The Old VicThe CutLondonSE1 8NB

www.oldvictheatre.com

The 24 Hour Plays: Old Vic New Voices 2011Supported by Ideas Tap

Evaluation

The Old Vic is a landmark theatre in London. It has been the home of great productions for nearly 200 years, and continues to attract the very best creative talent. For us, great theatre is about great plays, great performances and great nights out from the moment you step through the door. As important to us as what goes on stage is our award winning education, community and emerging talent programme, Old Vic New Voices (OVNV) which aims to support emerging talent, inspire young people and open up theatre to new and diverse audiences.

In 2009, OVNV formed a partnership with IdeasTap, a creative online network and funding body for emerging arts talent. There are currently over 50,000 registered members of this online network. Members can find information about events, interact with other users and apply for projects as well as advertise their shows, form collaborations and access a network of advice, inspiration and opportunities.

Over the three years of the partnership IdeasTap and OVNV have created numerous bespoke, member-led projects; from TURNING YOU ON in 2009, a course offering promotional skills that culminated in a viral advert used to promote IdeasTap, through to COMING UP LATER in 2011, a rare opportunity for six creative directors aged 21–30 to present three late-night events at The Old Vic Tunnels. The common objective was to provide projects that empower a young professional whilst at the same time allowing them to learn from real life experiences.

In 2011 IdeasTap sponsored OVNV’s flagship project The 24 Hour Plays: Old Vic New Voices – a grand theatrical experiment like no other – challenging a company of actors, writers, directors and producers, all aged between 18 and 25, to create seven brand new short plays, in just 24 hours.

Background

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‘The way that Old Vic New Voices invests in emerging artists and showcases talent through The 24 Hour Plays was one of the things that inspired me to set up my own arts charity – IdeasTap – as part of The Peter De Haan Charitable Trust’ Peter De Haan

The 24 Hour Plays: Old Vic New Voices is a collaboration between Old Vic New Voices (OVNV) and The 24 Hour Company based in New York. Returning for a sixth year this unique platform for the most promising theatre makers in the UK has an outstanding alumni including playwright Mike Bartlett (Earthquakes in London and 13, National Theatre); directors George Perrin and James Grieve (Joint Artistic Directors, Paines Plough); producer Emma Brunjes (General Manager, Nimax Theatres) and actor Bryony Hannah (The Children’s Hour, Comedy Theatre). The project has launched over 250 careers with many participants securing agents, West End, Broadway and film contracts, national tours, TV roles and commissions.

The specific challenge of the project is to give 52 of the very best emerging talent the opportunity to shine through the creation and presentation of seven brand new short plays, in just 24 hours. From the playwrights putting pen to paper, to the rehearsals, everything must be completed and ready to be staged in front of more than 1,000 industry professionals and members of the public, on The Old Vic’s 193-year-old stage.

Applications opened on Monday 1 August via www.ideastap.com. All applicants were required to complete an application form which they uploaded to the site.

Following the recruitment of a Project Manager, Casting Assistant and Production Assistant through www.ideastap.com, OVNV staff began the mammoth logistical task of selecting the final 24 Hour Plays: Old Vic New Voices 2011 Company.

Steve Winter, Director of Old Vic New Voices and renowned theatre director, Charlotte Westenra, auditioned all 1,329 actors that applied to the project, and selected 62 to attend the second round of auditions. Meanwhile, an experienced panel sifted through 388 application forms to choose 14 writers, 14 directors and 14 producers for the next stage in the selection process.

The 104 shortlisted applicants were invited to a day-long audition workshop that culminated in a three-hour version of The 24 Hour Plays process. The final company, were invited to a bonding day at the Theatre, before undertaking the ultimate theatrical challenge of creating seven brand new plays in just 24 hours.

