Sunderland Venues work together on unique national project

Sunderland's flagship theatre and its newest cultural venue are working together on a unique partnership with the National Theatre.

Neighbours the Sunderland Empire and The Fire Station are now part of the National Theatre-led Theatre Nation Partnerships (TNP), an innovative network of theatres and community organisations working to grow theatre audiences across England.

A new programme launched across 14 partner organisations will reach more than 500,000 audiences, artists and participants across England over the next three years.

Three productions will tour directly into schools in TNP areas over the next three years, with a touring production of new play Shut Up, I'm Dreaming visiting 55 secondary schools across the country for 11 weeks from January 2023, reaching over 12,000 students.

Devised and directed by The PappyShow following residencies in three schools in Sunderland, Wolverhampton and Wakefield to bring young people's voices into the heart of the creative process, Shut Up, I'm Dreaming explores the ambitions, hopes and feelings of the next generation. The touring production will be accompanied by a post-show Q&A, teaching resources and professional development workshops for teachers.

A new TNP production of Roy Williams' award-winning play Sucker Punch, produced by Queen's Theatre Hornchurch, will arrive at The Fire Station as part of a tour of TNP organisations from March 2023. Directed by Nathan Powell, Sucker Punch is a bruising and funny play, winner of the Alfred Fagon Award, which explores being young and black in the 80s. Further tours of landmark productions will take place in 2024 and 2025.

A tour of an epic multi-version production of The Odyssey told in five episodes created and performed by artists and communities in Sunderland, Doncaster, Stoke-on-Trent and Trowbridge, has already been announced. The Odyssey will also be performed at the National Theatre and marks the fifth anniversary of Public Acts, the National Theatre's nationwide initiative to create extraordinary acts of theatre and community.

Sunderland Culture will be producing the fourth episode of The Odyssey, which will be written by North East-based playwright Lindsay Rodden, directed by Unfolding Theatre's Annie Rigby, and performed by members of the local community on stage at The Fire Station.

Sunderland Empire's Senior Creative Learning Manager, Anthony Hope, will work in partnership with a range of local community groups on The Odyssey, recruiting, nurturing and supporting them to engage with theatre, resulting in more than 20 talented individuals from Sunderland taking to the stage to perform in the production.

The acclaimed National Theatre production of The Ocean at the End of the Lane will also visit five TNP venues, opening at The Lowry in Salford in December 2022 and visiting Sunderland Empire, Leicester Curve, Regent Theatre in Stoke-on-Trent and Wolverhampton Grand Theatre in 2023.

Theatre Nation Partnerships is supported by a £1.25million award from Arts Council England, made possible by National Lottery players. The National Theatre will triple this investment through further fundraising and commercial activity, and almost 90 per cent of the total will be spent outside London directly in partner areas.

Rufus Norris, Director of National Theatre, said: "Theatre Nation Partnerships has shown how effectively a network of theatres can work together to inspire new audiences for theatre, deepen roots within communities and create more opportunities for the next generation to engage in the arts. Our nationwide work is a key part of the National Theatre's activity and we look forward to welcoming our new partners on board, learning from each other and creating an even bigger impact across the country over the next three years."

Anthony Hope, Senior Creative Learning Manager at Sunderland Empire, said: "We are absolutely thrilled to be part of Theatre Nation Partnership. The programme offers incredible opportunities for Sunderland schools and our wider communities to connect with theatre, with a focus on exciting new audiences and bringing local people into these spaces for the first time.

"The extraordinary touring productions coming from National Theatre will be underpinned with carefully considered engagement opportunities in partnership with the local venues. This will expand education and opportunities for the theatrical arts and support a continued active theatre-going culture across the city."

Helen Green, Head of Performance for Sunderland Culture, said:  "Being part of the Theatre Nations Partnership will bring an extraordinary depth and range of theatrical experiences to Sunderland audiences.  Whether discovering theatre for the first time at school; experiencing the gritty realism of Sucker Punch or immersing yourself as a participant in The Odyssey, audiences can expect a feast of theatrical experiences over the next three years."