‘There are so many barriers to making work for the first time’: The impact of supporting early-career theatre makers.
Over the last 6-weeks, we, London Bubble Theatre, have had the privilege of seeing our office and theatre space be transformed into a bustling, creative hub for early-career theatre makers during our first ever MAKE SPACE! festival of work-in-progress for 18-30-year-olds. With plenty of socioeconomic barriers hindering artistic potential in underserved communities, the experiences these weeks highlighted just how valuable affordable Research & Development (R&D) spaces are for those starting out.
A Stage for Innovation
“The thing that’s hardest to get is the space to explore.” – Kit Miles, BOY Theatre
From the 25th October – 29th November, Bubble operated as a producing house that gave early-career artists looking to celebrate diversity and bring stories from underserved communities to the fore of theatre-making. FREE rehearsal space to do exactly that. Each week we watched young artists turn our practical rehearsal room into an energetic and inspiring space where they felt proud of their work and trusted us to share the stories that were important to them. But the festival wasn’t just about producing new work. It was also about fostering a community where theatre makers felt supported to take risks and push boundaries at an affordable rate.
During a reflective evaluation session with the artists, we asked them about the challenges they faced before coming to Bubble. The conversation showed that cost constraints are not the only barriers to early-career artists looking to make theatre. All 6 of our participating groups and individuals shared that finding space to explore and create is challenging for young artists due to: a lack of exposure in the industry, a lack of flexibility around balancing everyday responsibilities such as education and work, and an increase in competition to book these spaces as most art organisations prioritise established artists in precedence over lesser-known individuals. No doubt the other 36 applicants to Make Space are facing the same obstacles to their potential.
Reasonably priced R&D spaces that provide ample resources to support early-career artists are increasingly rare. Running a platform like MAKE SPACE! reminds us that investing in young talent is essential for a thriving cultural eco-system. It attracts talent, fosters innovation and promotes lifelong learning through the preservation of heritage and diversity.
Broadening Horizons
“I didn’t know what to expect and I really enjoyed it. They were amazing!” – Audience Member
Having made space in our programme to provide a platform where ideas could be tested, refined and brought to life with much gratitude and celebration, in just 6 weeks London Bubble added 14 young adults to its internal young people’s network, and saw a 6% increase in social media followings in the 90 days leading up to and concluding the festival! This is a major win for our charitable organisation!
Moreover, the festival housed over 180 audience bookings, bringing in members from distinctly diverse social backgrounds. From Eritrean and South Asian communities to neurodivergent, queer and trans communities, it was beautiful to witness the expansion of our network through the influx of fresh perspectives. From both our theatre makers’ art and the attendees who shared their wonderful compliments and constructive criticism, we can proudly say that we strengthened our wider cultural landscape.
The Case for Affordable R&D Space
“It was crucial for us to make rigorously in a safe space.” – Maria Telnikoff, BOY Theatre
Affordable space isn’t just a luxury for early-career theatre makers; it’s a necessity – this was the conclusion we gathered having spoken to the artists following the festival. It was reported that a lot of our participants and their peers have long been struggling to afford R&D space to invest the appropriate time on their theatre practice after further education.
Though most universities do allow their students to book rehearsal rooms during their enrolment, once those students become graduates they are expected to afford the same rooms at the institution’s advertised cost. And while all our festival participants worked full or part-time jobs, it is a big ask for 18-30s to spend hundreds of their first earnings on rehearsal space where the aim of their time spent is to just find their footing. And while there are funding opportunities out there, a lot of young people are still asking for help on how to write a funding application and feel as though they lack enough experience to succeed in one. Considering industry standard success rate is currently 8-12%, it feels like a bleak context to be stepping into.
The value of being able to take the seed of an idea into a rehearsal room for 5 working days at no cost as a young adult establishing themselves in the arts is profound. It treats early-career artists with a similar respect to junior, mid-level and established artists with reputations. Without low-cost R&D space for young people, many early-career artists face barriers that stifle creativity and limit their growth.
Looking Ahead
“Already, London Bubble has done a lot more than most theatres or venues to keep the door open for us.” – Maria Telnikoff, BOY Theatre
Aside from sharing our rehearsal room for free, our participants were surprised to know that they could pop over to our office for coffee, tea, biscuits and other sweet treats and that Bubble staff would be more than happy to chat through ideas with them. The opportunity to collaborate with a lighting and technical designer during their time here was a highlight and they know our doors is open for them to return to our offices if they ever need a hot desk, to borrow some props or just want to brew some tea over a creative chit-chat. As we look to the future, we are committed to sustaining and expanding initiatives like MAKE SPACE! It’s a privilege for us to continue investing in early-career artists – not only to deliver a platform for their unique voices but provide the space to amplify it, too.
The success of our first MAKE SPACE! festival is a testament to what we do at Bubble – promoting equal access to arts and culture through equity, creativity and inclusivity. These 6 weeks have solidified our belief in the transformative potential of accessible creative spaces, having a profound impact on young artists’ confidence in their work, and we’re excited to see how our early-career theatre makers continue to shape the future of theatre with the inauguration of our Young Ambassadors Group taking place in 2025!
Thank you to Enterprise Arts Trust and The D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust for seeing the value in festivals like MAKE SPACE! and providing funding to supporting our cause!
Written by Luana Pontes, Youth Engagement Office