A FESTIVAL OF WORKS IN PROGRESS AND EMBRYONIC IDEAS FROM THE NEXT GENERATION OF THEATRE-MAKERS IN THE NORTH WEST
CO:LAB FESTIVAL 2019 | FRI 21 - SUN 23 JUNE
Co:LAB is a response to local artists who say that they need time, space and money to begin to explore ideas and collaborations.
The Festival aims to showcase theatre made in non-traditional ways with unexpected creative collisions and collaborations. As with all of our opportunities the festival is curated via an open call out to Open Exchange members. In some cases, Co:LAB will further develop ideas which had their origin in REACT.
The inaugural Co:LAB took place on 21 - 23 July 2017, and the second festival took place on 20 - 22 July 2018. 2019 will take place 21 - 23 June.
Co:LAB Festival 2018 Images
A PART OF ME
By New Vision Theatre Company | Performed & Written by: Andrew Duffy, Natalie Amber, Stephanie Riches. Directed by: Grace Cordell
A PART OF ME
By New Vision Theatre Company | Performed & Written by: Andrew Duffy, Natalie Amber, Stephanie Riches. Directed by: Grace Cordell
A PART OF ME
By New Vision Theatre Company | Performed & Written by: Andrew Duffy, Natalie Amber, Stephanie Riches. Directed by: Grace Cordell
AFTER BIRTH
By Highlight Collective | Nicola Schofield, Naomi Kendrick, Jennifer Hardy, David Haworth, Sara Abanur, Amy Hailwood.
AFTER BIRTH
By Highlight Collective | Nicola Schofield, Naomi Kendrick, Jennifer Hardy, David Haworth, Sara Abanur, Amy Hailwood.
AFTER BIRTH
By Highlight Collective | Nicola Schofield, Naomi Kendrick, Jennifer Hardy, David Haworth, Sara Abanur, Amy Hailwood.
AFTER BIRTH
By Highlight Collective | Nicola Schofield, Naomi Kendrick, Jennifer Hardy, David Haworth, Sara Abanur, Amy Hailwood.
ALTAR/ALTER
By Lydia Cottrell & Michael-Jon Mizra
ALTAR/ALTER
By Lydia Cottrell & Michael-Jon Mizra
ALTAR/ALTER
By Lydia Cottrell & Michael-Jon Mizra
ALTAR/ALTER
By Lydia Cottrell & Michael-Jon Mizra
BAAL
By Knaïve Theatre & Impermanence Dance Theatre
BAAL
By Knaïve Theatre & Impermanence Dance Theatre
BAAL
By Knaïve Theatre & Impermanence Dance Theatre
BAAL
By Knaïve Theatre & Impermanence Dance Theatre
CATCHING COMETS
Created by Ransack Theatre and written by Piers Black
CATCHING COMETS
Created by Ransack Theatre and written by Piers Black
CATCHING COMETS
Created by Ransack Theatre and written by Piers Black
CATCHING COMETS
Created by Ransack Theatre and written by Piers Black
ETA CARINA
By Violet Blonde, The Kommanderrr, Clare McNulty
ETA CARINA
By Violet Blonde, The Kommanderrr, Clare McNulty
ETA CARINA
By Violet Blonde, The Kommanderrr, Clare McNulty
ETA CARINA
By Violet Blonde, The Kommanderrr, Clare McNulty
OVER MY DEAD BODY
Devised by Ali Wilson and James Monaghan
OVER MY DEAD BODY
Devised by Ali Wilson and James Monaghan
OVER MY DEAD BODY
Devised by Ali Wilson and James Monaghan
OVER MY DEAD BODY
Devised by Ali Wilson and James Monaghan
Prince Gorge
by Sophie Coward, Eliyana Evans and James Varney
Prince Gorge
by Sophie Coward, Eliyana Evans and James Varney
Prince Gorge
by Sophie Coward, Eliyana Evans and James Varney
Prince Gorge
by Sophie Coward, Eliyana Evans and James Varney
The Witching Way
Created by Ali Matthews & Leo Burtin
The Witching Way
Created by Ali Matthews & Leo Burtin
The Witching Way
Created by Ali Matthews & Leo Burtin
The Witching Way
Created by Ali Matthews & Leo Burtin
Tuch
Created by Amy Lawrence
With collaboration and realisation by Tilda O’Grady
Tuch
Created by Amy Lawrence
With collaboration and realisation by Tilda O’Grady
Tuch
Created by Amy Lawrence
With collaboration and realisation by Tilda O’Grady
Tuch
Created by Amy Lawrence
With collaboration and realisation by Tilda O’Grady
“ A wonderful, artist heaven.” Sophie Coward, Prince Gorge
“I was interested to see how this notion of supporting 'failure', experimentation and risk-taking would be upheld. I was excited across the weekend to witness, hear and take part in the incredibly supportive and non-competitive atmosphere which was greatly established by Amit and Bryony's pre-show 'shpeel'- it was hugely liberating after having rehearsed with risks, trust and challenges at the forefront of mine and Amy Lawrence's process to have this reaffirmed just as I was about to kick-off the festival, and this carried throughout the weekend, how the other artists discussed and supported each other’s work.” Tilda O’Grady, TUCH
“[Co:LAB]… was also really transformative to be able to work in the Studio and have the level of tech support we did - the show looked and sounded great and that has had a real impact on our ambitions for the piece.” James Varney, Prince Gorge
“This experience has given us a base as fairly newly form company, to know who we work together. Where each of our strengths lie and how to knit them together. This experience has allowed us to trial different aspects of the piece whilst being able to tap into the knowledge and expertise of the production team at the Exchange.” Natalie Amber, A Part of Me
“The amount of support and interest in what we were creating was perfect. There was always someone on hand to help us with any request. Also it was nice to have complete freedom to manage our time in the way that we wanted without any pressure but to be fully supported at the same time was really refreshing.” Lydia Cottrell, Altar/Alter
Co:Lab Festival 2017 Images
Survival
by Elmi Ali and Nuala Maguire
Citizen
by James Monaghan and Christine FitzGerald
Love Letters from Blackpool
Written and performed by Ruth E. Cockburn - with Claire Walmsley Griffiths, Phil Ellis, Daniel Wallace & Will Lenton
Shooting the Messenger
by Take Back Theatre Collective
Two Fat Gentlemen
by Charlotte Maxwell and Marcela Hervia
[Insert Slogan Here]
by YesYesNoNo and Conan the Librarian
Woke
Written and performed by Testament
Vent
Directed by Collette Murray, Composed by Michael Betteridge and created by The Ensemble (Alex McCoy, Andy Pilkington, Barney Cooper, Charlotte Ashton, Elka Lee-Green, Katherine McDermott, Leni Murphy, Nicola O'Keeffe, Ryan Clayton, Sarah Coyne and Steff Riches)
Power to the North
by Knaïve Theatre and Tim Foley
So Fey
by Amy Lawrence with Joe Whitmore, Vitaljia Glovackyte, Henrietta Phoebe Dunn, Nisa Cole & Lucie Browne
Research Assistance: Tilda O’Grady & Jade Montserrat
Open Exchange provides a series of developmental opportunities for emerging artists of all disciplines, rooted in the belief that collaboration creates great art and brilliant theatre doesn't always begin with a script. Sign up here for opportunities.
