Conference 19: Programme

Centre Stage looked at how to put the needs of artist and audience at the heart of theatres.

From 8.45: Registration 

Breakfast refreshments sponsored by Triple E

9.30: Welcome

Jon Morgan, Director, Theatres Trust

Plenary: Theatres and their Communities: People at the Centre

How do theatres connect artist, audience and the wider community? What is a democratic theatre and how do theatres, as physical entities, contribute to an inclusive, open society?

Speakers include: Anna Dinnen, freelance consultant and co-author of ACE’s 'Capital Works! Building Transformation’ report, Rebecca Holt, Executive Director & Deputy CEO, Battersea Arts Centre, Martin Lydon, Associate, Haworth Tompkins, Madani Younis, Creative Director, Southbank Centre

Session chair: Paddy Dillon, Trustee, Theatres Trust

Morning break

Refreshments sponsored by HQ Theatres & Hospitality

Breakout sessions

Choose one to attend on the day - no need to book

Breakout 1: Different Spaces, New Possibilities

Some theatre makers are choosing to make and present their work in non-traditional spaces such as shops and railway arches. What motivates them to work in these different spaces and what are the artistic and audience possibilities they create?

Speakers include: Jessica Brewster, Creative Director, Theatre Deli, Julia Negus, Producer,  Theatre Absolute / Shop Front Theatre, Colin Nightingale, Creative Producer, Punchdrunk, Olly Royds, Joint Founder & CEO, Troubadour Theatres

Session Chair: Tom Stickland, Theatres Adviser, Theatres Trust

Breakout 2: Welcoming our Audience

What makes a theatre truly welcoming? How can we build and adapt our theatres to remove the barriers which stop them being accessible and inclusive spaces?

Speakers include: Phil Evans, Director of Tourism & Enterprise, Eastbourne Borough Council, Tim Foster, Partner, Foster Wilson Architects, Mark Lewis, Associate Director, Levitt Bernstein Architects, Lynette Shanbury, Executive Director & Joint CEO, Polka Theatre, Katie Town, Executive Director, Theatre Royal Wakefield

Session Chair: Anna Stapleton, Trustee, Theatres Trust 

Capital Projects Lightning Round

A high-speed overview of eight projects offering a taste of current theatre building trends across the UK and the people considerations informing them.

Speakers include:
Rob Bearyman, Bennetts Associates on Woolwich Works, Liam Evans-Ford, Executive Director, Theatr Clywd, Roddy Gauld, Chief Executive, Octagon, Bolton, Russell Potter, Director, SODA Studio on Boulevard Theatre, Rachael Thomas, Executive Director, Birmingham Rep, Nicola Walls, Head of Arts & Culture, Page \ Park Architects on Leeds Playhouse, David Watson, Associate Director, MICA Architects on Fairfield Halls, Croydon, Mike Yates, Director, Austin Smith Lord on Shakespeare North.

Session Chair: Tom Stickland, Theatres Adviser, Theatres Trust

Lunch and building tours

Lunch sponsored by Theatreplan

Plenary: People-Centred Design

How do we engage with our audiences and other stakeholders to ensure their views directly inform our theatre capital projects? How does a democratic design process work and does it make for more ‘democratic’ theatre spaces?

Speakers include: Hannah Fox, Director of Projects & Programmes, Derby Museums, Matt Fenton, Artistic Director, Contact Theatre Manchester, Nasima Begum and Jake Howarth, Con:Struct capital project young people’s team, David Micklem, Co-founder & Chair, 64 Million Artists

Session Chair: Jon Morgan, Director, Theatres Trust

Afternoon break

Refreshments sponsorsed by GoboPlus

Creative Spaces

The new generation of Artistic Directors will discuss what it means to take on a theatre. What are the artistic and audience possibilities and limitations of their theatres and what ambitions do they have for their buildings in the future?

Speakers include:  Joe Douglas, Artistic Director, Live Theatre, Newcastle, Nadia Fall, Artistic Director, Theatre Royal Stratford East, Tarek Iskander, Artistic Director & CEO, Battersea Arts Centre, Bryony Shanahan, Associate Artistic Director, Royal Exchange Manchester

Session Chair: Samira Ahmed, Theatres Trust Ambassador

5pm: Conference closes

Conference Reception

An opportunity to catch up with contacts old and new. Sponsored by Robe.