Artist Development
We support artists to develop in a number of ways.
We believe that commissioning and programming new work is a vital form of artist development. Artists need opportunities to showcase their work, build their audiences, and learn from the collaborative process of making a new show or event.
We also run bespoke programmes to enable artists to develop their skills and their confidence - from free weekly workshops for young people, to free training programmes for professional artists.
“It was the first time we’d really been recognised for the hard work we were doing for the queer community, and trying to change things within the arts.”
Lewis G. Burton, Founder of INFERNO
COMMISSIONS
WE COMMISSION NEW THEATRE AND NIGHTLIFE BY WRITERS, PERFORMERS, AND COLLECTIVES - SOME OF THEM WORK WITH OUR YOUNG PEOPLE. ALL OUR COMMISSIONS START WITH US GETTING TO KNOW EACH OTHER.
If you’re interested, email us with some information about you and an invite to your show or event at hello@theyardtheatre.co.uk. Try to give us at least three weeks’ notice so that we can book your show in good time. We don't accept unsolicited scripts.
Programming
WE PROGRAMME SHOWS AND EVENTS WHICH FEEL ALIVE, AND REFLECT THE STORIES, CULTURES AND COMMUNITIES OF EAST LONDON.
Email us at hello@theyardtheatre.co.uk with some information about you, and what you want to happen at The Yard. We book nightlife events which have happened elsewhere, but we tend to develop our theatre programme from scratch - so it’s rare for us to book shows which have happened before.
Get Involved
WE SUPPORT ARTISTS IN MYRIAD WAYS, WITH NO RULE BOOK.
Live Drafts
Live Drafts is a platform for artists to share new ideas with a live audience. Artists can submit new ideas to us on a rolling basis, at any time. The submissions will be reviewed regularly by our programming team.
Got something that you'd like to test? Send two paragraphs (maximum) telling us about the artist(s) and the idea with LIVE DRAFTS SUBMISSION in the subject of the email. The Live Draft can happen either in the theatre or the bar.
Email us at submissions@theyardtheatre.co.uk
SCRIPTS
We don't accept unsolicited scripts. However, if you have a new script that you think could be a good fit for The Yard's stage, you can send us two paragraphs (maximum) that include a synopsis and a short bio of the writer with SCRIPT SUBMISSION in the subject of the email.
We don't have the capacity to provide feedback on every script or pitch that we receive. If we think that your script might be right for our audience, we will respond directly asking for the full draft.
Unfortunately, we aren't able to offer feedback on submitted ideas but we will let you know whether we intend to read the full script.
Email us at submissions@theyardtheatre.co.uk
YARD PRESENTS
Yard Presents is a series of unholy collisions between party and performance, presented by visionary collectives: Knickerbocker, Popola and Doomscroll —a series of boundary-pushing, sweat-soaked, heart-pounding parties that’ll upend both expectations of nightlife and theatre.
These are parties designed for journeys of escape, euphoria, possibility and hope. These are parties where stories are made.
More parties as part of Yard Presents will be announced this year. If your party sounds like this, get in touch with YARD PRESENTS in the subject of the email.
Email us at hello@theyardtheatre.co.uk
Yard Young artists
At The Yard, artist development starts at age 9. We work with young people from East London, prioritising socio-economic access, and offering free programmes that explore the possibilities of theatre.
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