Youthaction Northern Ireland S

BELFAST TEMPEST MUSIC – CHOREOGRAPHY

The offer to tender for choreography on the Belfast Tempest is to ensure:

 the creation of movement and dance to accompany the Belfast Tempest;  the community participants (as detailed below) are fully engaged with their rehearsal and performance of their movement and dance elements of the Belfast Tempest.

The Tempest performances take place April 20-23 2016.

Terra Nova Productions is happy to accept tenders from individual practitioners, partnerships and groups of artists.

BACKGROUND TO TERRA NOVA PRODUCTIONS

Terra Nova Productions is Northern Ireland’s intercultural theatre company. Our artistic vision is:

To put ground-breaking intercultural exploration at the heart

of our creation of world class theatre for Northern Ireland.

Our mission is:

 collaborate with people of different cultures from a base in Belfast, exploring where cultures ‘meet, mix and explode’, our activities are designed to examine, express and challenge these points of interaction.

Our key aims are:

 to create innovative exciting drama by bringing together stimulating professionals with both traditional and cutting edge skills, from around the world, in Northern Ireland;

 to build tolerance and understanding by positively highlighting the multicultural nature of modern Northern Irish society through our work;

 to develop the next generation of multicultural Northern Irish artists with excellent intercultural skills. Our intended audiences and participants are two-fold. Firstly we engage ethnic minority audiences and participants, providing a place in Belfast’s professional theatre sector where ethnic communities can see themselves, their lives, and stories represented on stage. Secondly our activities engage the city’s indigenous population enabling expression of the views, values and beliefs they hold about our changing society; creating experiences and processes where all of the people can mix, learn and share.

Our two current core staff members, Andrea Montgomery and Tom Finlay, share more than 40 years’ experience of theatre producing, directing, writing and community engagement.

For more information go to: www.terranovaproductions.net www.facebook.com/terranovaproductions twitter feed: @TerraNovaDrama #BelfastTempest #CreateYourOwnStorm

THE BELFAST TEMPEST PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Start Date: October 2015 Finish date: April/May 2016

Location: Belfast

The Belfast Tempest is a high quality professional theatre production created by five Belfast organisations, showcasing the best intercultural theatre practice that the city has to offer. This bold spectacle, performed on Queens Island in April 2016, will have 230+ Belfast citizens at its heart supported by high- powered international cast. It will also offer 680 people opportunities to engage through eight months of city-wide intercultural theatre workshops.

The five Tempest partners are coming together for the first time. Each of the five partners is an expert in their field. They bring together a wealth of high quality arts and community engagement skills that will ensure the success of this hugely ambitious project. These organisations are:

 Terra Nova Productions Northern Ireland’s only professional intercultural theatre company

 T13, East Belfast’s enormous innovative venue on Queen’s Island

 The Crescent Arts Centre, the city’s oldest intercultural arts organisation, with an impeccable track record of intercultural arts provision

 ACSONI a truly intercultural community organisation, uniting 56 different African nations with the many cultures of the Caribbean

 LibrariesNI who support the deprived and displaced on a large scale all across the city, reaching into every neighbourhood.

The project will adopt Terra Nova’s practice of using workshops, active engagement and the nurturing of emerging intercultural artists supported by trained professionals to create exciting theatre. THE CREATIVE VISION FOR THE BELFAST TEMPEST

Terra Nova’s vision for the project is that Shakespeare’s last great play, The Tempest, adapted by our Artistic Director Andrea Montgomery, will provide the story through-line on which to hang a magical and spectacular evocation of the historic past and future hopes of the city of Belfast.

The Tempest revolves around Prospero, a magician and duke, who along with his daughter, has been cast up on an island, after being deposed by his brother. In the Belfast Tempest Prospero, representative of the powerful shipyard bosses of 19th century Belfast, has taken over Queen’s Island.

At the start of the play Prospero uses his magic to summon a storm to shipwreck his brother and various other noble persons and their servants on the shores of his island and bring them under his control. Over the course of the play Prospero tests the outsiders and is tested by them and must gradually share his power, until in the end he agrees to the marriage of his daughter Miranda, to Ferdinand, the foreign prince. Prospero uses his magic for the last time to summon the spirits of the entire world to celebrate the marriage of the young people, allowing us to close the play with a joyful intercultural Masque. After the Masque Prospero forgives all past wrongs and ceremoniously breaks his staff and drowns his book, relinquishing his magic.

THE CHOREOGRAPHY & MOVEMENT FOR THE BELFAST TEMPEST

The choreography & movement artist/team on the Belfast Tempest will work alongside the Artistic Director and Associate Director & Community Coordinator to deliver the dance & movement elements of the play.

Given the engagement of so many community performers in the production, this will require those winning this tender to work a schedule that is more carefully planned than an ordinary musical or play.

