Northumberland Theatre Company
About
NTC is a professional small-scale touring theatre company based at the Playhouse, Alnwick. We tour shows around the country, predominantly using village halls and community centres as venues in small rural towns and villages
News
Statement of Intent
Posted by: Karen - Thu 10th May 2012 7:08pm
May 2012
Northumberland Theatre Company’s recent bid for Strategic Touring Funding from Arts Council England has been unsuccessful. We are obviously extremely disappointed that we have not been awarded this financial support, in particular since our application was recommended for funding but “funds are limited and we had more good applications than we could fund”: ACE.
NTC is still confident that our productions are of the highest quality and are greatly valued by our supporters but we must now consider our position most carefully and evolve a strategy for moving forward.
NTC is determined that the autumn tour of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” will go ahead as planned, providing access to high quality theatre to our loyal and local audiences and to meet the demand. This will enable NTC to continue to deliver work for the communities of Northumberland and beyond until at least October 2012 – the majority of funding is in place for this tour, as are the majority of venue bookings.
In addition the Board of NTC has agreed a:
Way Forward Funding Strategy:
• This will include a reapplication to the Strategic Touring Fund: applications to GfA, Creative Scotland, Trusts and Foundations and to Heritage Lottery Fund as well as the outcome of other outstanding funding applications and opportunities.
• If the outcome of NTC’s second Strategic Touring bid (20th August 2012) was once again unsuccessful then the future of the company would need to be reviewed further.
Gillian Hambleton
Artistic Director
Northumberland Theatre Company’s recent bid for Strategic Touring Funding from Arts Council England has been unsuccessful. We are obviously extremely disappointed that we have not been awarded this financial support, in particular since our application was recommended for funding but “funds are limited and we had more good applications than we could fund”: ACE.
NTC is still confident that our productions are of the highest quality and are greatly valued by our supporters but we must now consider our position most carefully and evolve a strategy for moving forward.
NTC is determined that the autumn tour of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” will go ahead as planned, providing access to high quality theatre to our loyal and local audiences and to meet the demand. This will enable NTC to continue to deliver work for the communities of Northumberland and beyond until at least October 2012 – the majority of funding is in place for this tour, as are the majority of venue bookings.
In addition the Board of NTC has agreed a:
Way Forward Funding Strategy:
• This will include a reapplication to the Strategic Touring Fund: applications to GfA, Creative Scotland, Trusts and Foundations and to Heritage Lottery Fund as well as the outcome of other outstanding funding applications and opportunities.
• If the outcome of NTC’s second Strategic Touring bid (20th August 2012) was once again unsuccessful then the future of the company would need to be reviewed further.
Gillian Hambleton
Artistic Director
NTC Chairman to Cycle 2012 kilometres
Posted by: Karen - Tue 1st May 2012 3:50pm
A message from NTC’s Chairman, Neil Mundy:
“Over the coming months I will be undertaking a challenge to raise funds for Northumberland Theatre Company, which as you may know, has experienced its own severe challenge with the loss of funding from Arts Council England this year.
2012 is a very special year with the Queen’s Jubilee Celebrations and the Olympic Games and I have decided to take on the task of cycling 2012 kilometres by 27th July 2012, the opening of the Olympic Games. The target is to raise a minimum of £2012 for NTC's future.
I have the kind support of staff at Willowburn Sports Centre, Alnwick, in undertaking this task but need your generous financial support through sponsorship. I understand that there are many demands for charitable giving but ask you to please support us and give generously to NTC. This will enable this talented and committed team led by Gill Hambleton to continue to deliver wonderful entertainment to communities in the North East and beyond. If you have had the pleasure of seeing NTC's work or have been involved with the company in any way you will know why it is important to provide isolated communities with high quality theatre.
ANY amount will be gratefully received and hugely appreciated. Please use the Just Giving website
Just Giving Chairman Cycle
or send a cheque to NTC, The Playhouse, ALNWICK NE66 1PQ (made payable to NTC Touring Theatre Co).
“Over the coming months I will be undertaking a challenge to raise funds for Northumberland Theatre Company, which as you may know, has experienced its own severe challenge with the loss of funding from Arts Council England this year.
2012 is a very special year with the Queen’s Jubilee Celebrations and the Olympic Games and I have decided to take on the task of cycling 2012 kilometres by 27th July 2012, the opening of the Olympic Games. The target is to raise a minimum of £2012 for NTC's future.
I have the kind support of staff at Willowburn Sports Centre, Alnwick, in undertaking this task but need your generous financial support through sponsorship. I understand that there are many demands for charitable giving but ask you to please support us and give generously to NTC. This will enable this talented and committed team led by Gill Hambleton to continue to deliver wonderful entertainment to communities in the North East and beyond. If you have had the pleasure of seeing NTC's work or have been involved with the company in any way you will know why it is important to provide isolated communities with high quality theatre.
ANY amount will be gratefully received and hugely appreciated. Please use the Just Giving website
Just Giving Chairman Cycle
or send a cheque to NTC, The Playhouse, ALNWICK NE66 1PQ (made payable to NTC Touring Theatre Co).
Support for NTC
Posted by: Karen - Tue 20th Mar 2012 2:11pm
“I grew up in a small town with no theatre. Twice a year, Dundee Rep came for a week's residency and we had the chance to see live theatre. It was then, for the first time, I realised the extraordinary power of the spoken word.
“What NTC does is bring that power within the reach of people for whom the theatre is not an obvious or easy possibility. In a county where the population is as widely scattered as in Northumberland, it offers the only realistic access to live theatre for a disproportionate number of citizens. In my village, NTC’s visits are a highlight, a great night out that appeals across the generations and classes.
Most of us feel powerless in the face of decisions that are taken hundreds of miles away by people who understand nothing of our lives. I'm lucky because I did have something I could offer to help NTC demonstrate the relevance of their work. I feel honoured that they have chosen to adapt my stories as part of the programme of their latest tour. Donating the use of my work to this project feels like a very small contribution.”
Val McDermid - author
“What NTC does is bring that power within the reach of people for whom the theatre is not an obvious or easy possibility. In a county where the population is as widely scattered as in Northumberland, it offers the only realistic access to live theatre for a disproportionate number of citizens. In my village, NTC’s visits are a highlight, a great night out that appeals across the generations and classes.
Most of us feel powerless in the face of decisions that are taken hundreds of miles away by people who understand nothing of our lives. I'm lucky because I did have something I could offer to help NTC demonstrate the relevance of their work. I feel honoured that they have chosen to adapt my stories as part of the programme of their latest tour. Donating the use of my work to this project feels like a very small contribution.”
Val McDermid - author
4Words Audience Comments
Posted by: Admin - Sun 11th Mar 2012 5:55pm
A short selection of audience (and some team members!) comments from the opening night of our spring 2012 tour 4Words
4 Words - Review!
Posted by: Karen - Tue 6th Mar 2012 11:42am
"Funny, poignant and brilliant... the four short plays were by turns all of these." Ben O'Connell, Northumberland Gazette
We are pleased to receive the following reviews:
Northumberland Gazette
The Journal
We are pleased to receive the following reviews:
Northumberland Gazette
The Journal
Forthcoming Shows:
- 26 Oct 12 - A Midsummer Night's Dream
- Alnwick Playhouse, Alnwick
- 27 Oct 12 - A Midsummer Night's Dream
- Alnwick Playhouse, Alnwick
