Starting a Theatre Company

Do you want to start an innovative theatre or live performance company and produce exciting new work? Our 4-day interactive workshop can help you get started. Starting a company is a big undertaking that requires energy, resilience, and most importantly, preparation. Led by ADF and specialist guest facilitators, this is the opportunity to make plans for your dream company and identify the steps needed.

What will be covered?

• Shaping your theatre company
• Writing a mission statement
• Identifying your core values
• Business partners and key considerations
• Understanding legal structures
• Activity planning
• Goal setting
• Funding application writing: Arts Council England Project Grants

What will you need?

• A device to access zoom. A desktop will be required for the sake of Zoom breakout room activities and for worksheet tasks.
• A notepad and pen or writing device

FAQs

Will I need to prepare anything before starting?
No. However a homework task will be set after some sessions.

Who is the workshop suited to?
Anyone over the age of 18 years interested in starting a company or anyone who is at the early stages of running one. No prior experience is required.

Do I need to already have an idea for a company?
Yes, but it can be as simple as knowing the type of theatre company you want to start or what type of work you would like to do to give you a starting point.

Are the sessions interactive?
Yes. You will be required to engage with the facilitators and the other participants.

Will the session have live captioning?
Yes, we can provide live captioning if requested when you book, please book at least 7 days in advance. If you book with less notice we may not be able to provide captioning until day 2 of the workshop.

Hannah Bentley: Arts Council England

Hannah has worked across production, producing and touring. As a graduate, Hannah worked at the Royal Court as Production Assistant before moving to work at the Barbican where she started as an Assistant supporting the international programme and line producing new work with UK companies including Michael Clark, Bobbie Baker & Lone Twin.  During this time Hannah co-founded her own company and was awarded the Solt Stage One Independent Producer Bursary for this work.

As Executive Director for Actors Touring Company Hannah worked with Bijan Sheibani to co-produce and tour work nationally and internationally including Tarell Alvin McCraney’s THE BROTHERS SIZE, Bola Agbaje’s GONE TOO FAR! (Albany/Hackney Empire) & Sarah Ruhl’s EURYDICE. Whilst at ATC Hannah was a trustee with the Pacitti Company and a Step-Change mentor.

Hannah now lives in Leeds where she is Relationship Manager with Arts Council England and a trustee with local charity Manuel Bravo Project.

Hannah has worked with ADF on the North Diversifying Boards events in Sheffield and Birmingham and the Board Shadowing Programme – Yorkshire Edition.

Cheryl Gallacher: Arts Council England

Cheryl is a Relationship Manager for the Arts Council, managing a portfolio of National Portfolio Organisations within the London theatre sector, as well as one of London’s Creative People & Places projects – a programme that empowers people in places to choose, design and create their own creative opportunities.

Cheryl has been a Director for Southwark Playhouse Education Partnership, as assistant director for Lyric Hammermith, National Youth Theatre and Cardboard Citizens, a facilitator developing & delivering drama programmes with young people in a range of settings for the Almeida, The Yard, the National Theatre, Spotlight Youth Centre, Half Moon Young People’s Theatre, Synergy Theatre Project, National Theatre Connections.

Cheryl has directed A NEW BETTER YOU’ by Joe Harbot at the Yard Theatre, TRIBUTE ACTS by TheatreState (co-directing) National Tour, ‘An Alternative London’ devised with members of Crisis at the National Theatre, ‘THE FANNY HILL PROJECT’ by TheatreState (co-directing), ‘CHAPEL STREET’ by Luke Barnes at The Bush, Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse. Cheryl is currently an Associate Director for The Yard.

Sandra Thompson-Quartey

Sandra leads the training and develops programmes, events and membership services for Artistic Directors of the Future.

Sandra is also the Artistic Director and founder of High-Rise Avenue (previously Writers Avenue) (https://www.highriseavenue.com); a multi-disciplinary production company, which produces exciting new theatre shows written and directed by Black Asian or ethnically creatives and adapts them for film and television.

From 2015-2020 she worked as a talent agent and ran her own agency, The Artist & Creative Avenue (ACA), which primarily represented Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic and international artists based in London, LA, New York, Italy and Germany. Sandra facilitated theatre, television, film and commercial job opportunities for her clients, including National Theatre, Donmar Warehouse, Soho Theatre, Old Vic, Warner Brothers, BBC, ITV, Sony and Netflix.

Kate Sarley

Kate was born Baghdad Iraq and raised in East London, Kate’s traditional Arab name is Inaam-Catherine bint Suhail bin Mohammed bin Salih al-Hashemi.

She trained in Technical Theatre and Stage Management at RADA before studying Arts Admin at Birkbeck College, University of London. Kate then spent over ten successful years as a Stage Manager for a variety of organisations including Birmingham Rep, the RSC, Unicorn Kids Theatre and in the West End.

Having moved into administration Kate worked for English Heritage, Soho Theatre Company and Theatre Royal Stratford East, before undertaking senior management contracts with Colchester Arts Centre, Talawa Theatre Company, Oval House, Daily Life Ltd, Jacksons Lane, Discover Centre for Children, Eastern Angles, Shape East Architectural Centre and Hoxton Hall.

Ann Jones

Ann was born in the Rhondda Valley, she studied Fine Art at Birmingham Art College and then moved to London where she still lives.

She has many years’ experience of working in the contemporary art sector across the UK and overseas,  developing and delivering artistic programmes and projects and advising on organisational, curatorial, artistic and leadership development.

Alongside her professional commitments Ann is Chair of Take Art which takes great art to towns, villages and rural communities.