Dance Resources & Participants

The choreography and movement artist/team will have various different groups to work with on this job:

 The community dance group, created by audition and taught by the choreographer and movement artist/team over a ten week programme  The members of the professional cast with movement or dance experience  The members of the acting company (who will be going through their own ten week programme run by Community Director Tom Finlay)  The Spirit of the Shipyard – gathered by the choreographer and movement artist/team from dance and drama community groups and run through a ten week rehearsal programme  The choreographer and movement artist/team will also need to undertake three – five weeks of work with the intercultural community groups contributing to the Wedding Masque.

Production Outputs

The Tempest artistic team would expect to work with the choreographer and movement artist/team during October & November to refine ideas for the dance and movement language of the play. After a first review we can say that the production outputs expected from the choreography & movement artist/team in the performance will be: 1. Movement to cover all significant scene changes. 2. The Storm and Magical Shipwreck. One of the two largest pieces of movement and dance in the production, this begins with Prospero summoning the traditional drumming bands, then Spirit of the Shipyard enters (including Ulster Scots Dancers) dance & movement needs to include some Ulster Scots threads developed and changed for our purposes. Chaotic hornpipe? Possible inclusion of simple vocal element from choirs. 3. Professional cast undertake a ‘dumb show’ (set to music?) as Prospero tells Miranda what happened to them in the past (TBC). 4. Ariel sings to Ferdinand possibly a cappella – movement language for Ariel 5. Ariel puts Gonzalo to sleep using magic – movement language for Ariel 6. Ariel wakes Gonzalo (this could be with a magical sound, such as music and thunder) 7. Stephano sings drunk song. This might be a cappella. Choreographer works with Stephano 8. Caliban sings drunk song. This might be a cappella. Choreographer works with Caliban to create movement language for characters. 9. Ariel leads Trinculo off stage by confusing him with sound – movement language. 10. Sound and music as Ariel transforms into a Harpy to scare the lords, followed by thunder and storm as Ariel terrifies the lords – movement language for Ariel 11. Angry magical sounds music to make the tempting clothes that will entice Stephano and Trinculo magically appear. Prospero is angry. 12. The sound of the Wild hunt, galloping hooves, and sound of barking dogs. Community cast becomes dogs. 13. The Wedding Masque: this is the second of the large movement/dance set pieces in the production. It needs to include both Irish and Ulster Scots musical & dance threads, but it exists primarily to showcase the rich diversity of Belfast’s new communities. It will include spoken word by our community acting troupe, elements of dance by our community dance group and will be woven together with inputs from other intercultural groups engaging. The theme will be weddings around the world and we are aiming to showcase both individual and group dance from around the world. 14. Background music and sound to underscore Prospero’s big speech and first mention of his plans to break staff and drown book might include choirs? Any movement used should echo later ‘breaking and drowning’ ceremony. 15. Movement to music and sound effects to bring the lords out of their enchantment when Prospero releases them from his magic. 16. Ariel sings as he helps Prospero dress in fine robes. Possibly a cappella? 17. The Company solemnly assists Prospero in the ceremony of breaking his magical staff and drowning his magical book. Recaps music in 14 and includes both choir and drummers from traditional bands. This ceremony segues into… 18. Ariel’s departure. Build the movement picture for Ariel to sail away while whole company waves. 19. Epilogue Prosper asks for Audience’s indulgence – sound scape recaps Sea, birds, wind, industrial port in distance with music as audience leaves after a (choreographed) curtain call by whole company

TIMESCALE

Our expectation is that the timetable will be:

October - December 2015 – Development of Ideas

During these three months the choreography & movement artist/team will liaise with the rest of the Belfast Tempest creative team, led by Andrea Montgomery to develop ideas for the movement and dance for the theatre production, focusing first on the Storm/Shipwreck and the Wedding Masque, then the ‘breaking and drowning of Prospero’s staff’ before coming to other movement required in order to support the community rehearsals beginning in January 2016. Visit T13 and become aware of the space we are working in.

The Choreography & Movement artist/team will need run auditions for the Tempest community dance group in December 2015, and will work with the Tempest team to secure the Spirit of the Shipyard participants.

January - March 2016 – Working with the community

The choreography and movement artist/team will be responsible for developing and running the ten week programmes (starting 18 January)

1. the Tempest community dance group (aiming include dancers from around the world, based in Belfast)

2. the Spirit of the Shipyard Group

They will also be responsible for movement/dance work with the intercultural community groups joining the project from early March onwards. You may need to undertake a familiarization meeting with the intercultural community groups prior to the start of their rehearsal to find out more about what they plan to contribute (lion dance, parade in costume etc).

The choreographer and movement artist/team will need to maintain a regular flow of information with the Artistic and Community Directors and to work directly with the Composer/Sound Design/MD team.