The 24 Hour Plays: Old Vic New Voices 2011

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‘It was a great occasion and I was immensely impressed by what everyone had achieved in such a short time’ Rhoddy Voremberg, Trustee, Stanley Picker Charitable Trust

‘You guys are running a terrific initiative there and I hope it brings lots of work to all the actors, writers, directors and producers’ Pete Staves, Relationship Manager, Arts Council

Aims 9Impact 18FactsandFigures 19Summary 21Recommendations 22The2011Company 24Press 26

Supported by IdeasTap

THE 24 HOUR PLAYS: OLD VIC NEW VOICESA co-production with The 24 Hour Company

Director, Old Vic New Voices Steve WinterProject Manager ShakaBunsie and James QuaifeCasting Assistant Rebecca PendarvesProduction Assistant Karla Williams

Photography Guilherme Zühlke O’ConnorBrochure design Peter Collins

Contents

aims

The programme had four clear aims:

1. To create a company of the best emerging talent and ensure a wide demographic of applicants

2. To streamline and develop the experience of the participants during the entire selection process

3. To ensure future collaborations between the members of The 24 Hour Plays: Old Vic New Voices Company 2011

4. To extend the brand identity of The 24 Hour Plays: Old Vic New Voices and IdeasTap

For the third year in the project’s six-year history, Old Vic New Voices (OVNV) used the IdeasTap website as its sole portal for applications. Before applications opened, we extensively promoted the upcoming opportunity to industry and education organisations. Organisations contacted included the Royal Court (Young Writers programme), the Young Vic (The Genesis Directors Network) and Stage One (new producer programmes). The Director of Old Vic New Voices also met with the leading talent agencies to ensure their best eligible individuals applied.

To ensure a wide reach regionally, we contacted theatres across the country including Birmingham Rep, Manchester Royal Exchange, Liverpool Everyman Playhouse, West Yorkshire Playhouse, Bristol Old Vic, the Abbey Theatre in Dublin and the National Theatre of Scotland, as well as advertising in well known industry

publications such as The Stage. In addition to this, we also reached out to the 22 leading drama schools across Britain and OVNV staff attended showcases of graduating students.

Most importantly the project was launched on www.ideastap.com, which has a membership of over 50,000 young creative professionals. By the closing date The 24 Hour Plays: Old Vic New Voices 2011 project had 2,218 artists interested in the brief with submissions from 1,329 actors, 168 writers, 156 directors and 64 producers; a total of 1,717 applicants.

Applications demonstrated a range of experience in individual disciplines and the theatre industry as a whole. 18% of applicants stated they were from a non white British background and 37% were from regions outside Greater London.

1.Tocreateacompanyofthebestemergingtalentandensureawidedemographicofapplicants

‘A miraculous opportunity to experience that particular, terrifying thrill that only a London stage could offer. It rounded up theatricals from all over Britain, and brought many of us our first glimpse’ Writer

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‘IdeasTap seems to be the perfect vehicle to run the application process and I felt everything was clear and simple’ Actor

‘The application process was very well organised and publicised’ Producer

2.Tostreamlineanddeveloptheexperienceoftheparticipantsduringtheentireselectionprocess

One of the benefits of facilitating the whole application process for The 24 Hour Plays: Old Vic New Voices online is the ability to make the experience as immediate as possible, encouraging applications from a wide range of experience levels.

We simplified the application form so that applicants no longer needed to provide a full reference, only the contact details of their referee. This meant an applicant could download, complete and upload their completed application form in one visit to the brief page.

For actors auditions we streamlined a process that would normally take two weeks by placing more control into the hands of the applicant. Each applicant used an online booking form to choose their own audition date and time. The booking process was completed in less than a week, with the additional benefit of an automated spread sheet being created which was used as a point of reference on the audition days. This removed any confusion or difficulties for both the participants and the organisers.

At every stage of The 24 Hour Plays project, participants could learn from the experience. In 2011 all of the initial actor auditions were held at a West End theatre, requiring actors to learn the techniques of filling a large theatre space.

