Arena Collaborative Theatremakers

TONIGHT at Arena Theatre - 7.30pm! 🥰

We've got a cracking piece of work to show you 👏

We're BACK after the May Bank Holiday! 🤩

And we're starting it in style this evening with Arena Collaborative Theatremakers - hosting the brilliant Caroline Ryden (producer) and Gemma Boaden (actress and writer) with a script-in-hand reading of 'I'm a Bad Mum' 🙌

As always, entry is FREE and all are welcome to come along to check out what is upcoming on the West Midlands arts scene!

📆 Tuesday 7th May
🕢 7.30pm
🎟️ https://bit.ly/ACTArena24

A poignant, relatable and emotionally resonant play that touches the hearts of all audiences, whether they are mothers themselves or simply appreciate the profound journey of identity transformation.

This funny, clever, and observational one woman play looks at trying to hold on to who you used to be, the trepidation of pushing a watermelon out of a blueberry and what happens when that 'beautiful little bundle' actually arrives.

University of Wolverhampton Arts Council England

China Plate has just announced that applications for this year’s Optimists Summer course will open on Monday 29 April. This course is for emerging producers, artists, and creative practitioners based in the West Midlands who are looking to develop their skills as professional producers or as producers of their own work.

If you have any questions about this year's course and how to apply, join Kristina, China Plate's Training & Development Producer, in an information session. In these sessions, you can learn more about this year's Optimist course, how to approach an application and ask any additional questions.

For more information about the course and upcoming information sessions, please visit:

Opportunities - China Plate We also run a regular training programme The Optimists, for emerging artists, creative practitioners and aspiring producers, and a free training programme – Young Producers, for 16–21 year olds.

Arena Collaborative Theatremakers (ACT) is BACK on Tuesday 9th April! 🎉

So we had better announce our line-up, hadn't we? 👀

First up is Julia Bentley with her brand new play SENTENCED! 🤩

Meet Kye Fletcher. Father. Early 20s. Desperate to change for the better. Desperate to be a valued member of society. Desperate for a successful career. Desperate not to be like his father. There’s only one thing stopping him... His new criminal record.

Highlighting the flaws in the criminal justice system, Sentenced is a tragi-comic play, which follows Kye as he navigates his new life fresh out of prison, whilst fighting for the custody of his child who he's never met.

Tickets for ACT are FREE so come along and support local, emerging artistic talent in the region 👏

🎟️ https://bit.ly/ACTArena24

University of Wolverhampton Arts Council England

Morning all!

We hope you're well - we know it has been a little while...

Preparations are well underway for the next evening of ACT on Tuesday 9th April, 7.30pm - it's going to be a top notch evening even if we do say so ourselves!

But before we do some line-up announcements, our friend Julia Bentley who is bringing SENTENCED on the 9th April is on the lookout for one more male actor who is mid 20s-30s.

If you fit the bill, drop an e-mail to [email protected] 🙌

And we'll bring some line-up announcements very shortly... 👀

Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, we’ve taken the reluctant decision to postpone Arena Collaborative Theatremakers this evening at Arena Theatre 😢

BUT, we’ll be back on Tuesday 9th April at 7.30pm with an absolute BLOCKBUSTER line-up - so make sure you keep your eyes peeled for announcements and we’ll see you then! 👊🙌

Join us for our first ACT night of Spring 2024 - our tenth year 🤯 - as Pound Road Productions bring an R&D of their brand new show The Good Landlord! 🎭

Come along for FREE this evening to Arena Theatre for a 40-minute extract, directed by the brilliant Yusuf Niazi - we start at 7.30pm 🙌

🎟️ https://bit.ly/ACTArena24

We're back for Spring 2024 and it's our TENTH year of bringing you the best of local talent! 🤯

Join us at Arena Theatre on Tuesday 6th February, 7.30pm, as we bring a FREE 40-minute R&D sharing of Ethan and Kalman Dean-Richards' new dark comedy The Good Landlord - a takedown of the UK's rental crisis. Directed by the brilliant Yusuf Niazi 🙌

Make sure you keep your eyes peeled for actor announcements, too... 👀

We'll see you there! 👏

🎟️ https://bit.ly/ACTArena24

University of Wolverhampton Arts Council England

We are delighted to announce that Arena Theatre’s call is now OPEN for submissions to LEAP Festival at the Arena Theatre, Thursday 29th February 2024 – Saturday 2nd March 2024! 🤩🫶

In our commitment to developing artists and communities across Wolverhampton and the local region, LEAP Festival will showcase brand new work each evening for which a seed commission fee will be paid to artists and companies. The Arena Theatre is seeking to commission TWO new pieces of work to be performed the evenings of Friday 1st March and Saturday 2nd March 2024; and are accepting submissions that are:

✅ 40-60 minutes in length
✅ From any of the following disciplines: theatre/drama, dance, spoken word.

