Free performance opportunity for artists to present their work that needs an audience to develop, where artists keep 100% of the Box Office!

Applications for SHIFT+SPACE open 2-3 times a year. 

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• The Opportunity
• How SHIFT+SPACE is Evolving
• Accessibility
• The Format
• The Offer
• Tech Spec
• Feedback from Previous SHIFT+SPACE Artists

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"One of the most supportive experiences I've had as an artist! Making experimental, immersive theatre can be a difficult and non-linear experience at the best of times, but SHIFT+SPACE went above and beyond to accommodate and nurture our ideas. The structure of the programme really helps to champion the development of the unconventional - giving us the time and space to figure out the function and form of our interdisciplinary practice. This kind of opportunity is gold-dust for radical art & theatre creators."

Ariella, Susie and Zyggy, Mushmoss Collective, SHIFT+SPACE Spring Artist

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The Opportunity 

We are here to support all kinds of work, and we’re looking for work that has a vital need for an audience in the room in order to exist and move to the next stage of its life.

Whether audience interaction/participation is crucial to the experience or your piece can’t progress without being tested in front of an audience, we want to hear how you will use this development space to turn an unexpected creative corner and share what you’ve found. We want you to experiment, explore, participate and take creative risks in an environment where it’s as joyful and meaningful to fail as it is to succeed.

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How SHIFT+SPACE is Evolving

For this Autumn / Winter 2023 season, Theatre Deli will offer artists further support with their projects on the SHIFT+SPACE programme.

We are continuing to offer an optional £250 advance on ticket sales to help your production’s cashflow, and a technician to assist you on your Friday and Saturday daytime rehearsals. (Please note, you will still need your own operator for your sharings in the evening.)

We feel with these additions to Shift+Space artists can develop their projects and experiment further without the resources coming out of their own pockets.

You can read more about these additions outlined in our Artist Agreement, here.

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Accessibility 

Theatre Deli recently announced its Accessibility Policy in which the organisation has committed to investing in its venues to offer the greatest opportunities for disabled artists and prioritising work that is accessible. As part of this Deli is moving towards ensuring all artists partaking in any of our initiatives have embedded at least one mode of access within their pieces. To support this and you we have created our Accessibility Guidance Document which introduces the different forms of accessible performance and provide some initial hints and tips as to how artists can start to embed elements of accessibility into their work. It has also offers some links to other sources of information to further help you on your journey to creating accessible work. You can view the document here.

We appreciate that your work is early in its journey and, therefore, you may not have the resources yet to fully integrate certain access modes, however in order to successfully create accessible work we encourage you to reach out to communities and consultants - invite them to your sharings to get tangible feedback on how to embed modes of access into your work. 

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The Format

We provide space for 2 sharings of your work over a weekend - one Friday night and one Saturday night, with access all day on Friday to 'get-in' and all day on Saturday to absorb, reflect, and react to Friday’s experience so you can make a shift on Saturday.

It’s a rapid-response work-in-progress where we emphasise the shift –the change or progress the work can make– from one evening to the next. If the experience being different every night is part of the fabric of your work, then this is a great place to try things out. 

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The Offer

• You will have access to our performance space 10am-10pm on Friday and Saturday to get in, work, share, respond, and share again. 
• On Friday, you will receive an induction session to the tech equipment in the space
• On Friday and Saturday, you will receive support from a technician, please note: you will need your own operator to operate tech for your sharings. 
• Ticketing and Box Office will be managed by Theatre Deli, however you will get 100% of the Box Office for your show (after Eventbrite fees and the advance payment, if taken, have been deducted). 
• You can choose to receive up to £250 on advance payment on ticket sales, to be deducted from your ticket reconciliation post-performance (you do not have to accept the whole amount).
• You will be given marketing support in the form of an event page on our website, social media posts, a mention in our newsletter, and posters throughout our space. We can also offer 1:1 catch ups for advice on marketing. You are responsible for signposting people to your show and driving your own audience engagement.
• You will have priority access to drop-in sessions with the Deli creative and producing team to discuss any areas of concern and talk about the development of your project and the type of feedback that you will find useful.

Optional: If you would like to livestream or capture your sharing for online use, we can provide a 2 camera setup and staff member at cost for: 

• £180 - livestream/capture of 1 sharing 
• £270 - livestream/capture of both nights OR livestream/capture of 1 sharing + edit
• £360 - livestream/capture of both nights + edit

(these optional additional prices include VAT)

If you’ve got an idea, project, experience, game, dance, show, or other piece of work or play that you are looking to explore with an audience, participants, or other outside eyes, please get in touch. 

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Tech Spec

The lighting and tech station are cabled, rigged, and focused for end-on performance. The studio can be reconfigured, but must be returned to this configuration at get-out.

We have various other tech equipment available. Please get in touch as early as possible with your needs and we will happily provide what we can.

The performance space has a capacity of up to 50 people in an end-on configuration, this capacity will be reduced for other configurations.

Lighting Equipment:

• ETC programmable board
• Lantern Stock

Standard Setup Includes:

4 x Prolights Studiocob FC

3 x Chauvet Slimpar T6

1 x Stairville Wash

Sound Equipment: 

• 2 x Martin Audio CDD6 speakers
• 1 x Soundcraft EPM6 mixer
• 3 x mics and stands

Video:

• 1 x Optoma projector (HDMI connection)

Staging

• 5 x 4’ by 8’ stage deck

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Feedback from Previous SHIFT+SPACE Artists

"Theatre Deli’s SHIFT+SPACE programme has been fantastic! It provides an opportunity for both performance and research which as an artist in truly valuable.

The staff at Theatre Deli are incredible – very supportive, kind, friendly, and always willing to help!"

Lucy Clark, SHIFT+SPACE Artist Spring 2023 

"Participating in Shift + Space was an incredible opportunity for us to test out changes to our show and receive valuable feedback from our audience.

The rehearsal space provided to us, followed by the performances, allowed us to test out new ideas and push the boundaries of our performance.

Thank you, Theatre Deli, for this opportunity to develop our show. We look forward to working together again in the future."

Big Zeus Energy, SHIFT+SPACE Artist Spring 2023

"Theatre Deli offer a really unique and valuable opportunity for artists with Shift + Space, I got to develop a show in a low pressure environment which centred on creativity and the artistic process, and was really helpful with the ongoing development of the show."

Amiot Hills, SHIFT+SPACE Spring Artist 2023