The producers attended a two-stage interview which encouraged them to reflect on their working style; individually pitching their dream project to an OVNV panel and working as a team to present a bespoke project, using the OVNV ideals of supporting emerging talent and inspiring young people.

One section of the audition weekend required the directors and actors to work on scripts written by their peers for previous OVNV projects while the writers observed the process. This gave participants practical experience of working on age appropriate characters and offered an insight into the style of work that OVNV delivers, indicating what future projects may hold.

These simple enhancements meant that applicants were empowered to succeed and offered the opportunity to learn from real life experiences.

‘We had many opportunities to actively take part and cooperate with fellow writer, director, actor and producer auditionees’ Writer

‘I learned a lot about the writing processes. Watching the different styles of writing develop through the night was incredible’ Producer

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The final 52 members of The 24 Hour Plays: Old Vic New Voices 2011 Company were encouraged to work as an ensemble as early as possible.

We held a Bonding Day at The Old Vic prior to The 24 Hour Plays event. This day saw the actors and directors work together on The Old Vic stage under the guidance of Old Vic staff and the Assistant Director of The Playboy of the Western World, the production that was playing on the stage at that time. This allowed both disciplines to learn the skills necessary to perform and direct work on such a large stage.

The actors also ‘auditioned’ for the writers and producers, giving all disciplines a chance to learn about each other’s strengths and experience. This resulted in the seven final plays being ideally suited to the actors.

In addition to this, the majority of this year’s Company will also be working together again on a bespoke film and theatre project for OVNV members. But most significantly the members of the Company can now make informed judgements in relation to who they want to collaborate with after the life of The 24 Hour Plays: Old Vic New Voices 2011 project, especially as www.ideastap.com provides funding of up to £30k directly to artistic projects.

3.ToensurefuturecollaborationsbythemembersofThe24HourPlays:OldVicNewVoicesCompany2011

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‘I feel I have made amazing contacts with which I can go on and make future work’ Actor

‘I feel incredibly special to have been involved in the process and have worked with such talented people. I hope that I will work with all of them in the future!’ Producer

‘Even those who don’t reach the end have left with added training and a full contacts book’ Kate Maltby, The Spectator

4.ToextendthebrandidentityofThe24HourPlays:OldVicNewVoicesandIdeasTap

In previous years, the project’s connection to the work of OVNV and IdeasTap has not always been messaged clearly and coverage was often retrospective. This year, we wanted to change that.

After a three year partnership, IdeasTap took the decision to directly fund the project for 2011. This provided an ideal opportunity to market both IdeasTap and The 24 Hour Plays: Old Vic New Voices to the theatre industry and the wider public.

We know that the project provides an amazing experience for its participants and is an effective way of finding a new generation of theatrical talent. We also know that the event has become an expected part of the theatrical calendar. Our intention was to ensure that message reached a wider audience.

Mobius Industries PR was commissioned to deliver a strategic press campaign which resulted in the project featuring in nationwide publications including The Spectator, Guardian, Time Out, The Stage and BBC London.

To support the articles, The 24 Hour Plays: Old Vic New Voices 2011 was also listed on various online theatre sites including Spoonfed and What’s On Stage. The editor of A Younger Theatre wrote an online blog as he followed the 24 hours of the project leading to the final performance. Finally, our Casting Assistant made sure that over 30% of the audience for the final performance was made up of the industry’s leading talent agencies, theatres and broadcasting companies. Attendees have now been added to our industry database ensuring that we can keep them informed of future OVNV projects and next year’s 24 Hour Plays: Old Vic New Voices event.