Successful submissions will receive:

✅ Fee of £1,000 each
✅ Full marketing support from the Arena Theatre
✅ Full technical support from the Arena Theatre

Deadline for submissions is Friday 12th January 2024 at 5.00pm.

To apply, please send either the full script – or a ten page extract – in Word or PDF format to both Neil Reading, Artistic Director of the Arena Theatre, at [email protected]; and Sam Fleming, Education and Outreach Manager at the Arena Theatre, at [email protected].

Alternatively, if you are submitting a dance piece, please send along either a video of the full piece, or a ten-minute video of an extract from the piece.

More information 👉 https://bit.ly/LEAPFestival

If you have any access enquiries with regards to the application or process, please e-mail us above and we will ensure we make reasonable adjustments so you can fully participate.

We look forward to hearing from you! 🙌

University of Wolverhampton Arts Council England

We had a fantastic last Arena Collaborative Theatremakers of the season at Arena Theatre last night, welcoming familiar faces and some brand new ones - including Sandwell College students who are going to be putting on their very own scratch night! 🎭🤩

A huge thank you to Anson Clark, Leanne Allen, and Daz Knapton who all brought work, and Laura Liptrot, Zak Lee, Xandria Lee, and Alex Whitworth who brought the scripts to life 👏

We’ll be back on Tuesday 6th February 2024 - our 10th year 😮 - so keep your eyes peeled for line-up announcements soon! 👀

Our final Arena Collaborative Theatremakers of Autumn 2023 is happening TONIGHT! And we have three brilliant pieces lined up:

- Brain by Anson Clark, performed by Zak Lee and Reece Page.
- Normal by Leanne Allen, performed by Alex Whitworth
- Divas by Darren Knapton, performed by Laura Liptrot and Xandria Lee.

As always, ACT will be meeting in the Tilstone Studio at Arena Theatre from 7.30pm.

Entry is completely FREE and you're able to walk-up. All are welcome to attend and provide feedback that will be forwarded onto the writers!

We look forward to seeing you this evening 👏

Morning folks,

Thanks to everyone who shared the callout yesterday - we now have three exciting scripts lined up for next Tuesday evening!

We're now on the lookout for four actors to make the scripts happen and bring them to life. These will be script-in-hand readings, and scripts will be provided ahead of time along with rehearsal space on the day.

Details are below:

- For the first script, there is no specificity on age, gender et al. I already have one actor for this, so am just looking for another. The length is roughly 10-15 minutes.
- Second script is a monologue, which we ideally need a female for of any playing age. Again, this is roughly 10-15 minutes.
- Third script is slightly more specific. We ideally want two women with playing ages 21-30. This is in its very early stages and is again roughly 5-10 minutes.

Unfortunately this is unpaid, but ACT is a great opportunity to network with local industry professionals and creatives, and scripts that have been sent into ACT/actors who have performed have gone on to be involved in other Arena Theatre paid intiatives and professional work.

If you're interested, pop Sam Fleming an e-mail at [email protected] and we will get you signed up and send details! 😊

Morning folks,

We've had a piece drop out of our ACT night next Tuesday, 7th November at Arena Theatre, so have space for a new 10-30 minute piece that can be read script-in-hand.

ACT is a safe and inclusive space for sharing new work where you can gain feedback from industry professionals. We will support you in getting the piece on its feet in terms of sourcing actors and so forth.

Just drop an e-mail to [email protected] if you would like to be involved 👏

Thank you to everyone who joined us for ACT last night, as we hosted a script-in-hand reading of Anson Clark's 'Jerusalem'! 👏

In particular, a nod towards the actors who volunteered their time: Kerry Frater, Graham MacDonnell, Reece Page, Jason Adam, Imogen Wood, Callum Morris, Maura Judges, and Caroline Gray.

And a huge thank you to our audience who provided insightful feedback 🙌

We'll be back again on Tuesday 7th November - keep your eyes peeled on our social media for script announcements! 🤩🎭

Evening folks,

We're in need of one more actor for the script-in-hand reading of Anson Clark's 'Jerusalem'.

The role is female in the script, but very happy for it to be gender fluid as long as you're 18+. If you're interested, the evening takes place Tuesday 3rd October, 6.00pm-8.30pmish, with ACT beginning at 7.30pm. But we can be flexible re. arrival times.

A script will be sent to you ahead of time so you can get a feel for the play itself, and there will be opportunity to rehearse on the 3rd October prior to the script-in-hand reading.

If you're interested, pop an e-mail to [email protected].

Casting call for Dark Tales in Winter.

We have a very open mind on who may play either of the roles this year. There is no stipulation on either play for age (18+), gender, race, background etc. If you're good, interested and available we'd love to hear from you.

Auditions are on Tuesday 10th October at the Arena. Rehearsals are November 13-17 and December 4-15 (Shows 13-15).

