Theatre In the Pound home - Further info for participants - Application form
Information for Directors, Writers, Artists, and Theatre Companies...
The Show
Theatre In The Pound is a not-for-profit night, designed for individuals or groups of theatre practitioners to showcase new work in the main house of The Cockpit. Pieces can be any length of time (with an absolute maximum of fifteen minutes). Each piece is followed by a short feedback discussion with the audience, to help companies develop the work.
With the entry fee at £1, Theatre In The Pound is a great low-cost evening out. As well as welcoming theatre enthusiasts and practitioners through the doors, Theatre In The Pound is accessible to those who would not normally go to the theatre. It’s the perfect evening to try something new.
Theatre in the Pound is designed for the theatrical; plays, dance, opera, performance art, musical theatre, puppetry, performance poetry, physical theatre, and plenty more disciplines are welcome (although we're not so interested in stand-up, bands, or jugglers).
To hire the space, each company pays £20 per performance plus a £40 deposit which will be refunded after the show (plus £1 per head on the night, everyone pays a £1 even your nan!) This is to ensure we have a limited drop-out rate and, in return, we provide a platform for new performance. That's just over £1 for every minute of performance time.
Programming policy
Theatre in the Pound is about enabling work - or even the seed of an idea - to be seen, when the cost of hiring an entire venue is as such that regular showcasing or experimenting in a professional context is financially difficult for most people.
We will sort through applications to put together a balanced programme that will work for the audience; heavy and light, fast and slow, musical, fiction etc. so please use the application form to indicate as clearly as possible the kind of performance you want to bring to Theatre In The Pound.
The only 'rules' are:
1) It must be no longer than 15 minutes.
2) It must be legal (IE No copyright infringements, incitement to hatred, or anything else that threatens our licence).
Advertising
Applicants are free to undertake their own advertising once we've received a signed contract, your fee and deposit.
Information, logos, maps, etc are available on request. We will promote Theatre In The Pound in our mailing list – and through our social networking sites, however we cannot provide marketing for individual performances.
Information, logos, maps, etc are available on request. We will promote Theatre In The Pound in our mailing list – and through our social networking sites, however we cannot provide marketing for individual performances.
Applying
Please look over the information above to make sure that Theatre In The Pound is the right event for your work. Click here to apply online.
You will have the option of selecting three choices of preferred months, up to six months in advance. Note that we cann't guarantee your first choice.
We will get back to you, to let you know if you have been successful, as soon as possible.
Repeat applications
We welcome repeat applications, however new applicants will be given priority.
What happens if I can't perform?
Please send us an email as soon as you know. You are welcome to reapply for a future slot. Please note that you will lose your £40 deposit.
Technical Information
Technical facilities
The main theatre is a black box comprising a thrust playing space, approximately six metres across by eight metres deep with raked seats on three sides. Each side contains sixty seats, with black tabs or a white cyclorama to the rear.
There are two large dressing rooms backstage but limited wing-space. Theatre In The Pound sometimes takes place during a run of another show, which might mean we have to work around another set and lighting design. We'll do our best to make things as neutral as possible. Our house technician will act as technical operator for all events in the theatre.
Lighting:
We can provide a good general cover, a centre spot and (providing we know about it one week in advance) one special.
Sound:
We have SM58 mics on stands, and DI boxes.
Sound is played back through QLab, so either bring your sound files (or a QLab project if you have it) on a USB drive, or email the audio files to chris [at] thecockpit.org.uk
Set:
If you have a set, it should be easily assembled and not consist of anything that you can't manage to carry between two people. Make sure you have someone available to carry it. We can provide useful bits of furniture. Check with us first, but we have chairs, tables, etc, which are generally suitable for most pieces.
Your show will almost certainly be more successful if you keep it technically simple with the minimum of lighting and sound cues.
I have a technical question - who do I contact?
Firstly please check out the tech page of the website, there's lots of useful information including stage plans, lighting plans, and 360 images here which may already have the answer. If not, then please email tech [at] thecockpit.org.uk and one of our tech team will get back to you.
Firstly please check out the tech page of the website, there's lots of useful information including stage plans, lighting plans, and 360 images here which may already have the answer. If not, then please email tech [at] thecockpit.org.uk and one of our tech team will get back to you.
Do I need to attend my tech rehearsal?
The tech rehearsal is vital in order for us to support your piece, to prepare the lighting, sound, and any other technical elements that you plan to include (video, live sound, use of piano etc). Please let us know as soon as possible if you're unable to attend your scheduled time - it's a tight schedule on the day, so last minute changes can't always be accommodated, but we'll do our best!
The tech rehearsal is vital in order for us to support your piece, to prepare the lighting, sound, and any other technical elements that you plan to include (video, live sound, use of piano etc). Please let us know as soon as possible if you're unable to attend your scheduled time - it's a tight schedule on the day, so last minute changes can't always be accommodated, but we'll do our best!
Can I use weapons in my piece?
If your show contains weapons (or items that look like weapon!) you must let us know before the day of the show. When you arrive on the day, make sure that the weapons are concealed, and do not remove them from their bag/container until you have spoken with a member of staff.
On The Day
What time will I be on?
We will confirm the time of your performance by 6pm on the day of the show, after we have conducted all of the tech rehearsals. This is partially based on technical requirements, and what order we think will work best.
Is there any additional rehearsal space?
On the day, you will be allocated a free one hour slot in one of our studios.
Can I get some additional rehearsal space, prior to the day?
Yes, we have three rehearsal studios available, to find out about the studios, costs, and how to book them, go to thecockpit.org.uk/hire_our_spaces
Can I film my piece?
You are welcome to film your own piece. In your tech rehearsal, let us know that you want to, and we'll let you know where you can film from.
What happens if I'm running late on the day?
If you're running late on the day, please call our reception team on 020 7258 2925 and let us know as soon as you can.
The Contract
After we've looked over your application and confirmed your slot with you, we'll send you two copies of a contract signed by the Theatre In The Pound administrator, which will specify a date/time slot and will commit us all to staging the event. The contract also spells out who's responsible for what. Sign both copies of the contract and return one to us. Then contact The Cockpit reception on 020 7258 2925 to pay your £60 by credit/debit card.
You can get the £40 (minus £1 per perfomer) back when you turn up and do the show. Otherwise you lose the whole £60.
YOUR PIECE IS NOT CONFIRMED UNTIL YOUR DEPOSIT IS PAID.
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