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‘Sunday 8.30am and the actors meet the directors and begin rehearsals. Come 5.30pm we have plays ready to be performed. Now that is impressive!’ Jake Orr, Editor, A Younger Theatre

‘The great commonality between IdeasTap and Old Vic New Voices is that we empower the individual. Through money, networking and opportunities we have created something really successful that can genuinely help emerging artists’ Steve Winter, Director, Old Vic New Voices

Impact

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‘Stepping out onto that stage was by far the best experience I’ve had as an actor so far and I hope that I can repay the faith you showed in me by not only working hard and getting more roles but by becoming a better actor in the process’ Actor

‘It was a sink or swim situation and one that allowed me to unselfconsciously grasp the plays with both hands, using my gut instincts about theatre and what it should be, to make my work’ Director

FACTS & FIGURES

Engaged:− 5 industry experts as Judges− Over 1,000 audience members− 1,329 actors auditioned− 1,717 emerging artists aged 18–25 Ages

− 18–21 (26%)− 21–25 (74%)

Gender− 57% Female− 43% Male

Background− 18% from non-white

British backgrounds− 33% first time applying

to the project− 37% of applicants from areas

outside of Greater London

Delivered:− 7 writers, 7 directors, 7

producers and 31 actors to the OVNV Talent programme

− 52 emerging artists access to The Old Vic stage

− Over 153 hours of contact time

The 24 Hour Plays: Old Vic New Voices experience demands participants constantly reassess and hone their creative techniques and skills; in the process they learn more about their talent. In truth all 311 artists that have made the final company over the six years wear the experience gained like a badge of honour.

The project is a valuable opportunity for Company members to gain professional progression within the industry. Key figures from the top talent agencies, casting houses, theatres and broadcasting companies attended. The audience of over 1,000 at The Old Vic on Sunday 23 October 2011 included representatives from:

Theatres: Almeida, Donmar Warehouse, Finborough, Greenwich Theatre, National Theatre, Orange Tree Theatre, Soho Theatre, the Bush Theatre, the Gate Theatre, Oval House, Young Vic and Theatre Royal Stratford EastTheatre companies: Complicite and Paines Plough.Broadcast and film companies: BBC, E4, Culmination Productions and Greenacre Films.Top Talent Agencies: BloomfieldsManagement, Casarotto Ramsay, Conway van Gelder, Curtis Brown, Rossmore, the Agency, Independent Artists, Ken McReddie and Troika.

Significantly 94% of The 24 Hour Plays: Old Vic New Voices 2011 Company have been selected to participate in parts 5 and 6 of the Time Warner Ignite project.

Members of the final company that have gone on to professional work include: HannahDodd (Absolutely Fabulous, BBC, starring Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley); MeghanTreadway (Warhorse, National Theatre); EdwardStambollouian Assistant Director to Trevor Nunn for Lion in Winter (Theatre Royal Haymarket) and CaitlinAlbery-Beavan has been awarded a Stage One bursary.

This year The 24 Hour Plays: Old Vic New Voices:

‘The exposure is fantastic ... it’s nice to feel you are with proactive young creative people. I’m really excited by what might happen next’ Writer

In 2011 Old Vic New Voices aspired to increase the number of applicants and encourage more applications from regional locations. The facilitation of the application process on www.ideastap.com continues to see an increase in the total number of applicants, and this year the focus on spreading the word regionally was successful and will continue to grow in the coming years.

The introduction of IdeasTap as the primary funder of the project provided the motivation and the means to extend a part of the final company experience to as many of the applicants as possible. The actors had the experience of performing on a West End stage at the primary audition stage, the directors and writers got the opportunity to access the new writing provided to OVNV projects from our pool of writers, and the producers learnt about the beliefs and process of OVNV when creating projects for emerging artists.

OVNV and IdeasTap believe that the way forward for young artists entering the industry is to be proactive and become

creative entrepreneurs, following in the footsteps of our esteemed alumni. This year, we embedded this philosophy in the entire process.

The 24 Hour Plays: Old Vic New Voices is respected within the Industry as one of the main places to source new talent. The addition of a Casting Assistant to encourage industry representatives to attend and the use of Mobius Industries PR gave the project added value.

Additionally the provision of Assistant Stage Managers for each company ensured the running of the event went smoothly, further enhancing the real life professional experience and development of the participants.