If you don't have access to Mandy you can apply also by sending a headshot and a CV by email to [email protected] with the subject line, 'Dark Tales in Winter Application'

Paid opportunity. Details below 👇

'Dark Tales in Winter' from The Mandy Network Casting ''Dark Tales in Winter,'' an annual Christmas ghost stories play, including "Carnivorine," by Lucy H. Hooper, and "The Bodysnatcher," by Robert Louis Stevenson.

The Grand Arena Youth Theatre is looking to commission a writer who will create an inspiring, relevant and exciting new play in collaboration with our Youth Theatre Practitioner and Junior participants to be performed at the Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton as our Junior, annual production for 2024.

Find out more: https://bit.ly/GAYTCommission

Morning folks,

We're back with another script-in-hand reading opportunity... we're on the lookout for nine actors who would like to take part in a reading of Anson Clark's 'Jerusalem'.

Parts are gender fluid, and we're asking that those interested are over the age of 18 and available Tuesday 3rd October, 6.00pm-8.30pmish, with ACT beginning at 7.30pm.

A script will be sent to you ahead of time so you can get a feel for the play itself, and there will be opportunity to rehearse on the 3rd October prior to the script-in-hand reading.

If you're interested, pop an e-mail to [email protected].

Opportunity from Nexus Birmingham. Contact details at the bottom.

Free Self-taping Workshops

FOR MIDLANDS-BASED ACTORS FROM LOWER SOCIO-ECONOMIC BACKGROUNDS, OR THOSE WHO'VE NOT BEEN ABLE TO ACCESS TRAINING AND ARTIST DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Nexus Cast & Crew Network will be inviting a select number of actors from lower socio-economic backgrounds to take part in 2x group workshops via Zoom on the most effective ways to prepare and film a self-tape audition.

These workshops are being facilitated alongside the audition and selection process for Actor Jam 2023, our annual actor’s showcase in front of industry peers & professionals.

If you are selected to participate, you will receive the following:

– 2x online workshops hosted by Tim Bryn Smith (from The Actors Workshop Nottingham) to help you prepare your audition tape for the Actor Jam, free of charge

– monologue/scene suggestions and/or feedback on suitability of the suggestions you’ve presented at the workshop

– a travel bursary to cover expenses to the showcase regardless of whether selected to perform. If not selected, you can still take advantage of the networking and put yourself forward for the ‘golden ticket’ where one audience member is drawn from a hat to perform at the end.

Two workshop participants will be put straight through to the Actor Jam based on tapes submitted for feedback in sessions. The rest will have the chance to redo tapes based on feedback provided, and resubmit to be considered.

This opportunity has been created to help level the playing field and ensure that actors can still create the best audition tapes even if they've not had the opportunity to train or access other artist development opportunities.

Important dates

Saturday 30th September: Workshop 1
Sunday 1st October: Actor Jam auditions open
Saturday 14th October: Workshop 2
Saturday 21st October: Audition deadline
Thursday 2nd November: Line-up announced
Thursday 16th November: Showcase day

Deadline to apply for the Self-taping Workshops & Bursary Package is Friday 15th September at 6pm

Link to Apply:

Acting Workshops We will be inviting a select number of actors from low socio-economic backgrounds to take part in two group workshops via Zoom on the most effective ways to prepare and film a self-tape audition. These workshops are being facilitated alongside the audition and selection process for Actor Jam 2023, o...

Due to unforeseen circumstances, we are unfortunately cancelling tomorrow evening’s Arena Collaborative Theatremakers scratch night at Arena Theatre 😢

We’re hoping to re-programme Gemma Boaden’s piece for later in our ACT Autumn season, so please keep your eyes peeled, and we’ll be back on Tuesday 3rd October 💪

ACT is back for Autumn 2023 NEXT WEEK at the Arena Theatre in the Tilstone Studio! 🤩

We've got the brilliant Caroline Ryden (producer) and Gemma Boaden (writer and actress) getting us started with a bang with a script-in-hand reading of 'I'm a Bad Mum' 🙌

As always, entry is FREE and all are welcome to come along to check out what is upcoming on the West Midlands arts scene!

📆 Tuesday 12th September
🕢 7.30pm
🎟 https://bit.ly/ACTAutumn23

A poignant, relatable and emotionally resonant play that touches the hearts of all audiences, whether they are mothers themselves or simply appreciate the profound journey of identity transformation.

This funny, clever, and observational one woman play looks at trying to hold on to who you used to be, the trepidation of pushing a watermelon out of a blueberry and what happens when that 'beautiful little bundle' actually arrives.

Happy weekend all! 🥳

We're looking ahead to our Autumn 2023 season here at ACT headquarters, and we have slots available for you to come and get feedback on those scripts that have been burning a hole in your pockets! 🙌

We have slots available for 15-60 minute pieces on:

Tuesday 12th September at 7.30pm
Tuesday 3rd October at 7.30pm
Tuesday 7th November at 7.30pm.

