Old Vic New Voices: New Season for 2012

As you may well have noticed, our lovely partner OVNV has a rather marvellous new microsite. What you may not yet have noticed is just quite how many exciting new opportunities they are offering this season. So, let us break it down…

What is this new season? 

“Our mission for this year is ‘getting work on’”, explains OVNV Director Steve. “We want to offer more opportunities than ever to our members to make work, which has provided the impetus for our new season.”

Talent 

From now on, all OVNV Club, Network and Associates members will comeunder one banner; Talent. Don’t worry – you don’t need to do a thing. This just means that everyone who applies or takes part in an OVNV project will become a member of the alumni pool known as Talent.

“We’ve grown so much over the last four years, by being part of IdeasTap, that we offer more opportunities to meet talented people than ever before,” explains Steve. “Everything goes through IdeasTap now, so having a single Talent group makes sense and just seems fairer. Whether you get onto one of our projects or not, by applying you will become a Talent member.”

New Voices: Edinburgh 

In partnership with IdeasTap and Underbelly, OVNV will present five new plays from the OVNV pool of emerging talent, at Edinburgh, in the Underbelly venue.

“Last year there were some stunning plays by our IdeasTap members,” says Steve, “and we are keen that work doesn’t get lost in the big beast that is Edinburgh. So, OVNV and IdeasTap will be partnering with Underbelly, who we feel are excellent at supporting talent. This will enable us to give five quality productions the profile they deserve. They’ll have the stamp of approval from two of the big boys in the industry. Of course, we’ll still be up in Edinburgh for the entire month, supporting all our other work, too.” 

Meet ups  

From February, OVNV will be holding monthly drop-ins for their Talent members.

“We’re offering a unique opportunity for professional development and to meet other talented members at our new monthly Meet Ups,” says Steve. “You’ll meet the whole team, you can pitch projects, you can get advice and you can use us as a sounding board for your concerns, ideas and worries.”

TS Eliot US/UK Exchange

In this, the third year of the US/UK Exchange, OVNV will showcase six of the very best new American plays for the first time in the UK. In previous years, 92 young writers, actors, producers and directors have swapped city, to produce a selection of short plays to be performed in London and New York.

“Even big organizations, like us, have been affected by the recession,” says Steve. “The cost of the US/UK Exchange had become prohibitive, so we are now repositioning the project and recognising the network that has been created over the last two years. This year, we will be bringing four of the best new American plays over to London, to be produced by the directors, actors and producers from our [British] Talent pool. UK writers can still apply for New Voices Edinburgh, The 24 Hour Plays or to have their work put on in The Old Vic Tunnels.”

21 Opportunities at the Old Vic Tunnels 

OVNV in partnership with The Old Vic Tunnels are offering up to 21 slots for performance in their 2012 programme. From staging plays, screening films, hosting club nights, or something completely different, the Tunnels team is on hand to offer support, help and guidance.

“This opportunity is open all year round and available now. We’re excited to be working with the Tunnels. It’s going to provide the one thing we haven’t had up until now: space.”

For more information on the OVNV New Season 2012, visit their partner page.

OVNV will be having a very exciting launch event at The Old Vic theatre on 28 January, from 10am. To book your place and have the chance to put your questions to the team, visit the New Season page.

Apply now for the New Voices Edinburgh brief.

Image: Flocking/Crowd Joy by Rea Mole.