VARIOUS STAGESFESTIVAL 2017

Open call for proposals

AboutMahogany Opera Group

Mahogany Opera Group is a leading UK opera and music theatre company specialising in contemporary work, stretching the boundaries of what opera can be and who it is for.

We create new opera in new ways. Our projects draw on a range of art forms, cultural influences and technologies and bring together exceptional people to make opera that is vital, exciting and relevant. Our aims are to create new work, to nurture artists, to engage a wider audience in opera and to develop the art form.

We believe that opera should be open to everyone and want our work to reflect the contemporary world, drawing on diverse perspectives, backgrounds and experiences. This informs the work we create, how it is made, and the opportunities we offer to audiences, participants and artists.

Over the last year we have collaborated with presenting partners the Barbican, Southbank Centre, Spitalfields Music, research partners Guildhall School and King’s College London, international partners Borealis Festival, Norway and Operadagen Rotterdam and regional partners including Watford Palace Theatre, Rosehill, Cumbria and Young Norfolk Arts Festival. We are an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation.

About Various Stages

Various Stages is our distinctive research and development programme through which we test ideas, creating new opera and music theatre which challenges and provokes.

Various Stages blurs the line between process and performance. It is a space for artists to explore and create, sharingthe process with audiences and stakeholders. We believe this helps encourage creative exchange, demystifies the artform and ensures that the work has context and relevance.

Each year projects in Various Stages go through a range of R&D labs, open and closed workshops, sharings and public work-in-progress showings. We open up the process through Various Stages R&D Festivals and most recently taking R&D workshops on tourto engage more effectively with regional partners around the UK.

Various Stages is supported by PRS for Music Foundation.

Various Stages 2017

From 2017 we are broadening the scope of what we do, working in collaboration with more partners and sharing our practice with the sector. We want to create a meeting place for artists and new ideas, and developnetworks and markets for new opera and music theatre.

In January 2017, we will workshop a number of new ideas with a range of different artists. This will culminate in a two-day Various Stages Festival in February 2017. The festival will feature showcases, feedbacksessions and networking opportunities to which national and international venues, promoters, artists and producers will be invited. Some events will be open to the public.

‘The work I create cannot be made without the workshops which happen at Various Stages. As a composer I need to learn how the minds and bodies of the performers work by being with them and feel how my music and words work in real time and space.’

Jamie Man, composer – Various Stages participant

As part of the upcoming the festival, we are offering residencies (up to five days) and showcase opportunities for up to three project ideas to run alongside Mahogany’s own work-in-progress.

We want to hear from artists,ensembles, groups, producing companies who have an idea they want to develop through Various Stages which will contribute towards the growing music theatre sector in the UK. For us, music theatre is music-driven work where the musical and theatrical dramaturgies are held in equal importance. Music theatre builds on, but is distinct from, traditional opera.

What we are looking for

We are looking for artists who:

  • Have a new artistic idea, combining music and drama, that is innovative and pushes boundaries
  • Are open to experimentation and taking artistic risks
  • Want to develop and share their practice and exchange ideas
  • Have a proven track record and demonstrable relationship with a venue, promoter or production house who would be able to endorse your idea
  • Are not in full-time education

The definition of ‘artist’ is loose – this might bemusic theatre, opera, theatre, dance, performance artists, individuals or groups/companies. Experience in traditional or contemporary opera is not necessary.

This opportunity is not aimed at emerging artists, per se. We want to hear from companies/artists who are relatively established and could be a reciprocal partner, potentially bringing their own resources/contacts etc to the project.

While there is no fixed outcome beyond the showcase, we are interested in ideas that have the potential to be developed further in collaboration with Mahogany.

The projects will be selected by an international panel of artists/promoters.

What we will provide

  • Space for up to fiveconsecutive days of R&D in January 2017
  • Showcase opportunity in early February in Various Stages Festival
  • Contribution of up to £2,000 towards personnel and materials
  • Basic technical and administrative support
  • Mahogany to be on hand to collaborate as required, acting as a mentor and/or creative sounding board

All activity will take place in London. There is no additional budget for travel and accommodation.

We anticipate that we will receive many more excellent proposals than we are able to take forward, and therefore plan to create further opportunities to participate in Various Stages Festival through observation, feedbackand networking for anyone who is interested. Keep an eye on our website for further details nearer the time.

How to submit your proposal

Your proposal is a chance for us to get to know more about you and your idea. This shouldn’t feel like a job application and we encourage you to complete the proposal in the way you feel best conveys your idea.

In order to submit your proposal, please complete the attached form, which includes the following information:

  • A description of your idea in no more than 500 words, including details of what you envisage the residency/showcase will entail and how it will be beneficial to you and the idea, brief technical and personnel requirements
  • Any other supporting information e.g. links to video material, press reviews etc
  • Details of availability in January/February 2017
  • Confirmation of eligibility to work in the UK

You will also need to enclose:

  • CV or biography of company and/or lead artist(s)
  • A letter of recommendation from a recent collaborator, peer or critical friend who is able to comment on your work
  • A completed equal opportunities monitoring form for lead artist(s) (Downloadable from the Mahogany website)

Proposals must be completed and submitted via email to by 12pm on Friday 29 July 2016.

Draft timeline

29 July 2016, 12pmDeadline for proposals

22 August 2016 Meetings with shortlisted artists

5 September 2016 Selected artists notified

January 2017 Residencies take place

3-4 February 2017 (TBC)Various Stages Festival

If you have any queries regarding the submission process or would like any further information, please contact Alison Porter, Executive Producer on .

PROPOSAL SUBMISSION FORM – VARIOUS STAGES

LEAD ARTIST DETAILS

First name
Surname
Name of organisation (if applying on behalf of an ensemble, company, collective etc.)
Email address
Contact telephone
Address
Website (include organisation’s if applicable)
Twitter (include organisation’s if applicable)
Please detail any dates during January and February 2017 that you would be unavailable to participate in Various Stages

CONFIRMATION

I have enclosed a CV/biography of the organisation and/or lead artist☐

I have enclosed a letter of recommendation☐

I have enclosed a completed equal opportunities monitoring form☐

I confirm I am eligible to the work in the UK ☐

Please describe your idea in no more than 500 words. You should include:
-Name of the project
-What you envisage the residency/showcase will entail
-How this opportunity will be beneficial
-Brief description of personnel and tech requirements
Please use this space to include any supporting material. (E.g. video or audio links, press quotes)

Please submit your full proposal to:

by 12pm on Friday 29 July 2016