Southpaw hot foot it to new Sheepfolds development

An award-winning contemporary dance company will be an anchor tenant at a hotly-anticipated new £2m venue in Sunderland.

Southpaw Dance Company will be one of the first tenants to move into the Sheepfolds Stables development, currently transforming Grade II listed buildings and surrounding courtyards into a vibrant new leisure destination in the shadow of SAFC's Stadium of Light.

Southpaw specialises in large-scale, outdoor dance extravaganzas and innovative and imaginative theatre productions. The company is particularly renown for its participatory work, creating original, mass movement spectaculars for new or inexperienced community dancers.

The company's new home, currently being created by Sunderland-based architectural and engineering practice Building Design Northern (BDN), has already attracted some top names in the world of hospitality, including Hairy Biker, Si King; a Japanese fusion restaurant and Speyside Distillers who are to open a whisky and cigar lounge.

The development will open its doors later this year, serving up a range of restaurants and eateries, pubs and bars, as well as a large stage area that will host live music and performance.

The stage was just one of the attractions that convinced Southpaw Artistic Director Robby Graham to take a studio space at the exciting new development.

"We were talking to BDN's MD Rick Marsden about an opening night performance and I thought what an amazing space the Sheepfolds Stables is going to be. When Rick showed me the space and his idea for what it will be, I was blown away," said Robby.

"We got talking and Rick agreed that one of the spaces they had available could work as a full-length studio, which is what we've been looking for. The courtyard area is perfect for outdoor performances and I can see us performing preview shows and rehearsing there.

"What's happening in Sunderland - and the Sheepfolds development is part of it - is so exciting. Southpaw is all about connecting with audiences and working in community participation and there's so much of this happening on Wearside right now."

In addition to being a hub for Southpaw Dance Company, the new studio space at Sheepfolds Stables is envisioned as a unique addition to the Sunderland artistic landscape. With a multi-functional space that can host a variety of events and activities, Southpaw hopes to make the space available to other artists and companies. By encouraging collaborations and partnerships with other creatives, Southpaw aims to promote a thriving arts scene in Sunderland and beyond.

Robby established Southpaw in 2013 when it was based in Newcastle. The move to Sunderland came in 2018 when Southpaw was named Dance City's Associate Artist in Residence at the then newly-opened Fire Station. Last year, the widely-respected company became an Arts Council England (ACE) National Portfolio Organisation, meaning the company will get financial support from ACE over the next three years.

"Gaining NPO status was game-changing for us, and allowed us to look for new offices. We wanted to stay in Sunderland and the city council, Jodie Gillespie and Peter McIntyre (Executive Director of City Development) in particular, were massively helpful. It has also given us the reassurance to grow the team and we've recently recruited an Operations Manager, Creative Co-Ordinator, and Executive Director. We also look forward to welcoming the many freelance dancers we work with into the new space at Sheepfolds Stables.

"We love the collaboration that is going on in Sunderland and very much see ourselves as part of that - we've done so much with Rebecca Ball and Helen Green at Sunderland Culture and had such support from Paul Callaghan at the MAC Trust and Graeme Thompson at the University of Sunderland."

Robby and Southpaw have performed in the city on several memorable occasions - including Faust on top of St Mary's Car Pak in 2016; Carousel at The Tall Ships celebrations in 2018; Acedia, an inventive, groundbreaking digital piece at the Athenaeum in 2021 and Speakeasy at The Fire Station in 2022.

Robby came to the north east from his native Northern Ireland in 2002 to study philosophy at Newcastle University. He settled here and although Southpaw is very much a regional success story, the company's burgeoning reputation has seen it perform more and more frequently on the national and international stage.

Rick Marsden from BDN said: "We couldn't be happier to be working with Southpaw Dance Company, and the team there have such vision, which really aligns with the environment we're trying to create at Sheepfolds Stables. 

"We want to create a lively, animated space, where our visitors enjoy a unique experience, and that relies on us bringing together amazing occupiers and organisations.  Sheepfolds is an exceptional space, and we are determined to present a diverse, exciting offering for all visitors when it opens its doors later this year - one that will raise the bar for Sunderland."

For the National Theatre Robby choreographed Angels in America and Pericles and his work in the capital has also included Leave to Remain at the Lyric Hammersmith and various productions at the Royal Albert Hall and Sadlers Wells. He has also produced his award-winning outdoor work in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro, Australia and New York.

A new Smartbridge that will provide a pedestrian and cyclist crossing between Sheepfolds and the former Vaux Brewery site will connect sheepfolds to Sunderland city centre.

Planning permission was granted for the Stables' transformation in May 2022, paving the way for the existing grade II listed buildings to be transformed into a new, creative destination, for food, drinks, events and entertainment. BDN has been supported with its plans for the building by Sunderland City Council, who have led the charge to regenerate the entire Riverside Sunderland area.

Councillor Graeme Miller, leader of the council, said: "This is such an exciting collaboration that will create a unique experience for people both from the city and those visiting.  The venue will bring together a cornucopia of exciting occupiers, each bringing something different, and I'm delighted that Southpaw will be among them."

For more on Southpaw, go to www.southpawdancecompany.co.uk and for more on BDN's Sheepfolds Stables development, go to www.bdnltd.com or follow @thesheepfolds on Instagram and Stables at Sheepfolds on LinkedIn.