Last year we launched WalesLab, our five year artist development initiative funded by Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, offering artists the opportunity to apply for short residencies to develop an idea or piece of work. In the last 12 months we’ve seen projects happen from Castell Coch to Capelulo, Cardiff Airport to Cilgerran, and Castlemartin to places that don’t begin with C. What matters most is the ideas these projects develop and pursue, and now we're on the hunt for more projects to…

A short video introducing day 2 of the WalesLab Pollinate summer camp.

There'll be more videos posted in the WalesLab group.

There's now just over a week-and-a-half before I go away here with a group of artists for two weeks to make stuff happen.

Coming with me on this adventure are:

Bethan Grant

Brent Morgan

Christine Handke

Davis Smith

Ellora Adam

Frank Thomas

Geraint Desmond

Greg Wohead

Justin Cliffe`

Lisa Wells-Turner

Lowri…

"I really want someone to deliver the message around the world that we are in a terrible situation here."



So this afternoon I'm in Rhosygilwen watching four actors (Matthew Bulgo, Matthew Aubrey, Gwydion Rhys & Rachel Helena Walsh) work with director, Zoe Lafferty. They're sitting opposite each other in two rows reading texts, tearing them apart, retreading them - pouring over the meaning and interpretation of each line.…

A few months back I blogged about the summer camp we're planning this - well summer surprisingly.

So as the sun's out and the Olympic flame is here it's time to reveal some more info about what we're doing, where, when & how to apply:

So the first WalesLab Pollinate summer camp will take place from 6th - 18th August in the Elan Valley, near Rhayader.

We're planning to take up to 20 theatre makers away for the two weeks. We'll provide you with space, accommodation,…

So our Jen said that I should keep a video diary of my time in amsterdam to let you know what I'm doing - so here goes....

 …

At NTW we've always got one eye on the future, thinking about how we make work and how we could make work.

For a while now we've been adding to the tools we use to make and develop work, but without any time to explore what these new tools mean or are capable of. That's about to change.

In 1998 I had a 56k dial-up modem and a mac clone, and was introduced to Google. The way this search engine worked change the way I did. In 1999 I was sending zip-disk back & forth to San…

As the cold weather continues my mind is turning to summer.

This June we'll be taking around twenty artists away on our first WalesLab summer camp; as the national lottery says IT COULD BE YOU. We'll let people know how to apply shortly but before we do, we want to know what you'd like it to be?

There are many diferent residency programmes & workshop schemes but what should this one look and feel like?

Here's the basics:

2 weeks residential (in…

In response to the debate that started on the Bradley Manning group we wanted to ask you "what responsibility our national theatre has to theatres across Wales". 

Should we be producing more work on the stages of our theatres across Wales?

It's quite a big question so what do you…

Just wanted to draw your attention to a few  artist development & festival type opportunities that have come to my attention this week:

Firstly is Theatre Forum Ireland's MAKE programme which I went on last year. It's a week long residency in the idyllic Tyrone Guthrie Centre with a group of other theatre makers and mentors to work on your own project - I did it last year and it was fantastic - allowing me to start…

We've updated our community site and now we've updated our artist guidelines as well!

There aren't major changes just refinements, particularly around telling us about your work - where we're asking you to make use of the events section of the community to pubicise your event and invite us to it. Makes sense to us - hope it does to you too.

If you've got any questions or something's not clear either post the question here or send me a message through my profile.

To…

The second round of applications for WalesLab is now open. For those of you who don't know what WalesLab is here's a brief description: 

Over the next five years, WalesLab will use the nation as a landscape for developing new theatre projects. Twice a year open calls will be published inviting theatre makers and artists from other disciplines, to apply for short residencies to develop an idea or piece of work. This is all thanks to significant investment from the Esmée Fairbairn…

I thought this might be of interest to anyone working in the live art/ performance/ installations area:

Bristol Live Open Platform (BLOP) returns in February 2012 to sweep away those winter blues and hurl us forward into a maelstrom of performance, live art, installations, actions and one off encounters. The call out is now open for artists wishing to propose a work to show at the platform which will be hosted at Arnolfini on 25 Feb 2012. Last…

Just wanted to remind everyone one that the deadline for the emerging directors opportunities is 30th September at midday (next friday). 

If you want to know more about the opportunities please see my previous blog post which gives all the details. If you have specific questions please message me through the…

As one edinburgh fringe finishes, now is perhaps the time to start thinking about next years festival!

There were a number of shows from Wales at this years fringe of varying sizes, from both national theatres to one person shows. Was it a good experience? What did you learn from going? Are there lessons we can share?

Kat Jones bloged about Bandwagon's experiences this year and the…

National Theatre Wales is keen to foster new directing talent.  We believe that one of the most effective ways to develop as a director is by spending time in the rehearsal room observing and supporting more experienced individuals.  Therefore, during our second year of work, we are again offering opportunities for emerging directors to become involved in six of our shows. 

Each emerging director will be given an all-in fee of £2,000 (to include any travel and accommodation…

So after a week at the worlds largest arts festival here are a few of my highlights, in the order I experienced them:

Blind Summit, The Table

A masterclass in puppetry. A deceptively simple show and a demonstration of the company’s mastery of their craft. Whilst I have some reservations about the show’s structure – particularly the 2nd part – it’s still a glorious piece of work.

Fish n Game, Alma Mater

An…

We are delighted to announce that applications are now open for the first round of WalesLab projects.

Over the next five years, WalesLab will use the nation as a landscape for developing new theatre projects. Twice a year open calls will be published inviting theatre makers and artists from other disciplines, to apply for short residencies to develop an idea or piece of work. This is all thanks to significant investment from the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation.

The…