Skip to content
The Yard Logo
  • Theatre
  • Music & Events
  • Local
  • About us
  • Artists
  • Support us
  • Contact Us
Menu
  • Theatre
  • Music & Events
  • Local
  • About us
  • Artists
  • Support us
  • Contact Us
BOX OFFICE: 0333 320 2896
Search
Close

← Back

Live Lab Frequently Asked Questions

Can I apply?

I’m an International artist, can I apply?

Unfortunately, we are not accepting applications from outside of the UK and Ireland for this first iteration of Live Lab. We are working towards making this opportunity available to international artists in future years.

I’m not based in London, can I apply?

Yes you may apply. The majority of the teaching will happen over zoom, however for the week of research and development you will need to be in London. We have some budget to support the travel and relocation costs of one artist in the programme.

Who is eligible for Live Lab?

If you’re: 

  • based in the UK or Ireland.
  • not currently in formal education. 
  • have at least two years of professional creative practice, outside of an educational context.
  • have a strong interest in strengthening your voice, vision, style and honing directorial skills to lead to the making of a future show. 

Then this Lab is for you.

How do you define Professional Creative Practice?

This is any creative work undertaken outside of an Educational context. It could be as a facilitator for a Youth Theatre group, as a Sound Designer for an installation, or as a maker of a cabaret show, as a few examples.

I’m a writer, can I apply?

If your experience so far has been in writing, but you’re interested in developing your skills as a director you can apply. This programme focuses on developing an artist’s directorial voice, and equipping them to lead a team in creating a piece of live performance. 

Please note that this course will not focus on writing.

I don’t have a specific idea of a show that I want to make during Live Lab - do I need to know that?

Not at all. Live Lab is a programme that will help you create and develop an idea during a lab. That’s what it’s designed for.

I’m still in education, can I apply?

No, unfortunately Live Lab is not open to applicants who are still currently in formal education.

Is it possible to apply as a duo or collective?

No, we are only accepting applications from individual artists. It will be possible to work with your collective or collaborators in the research and development period, as long as they are paid adequately for their work (from the £1000 Research & Development budget).

I work full time, how much annual leave will I need to take?

There will be 6 full days of teaching with Katie Mitchell. We also ask that you are available for a full week in April for the R&D period. Masterclasses are currently scheduled to happen 4-7pm weekly, though we may be able to be flexible with this depending on the needs of the group. 

We expect you will need to take a minimum of 11 days of annual leave to take part.

Do I need to be available for all the Live Lab dates?

We hope that you will be able to join all of the teaching and masterclass sessions, however if you have a clash with one of the sessions, that won’t preclude you from being a part of the Lab. However, it is essential that you are available for the 3 weeks of Katie Mitchell teaching, for 1 week in April for the R&D, as well as the majority of the masterclass sessions.

I recently graduated this Summer, can I apply?

If you are no longer in university, it is possible to apply, so long as you have had 2 years of experience of professional creative practice in total (be that before, during or after). We are defining professional experience as any creative work undertaken outside of an educational context.

I have a question about the Application...

Can I make an audio application?

Yes! You will be able to submit your application as an audio recording. You will be able to do this by supplying us with links to your audio file via storage sites (e.g. Soundcloud, Drop Box, Google Drive) in the application form.  

Don’t worry about the quality of your audio file.

What fairytale/folktale should I pick?

Choose one that already exists, don’t make one up. We recommend you choose something familiar to you and don’t spend loads of time researching a story. We’re interested in your creative interpretation. Finally, don’t use up lots of words explaining the fairytale to us. If it is a story you think we may not know, you can post a link to an online synopsis – such as a Wikipedia page

What do you mean by director's concept?

A director’s concept is your vision for a production. It’s your creative interpretation of the fairytale or folktale’s themes and characters. This concept is reflected through every element of the show. You might think about when, and where your fairytale or folktale is set, and what is particularly different about your concept of this fairytale. 

An example of a director’s concept of a Shakespeare play would be Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet, with the play retold as a romantic crime movie, set in contemporary America. The Montagues and Capulets are warring mafia empires, swords are replaced with guns, Verona Italy becomes a teeming seaside metropolis called Verona Beach – a modern-day city with cars, high rise buildings, hot dog stands – like Miami.

Who should I think about when naming my potential collaborators?

Again, this is just an exercise for the application. The performers and collaborators you choose can be realistic decisions OR a totally unrealistic dream team, such as Hollywood actors. Again, what we are most interested in is your reasoning. Why are these the people you’d most want to work with.

Do I have to develop the fairytale/folktale as part of the Live Lab?

No. This is just an exercise for the application. Of course you can if you choose to – but it is by no means expected.

To read more about Live Lab, click here. 

  • BLOG
  • HIRE OUR SPACES
  • WORK AT THE YARD
  • BAR & KITCHEN
  • MY ACCOUNT
  • BASKET
  • PRIVACY POLICY AND TERMS & CONDITIONS

THE YARD THEATRE LTD
Registered Office Unit 2a, Queen’s Yard White Post Lane London E9 5EN

Registered Number: 7664276 Registered Charity: 1144028 VAT Reg: 202970724

Facebook Twitter Instagram