ACT is an inclusive, safe space where we are all about the development of script-writing and providing a platform for artists regardless of experience.

If you're interested, pop an e-mail to Sam Fleming at [email protected] with your scripts 🤩

We're heading on over to The Old Rep's Up To Scratch evening this Thursday, bringing you TWO exciting pieces including a little number to get you warmed up for 14/48 Wolverhampton! 👀

Honey, we're home 🏡🎭

𝐔𝐩 𝐓𝐨 𝐒𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 is back at The Old Rep this Thursday 6 July. Line Up to be announced very soon including a piece from our friends at Arena Theatre, keep your eyes peeled 👀

Tickets: oldreptheatre.co.uk/Up-To-Scratch-Jul-23 🎟️

What a night to finish our Spring 2023 season of ACT at Arena Theatre! 👏

Three top quality pieces from Matt Beames, LouDeemY Productions, and Emmeline Hartley and Jack Mullings ✅

And we were joined by a lovely, supportive audience to boot! 🤩

A huge thank you to our friends over at Up to Scratch at The Old Rep for joining us and bringing a blockbuster second half.

We'll see you all again at ACT in September 2023! 👀

We're gearing up for our final ACT of Spring 2023 at Arena Theatre tomorrow night, and we're being joined by our lovely friends from Up To Scratch at The Old Rep for a special second half of the evening! 🤩

Our line-up is a blockbuster, including:

- Matt Beames' The Melancholy Solitude of Mr. Jones.
- LouDeemY Productions' What Myra Did?
- Trapped Between Stories, written by Emmeline Hartley and Jack Mullings, directed by Stephen Whitson.

Join us from 7.30pm - entry is FREE! ✨

📆 Tuesday 6th June
🕢 7.30pm
🎟 https://bit.ly/ACTSpring2023

Happy hump day! And we're bringing it in in style: announcing our last work-in-progress for the ACT/Up to Scratch The Old Rep mash-up next Tuesday eve at Arena Theatre! 🤩

Our final piece is Trapped Between Stories (working title), written by Emmeline Hartley and Jack Mullings, directed by Stephen Whitson.

📆 Tuesday 6th June
🕢 7.30pm
🎟 https://bit.ly/ACTSpring2023

A new play currently in development with support from Arts Council England and In Good Company, inspired by the viral response to 'Keep Breathing', a BFI-NETWORK backed short film exploring the nuances around sexual consent, co-written and produced by Emmeline pre-pandemic.
We'll see you there 👀👋

Our next ACT evening is coming up NEXT TUESDAY at Arena Theatre! And we're going out with a bang by teaming up with the lovely folk from The Old Rep's Up To Scratch night to bring you some of the best Birmingham has seen this year - alongside Matt Beames' piece! 🤩

First up is a read-through of What Myra Did? by LouDeemY productions 🙌

📆 Tuesday 6th June
🕢 7.30pm
🎟 https://bit.ly/ACTSpring2023

Myra lives with Dissociative Identity Disorder. She battles with the various aspects of herself, seeking a core self with which she may finally connect with the world.

Sometimes a victim, or a child, sometimes reflective, at other times a highly functioning, if neurotic woman, allowing a glimpse into the often paradoxical, dark and humorous aspects of living in the grips of mental illness.

PASTA is back for May next week! 🤩

Hosted by the brilliant Poets, Prattlers and Pandemonialists, PASTA is a FREE to attend open mic night where you can submit your own poems - or simply pop along to listen to and support others 👏

📆 Tuesday 23rd May
🕢 7.30pm
🎟 https://bit.ly/PASTA23Arena

Join us for our next (and last of Spring 2023) ACT evening at Arena Theatre as we welcome back a VERY familiar face... 👀

As always, entry is free and all are welcome to come down and support local artists 🙌

📆 Tuesday 6th June
🕢 7.30pm
🎟 https://bit.ly/ACTSpring2023

Matt Beames is a writer based in the south of England, whose work has been performed across the UK and as far off as Seattle, USA. He is half of the writing team for the Dark Tales in Winter productions, which have been produced at the Arena since 2019. While his main focus is writing for the theatre, his other projects span prose, comics, board games and content for TTRPGs.

One of Matt's current theatre projects is a solo show called 'The Melancholy Solitude of Mr Jones'. The script is currently in development, and Matt will be performing* some elements of the script at ACT at the Arena.
* Performing-ish - he's a writer first and foremost...

"Finding himself alone, Jones considers his past life on board ship, and the strange and tumultuous events that have brought him to this quiet solitude. The Melancholy Solitude of Mr Jones is a story of life, loss and monsters that may be familiar, and a reflection on the strangeness of humanity."