafalgar Studios), Yen (Royal Court), Plaques and Tangles(Royal Court) hang(Royal Court), The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (Birmingham Rep), The Rise and Fall of Little Voice (West Yorkshire Playhouse), A Mad World My Masters (RSC and UK Tour), The Angry Brigade (Bush), Dunsinane (National Theatre Scotland, US, Asia and UK tours), The King’s Speech (Chichester, Birmingham Rep and on UK tour), To Kill a Mockingbird (Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre), nut (National Theatre.)

Film: Bohemian Rhapsody (Movement Coach),The Little Stranger (Choreographer),Stan and Ollie (as Assistant Choreographer.)

TV:The Crown Series 3 (Netflix), Killing Eve (BBC America), Urban Myths (Sky Arts) and Gareth Malone’s Best of British (BBC)

Other work includes: Assistant Movement Director on the London 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony, Mass Cast Choreographer on the London 2012 Paralympic Opening Ceremony and Mass Cast Choreographer on Sochi Winter Olympics Opening and Paralympic Ceremonies 2014.

Polly is co-founder of The Mono Box.