After six years The 24 Hour Plays: Old Vic New Voices project continues to be a significant experience for emerging actors, directors, writers and producers aged 18–25. The final company members journey through a rigorous selection procedure, followed by an intense preparation process and conclude with an exhilarating final presentation.

SUMMARY

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‘I find it hard these days to meet exceptional writers and form a bond with them, also to work on a stage like The Old Vic was a brilliant experience that has taught me a lot, I have really only worked in studio theatres so to adapt to that in a short space of time has really benefited my education’ Director

‘I met some wonderful talented people that I will keep contact with and the sense of achievement of pulling it off is incredible!’ Actor

‘I loved the team work and the sheer thrust and excitement of the whole project’ Producer

Recommendations

Areas that could be improved in the future are:

ElementsofFunctionalityonwww.ideastap.comThe use of www.ideastap.com as the sole portal to apply for The 24 Hour Plays: Old Vic New Voices continues to be a success; however there will always be room for improvement to ensure efficiency at all stages of the process. The main area to consider enhancing is to introduce the ability to be selective when communicating with large groups of applicants. At the moment we can only communicate with all or only one of the applicants. Similarly, there is still the need to be able to search for a specific applicant’s form directly.

Finally the high number of applications meant there was a higher demand for technical support. Unfortunately due to info@ideastap.com being the only point of contact, enquiries specific to the project were lost among other general enquiries. Whilst all were dealt with, a small number were only dealt with after a long period of time. It may be worth considering a telephone helpline during business hours with the added bonus of being able to support those who may not be as adept with an online process.

IncreaseintheDiversityofParticipantsAs the application process begins online and thereby has no boundaries to its reach, Old Vic New Voices and IdeasTap would like to see the percentage of applications from outside London reach 50%.

This could be achieved by holding pre-launch events in the major cities in the UK. The next step from here would be to hold the initial actor auditions in these cities with the selected ones being invited to London for the second round. Potentially this could be developed to allow actors to audition via online video submissions. Whilst increasing the percentage of applicants from outside of Greater London, it will also increase the overall number of applicants, ensure a wider reach and increase the demographic inclusivity of the project.

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The 24 Hour Plays: Old Vic New Voices 2011 Company

Playwright RosaConnorDirector TinukeCraigProducer OliverJordan

Actors ScottArthur RebeccaHumphries EvanMilton KateSichel

Buy Me Love

Playwright ShreenJasminPhillipsDirector HamishMacDougallProducer CaitlinAlbery-Beavan

Actors BenjaminO’Mahony CarinaReeves MeghanTreadway DanielWard

There Is No Drama Without Conflict

Playwright AlexOatesDirector EdwardStambollouianProducer TomHarland

Actors LiamMansfield BethMiller CraigRitchie BenStott

Zombie Nation

Playwright EleanorLawrenceDirector KirstyPatrickWardProducer PhillippaWilkinson

Actors HannahDodd NeushaMilanian DilekSengul CherrelleSkeete

Four Girls & A Gluten Free Cake

Playwright GregorySkulnickDirector TomAttenboroughProducer DavidSloan

Actors JamesCorscadden JenniferGreenwood NicolaKill JudeMonkMcGowan AdeO’Brien

Oh, What A Super-injunction!

Playwright TobiasWrightDirector OliverRoseProducer SophieWatson

Actors EamonAli NathalieCarrington JonathanSmith BethanWitcomb CaitlinThorburn

Mea Maxima Culpa

Playwright LeeSuttonDirector TaraRobinsonProducer PollyIngham

Actors DavidAjao IzaakCainer SamDonnelly EleanorFanyinka AlexanderPritchett

The Bearded Lady

The 24 Hour Plays: Old Vic New Voices achieved

profile in the following major publications: The Spectator, Guardian,

Time Out, The Stage, Southwark News, BBC London Radio, Spoonfed,

What’s On Stage and A Younger Theatre.

To see these reviews, visit www.ideastap.com/24hours

Press