HYPOTHESIS retreats 2024

TELL ME MORE?

HYPOTHESIS retreats return for a third year in January/February 2024. Specifically targeted to support theatre groups, companies & ensembles, our retreats offer your team a week away in our Studio Theatre in the beautiful medieval city of Norwich.  What comes out of your retreat time will vary for each group - but it’s your time in a new context, to do everything, or very little -  it’s time away to dream. curious directive is offering retreats for up to three theatre companies in January/February 2024. In 2024, with the visionary support of The Fenton Arts Trust, we are offering £1000, free travel for your team (within UK), Airbnb self-catering accommodation (up to 3) and, again this year, during your retreat we are including three ‘surgeries’ from leading practitioners - supporting you with fundraising/development, self-producing and digital technology.

GREAT, BUT IS THIS FOR US?
Hypothesis retreats are for collaborative & devising groups, companies, ensembles and/or theatre-makers. This opportunity is not for solo playwrights who have an idea for a play (sorry). We are actively seeking applications from groups living/working in the UK, the East-of-England, companies with global stories to tell and/or ensembles at a crucial moment of change. We have a fully accessible creation space and will actively support access requests/requirements.

TWO retreats will be offered to groups/companies/ensembles who have made 2+ professional theatre shows to date. We define ‘professional’ as having paid all creatives industry standard rates.
ONE retreat will be offered to groups/companies/ensembles who have made one professional show to date. We define ‘professional’ as having paid all creatives industry standard rates.

WHY IS CURIOUS DIRECTIVE DOING THIS?
curious directive is an artist-led devising company. We understand how important it is to have time to think and space to breathe with no strings attached. We want to support our fellow collaborative makers to develop their organisations by welcoming them into our home and offering up our resources. We want to champion each other.

THE OFFER
1. Sole use of a 8m x 5m rehearsal space - warm, creative, fully accessible, with some limited Sound, LX & AV capability.
2. Travel covered and 4* accommodation in central Norwich.
3. Free access to our tech library and support with using the kit.
4. Three ‘surgeries*’ during your retreat:
*Self-producing in collaboration Leanne Cosby (Sky Arts)
*Theatre Fundraising/Development in collaboration with Matt Armstrong (National Theatre)
*Digital technology with Ed Greig (Deloitte Digital)
5. Our carefully-considered Artists’ Welcome Pack 2024, outlining and underpinning your experience in Norwich.
6. Access to the rehearsal room anytime from 10:00-18:00 - you will be given your own keys/induction.
7. New for 2024: Office space/resources if you need it, including printing etc.
8. New for 2024: Tinkering space (use of our workshop kit/materials).
9. New for 2024: A welcome dinner in our making space, with curious directive’s team, and members of our Cultural Community to share experiences together.

THE WEEKS
Week X - January 22nd - 26th 2024
Week Y - January 29th - February 2nd 2024
Week Z - February 5th - February 9th 2024

HOW DO I APPLY?

You should read carefully our assessment criteria then send us a completed word application (2 sides of A4) OR a video/audio file (no more than 5 mins) answering these questions;

1. Who you are and why do you need this opportunity?
2. What is your Hypothesis? (maybe three things you’d hope to achieve in the week?)
3. Who from your theatre group, companies & ensemble would come to Norwich and why?
4. What’s your order of preference weeks - week X, Y or Z?

Application document OR video/audio file, as well as a link to your website, (or example of your work) should be sent by free WeTransfer to info@curiousdirective.com. Please quote HYPOTHESIS 2024 (name of your company) in the subject line.

When completing your application, please submit an EDI form, which can be found here.

Deadline: Monday 11th December 2023, midnight*. (Nb this has changed from 9pm, at the request of our freelance Board member).

WHAT IS THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS?
A panel made up of our Artistic Director and our Board of Trustees will assess applications against our published assessment criteria. Those who meet the critera most strongly will be awarded the residencies.  We will contact you with the outcome of your application by 1pm, Friday 15th December 2023. All applicants will be contacted.

QUESTIONS?
Get in touch - info@curiousdirective.com (with HYPOTHESIS in the subject time) or call our office on 01603 614 425.

FAQs 2023

1. Does my company need to be based in the East of Engaland? No, we’re really happy to hear from groups/companies/ensembles from all over the UK, and indeed internationally.

2. Is there flexibility around dates? We’re afraid not, it’s too complicated to organise any cross-overs.

3. Can some of my team be working remotely? Yes, of course.

4. What is your COVID-19 policy? Covid-19 is still with us. We have a rolling policy which we will share with successful applicants.
   

GOOD LUCK!

Previous Hypothesis retreat recipients;

2022
Barrell Organ
ClusterFlux
Pigfoot

2023
The Whiting’s On The Wall
Max Percy & Friends
Emergency Chorus