PCT LATEST NEWS

TRAVEL AND TRAINING FUND

If you are a practising puppeteer and have the need to go and see a particular piece of work or festival or attend a masterclass either in this country or abroad, PCT is launching a new 'Travel and Training' fund.

The fund is available by application from both experienced professional puppetry artists and emerging artists who have up to five years professional experience. The fund is limited and so it will be competitive.

Please contact emma.leishman@puppetcentre.org.uk for an application form and guidelines for the fund.

The first closing date is soon on Tuesday 6 April 2010; and the second closing date will be on 1 st July 2010. Please allow at least six weeks between the closing date and the start of your trip or training as awards cannot be made retrospectively.

WORKSHOP OPPORTUNITIES:

Puppets and Words - unholy matrimony

with Steve Tiplady

9 th May 2010 - 10am-5pm, Norwich Puppet Theatre

Steve Tiplady has been in the thick of the puppet world for about twenty years as a performer, director, devisor, script editor and writer. He has worked on more than a hundred puppet projects, and now feels he has something to impart about the process of making a show.  

It won't be the gospel, it won't be pretty and it may be ridiculous.

He'd like to investigate the difficulties of writing a play for puppets, the role of storytelling and the relationship of the puppeteer and object and their effect on the script.

Participants should bring a short piece of writing, synopsis or story on which they wish to work.

There will be a maximum of 14 participants on the day, there will be opportunities for critical analysis as well as laughter. The objective of the day is to widen your view of writing for puppet theatre not to write the definitive play.

This masterclass is presented by Norwich Puppet Theatre and the Puppet Centre Trust

The fee for the masterclass will be £50 (concessions £45)

To book please contact:

Norwich Puppet Theatre
St James, Whitefriars, Norwich NR3 1TN
Tel Box Office 01603 629921; Fax 01603 617578
Email info@puppettheatre.co.uk
www.puppettheatre.co.uk

Marketing, PR and the Arts

The Puppet Centre Trust is hosting the first in the new series of "How To....Workshops" beginning with an exploration on why it is important for Puppetry companies to focus on marketing and public relations and the significance of building PR relationships with venues, critics and audiences.

You will have a chance to hear from practicing experts in PR and marketing with a specialisation in puppetry.

Our speakers will be focusing on the How to do it, Who to write to and When to market among other issues, including marketing while on tour and the importance of press nights.

This is a unique opportunity to hear from: Anne Mayer: (Freelance Press and PR consultant) and Anna Cook: Marketing Officer (Campaigns and Audience Development) at Battersea Arts Centre.

The afternoon will be hosted by Linda Lewis, Director of the Puppet Centre.

This workshop is invaluable for any company looking to improve their PR and marketing skills and gain up-to-date knowledge of current practice.

You are invited to bring your questions to the panel so they can discuss your specific media issues and objectives.

Where: Battersea Arts Centre

When: Tuesday 13 th April 2010

Time: 2pm - 5:30pm (tea break at 3:00pm)

Price: £20 per company (no more than 2 people per company can attend)

NOTE: Places are limited, please reserve you place by 6 th April 2010.

Please send an email notifying of your interest to attend to Emma Leishman (Administrator, PCT): emma.leishman@puppetcentre.org.uk

Places will only be confirmed once cheques have been received. Please make out all cheques payable to: Puppet Centre Trust

Introductions to our speakers:

Anne Mayer

Anne Mayer was born in Chicago, Illinois and attended Smith College and Northwestern University.

She moved to England in 1966 and her entire professional career has taken place in this country.

Anne has been involved in Marketing and Publicity since 1968 starting as a founding member and working in the Publicity Department of London Contemporary Dance Theatre. In the 1970s she moved on to become the Arts Marketing Officer in Manchester, which was a joint appointment of the Arts Council of Great Britain and Greater Manchester Council. Anne was the first regional marketing officer in a scheme, which is still running. Leading into the late 70's and through to the late 90's Anne continued to grow her career heading various Arts and Commercial PR or marketing departments including Opera North (also founding member); Royal National Theatre (with a special responsibility for touring); John Newton Public Relations - a well-known financial PR firm: worked closely with John Newton. Clients included Arthur Andersen, The Prudential and The Stock Exchange. Head of Press, Marketing and Publicity at The Young Vic, working closely with David Thacker and during October 1989

managed press and marketing for Arnold Wesker's SHYLOCK, directed by the author and presented at Riverside Studios; Anne continued on to head the press, marketing and PR department for the Philharmonia Orchestra and finally head of press and PR at the Royal Court Theatre (Organising the press for over 200 plays during that time) before she became a Freelance Press and PR consultant, which she continues doing currently.

Her current list of clients is long and varied and includes well-known venues and companies such as Little Angel Theatre, Graeae Theatre Company, Theatre Centre, Arcola Theatre, Quicksilver Theatre Company.

Anne also moonlights as a reviewer of drama for remotegoat.co.uk and was a former Board Member for: Candoco Dance Company, The Bridewell Theatre and East End Arts.

Anne has recently had enormous success as the PR consultant for the Suspense Festival 2009 and she has a wide knowledge of puppetry through her long association with Little Angel Theatre.  

Anna Cook

Anna is Marketing Officer (Campaigns and Audience Development) at Battersea Arts Centre and has been paving a career in Arts Marketing since 2006. Having moved to London in September 2009, Anna brings varied experiences of working on marketing campaigns with a range of arts organisations including: Fierce Festival, Warwick Arts Centre, Birmingham Royal Ballet, Theatre Severn Shrewsbury, DanceXchange, Alexandra Theatre (Live Nation), Black Country Arts Partnership, Audiences Central, Royal Shakespeare Company and Lichfield Festival. In 2008, Anna headed up the marketing for a sell-out, five-star show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and also actioned a regional marketing campaign for a West Midlands public arts project culminating in a record-breaking piece of public art. In 2009, Anna was responsible for the development and execution of a brand for a successful West Midlands based events listings website.

Anna has experience working with developing companies at BAC and understands the challenges that face young companies in the marketplace.