March and April 2016

From 28 March onwards, professional actors are available to rehearse their contribution. The choreographer and movement artist/team will need to work alongside the Artistic Director in rehearsal as required. This is when we expect the choreographer and movement artist/team to work with Ariel, Caliban, Prospero and Trinculo on their movement styles and to work out a movement language for the ‘magic’. This period will also involve working with the composer and fine tuning the length and usability of the sound and music elements associated with the magic and scene changes.

Rehearsals are likely to run afternoon and evening at some points to allow for smaller community elements to join in. The Storm is likely to be rehearsed on April 3 and the Wedding Masque on April 10. Sat 16 and Sun 17 April will see the technical rehearsal of the Storm, Masque and ‘Breaking & Drowning’.

Week commencing 18 April will see the Tech, Dress and performance.

BUDGET

A fee of £4,000 to include VAT has been allocated for the person or team to deliver all the choreography and movement elements of the project including the production. The performance includes live streaming on the nights of the performance. Elements of dance and movement created will be filmed and used for not for profit publicity purposes. This fee will also guarantee exclusive performing rights for 12 months to Terra Nova Productions. A contract will be created between Terra Nova Productions and Music & Sound creators detailing the option and future performance fees as well as any additional use.

SELECTION CRITERIA

The selection of the Choreography Movement Artist/Team will be based on the following criteria. Please be aware that you may respond to this offer to tender as a sole practitioner or as a partnership or group.

 Concept for the choreography and movement work on The Belfast Tempest  Experience of carrying out similar projects  Ability to carry out a ‘Value for money’ service  Experience of working and devising with community participants  Experience of working and devising within a creative team  Experience of choreography and movement for theatre  Ability to see through a vision to produce a final unified dance and movement ‘language’ for the production

SUBMISSIONS OF TENDER

In making a submission to this offer to tender please include:

 Applicant(s)’ details (name, address, telephone, email, website, social media profiles)  CVs for all artists involved in delivery of tender for choreography and movement  The names and addresses of 2 referees  An outline proposal for the response to the different artistic elements of the offer to tender  Details of intended methodology especially the interaction with other creative team members and the specific work with community participants  A time-line work plan  A breakdown of all fees and costs inclusive of VAT (max £4,000)  An example of a recent, similar piece of work enclosed  A signed letter/declaration that all information is true and accurate.

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS

5pm on Monday 14 September 2015

Shortlisted artists will be informed by 23 September 2015. It is anticipated that interviews will be held on 28 September 2015. Please try to keep the date free.

This post is funded by: Belfast Tempest Partners:

and T13. Appendix 1 – the Agreed Strategic Aims and Outcomes of the Five Belfast Tempest Partners

The three strategic aims of the five partner organisations working on The Belfast Tempest are:

1. To produce a large-scale professional intercultural production reflecting the new Belfast back to its people.

2. To develop our existing partnerships into a network of partners that strengthens the intercultural arts infrastructure of the city.

3. To develop the intercultural and artistic competency of Belfast’s diverse communities.

Terra Nova Productions will have an additional strategic aim which is which is:

4. To further develop the management and artistic competency of the partner organisations through delivery of a well-managed, high quality professional theatre production.

The Outcomes of the Belfast Tempest

Each of the three main Aims of the project has at least two outcomes associated with it. They are listed below:

Aim 1: To produce a large-scale professional intercultural production reflecting the new Belfast back to its people. Outcome 1a:  2400 audience members will increasingly value the arts through actively enjoying a quality intercultural theatre production that involves 200 of their fellow citizens. Outcome 1b:  2400 audience members will have a better awareness of how Belfast’s shipyard past links to its new intercultural future through engaging in a production that puts intercultural arts centre stage, on Queens Island.

Aim 2: To develop our existing partnerships into a network of partners that strengthens the intercultural arts infrastructure of the city.

Outcome 2a:

 5 partner organisations will increase their intercultural and artistic competencies through working in partnership on a bold multi-faceted arts project.

Outcome 2b:

 5 partner organisations will strengthen the intercultural arts infrastructure of the city of Belfast through the delivery of an ambitious intercultural theatre project over 13 months.

Aim 3: To develop the intercultural and artistic competency of Belfast’s diverse communities.

Outcome 3a:  230 of Belfast’s citizens will develop high quality artistic skills through engagement in the Belfast Intercultural Tempest.

Outcome 3b:

 480 of Belfast’s citizens will develop their intercultural competencies through participation in 105 workshops.

Outcome 3c:

 30 emerging intercultural artists will develop high quality arts and intercultural skills through engagement in a 20 week professional development and mentoring programme.

Appendix 2 - Expected Project Numbers:

 12 intercultural Shakespeare workshops for 40 people at Belfast’s libraries

 12 intercultural workshops for participant groups

 5 rehearsals for each of Belfast’s two participating choirs

 10 sessions of professional development and mentoring for Belfast actors

 10 sessions of professional development and mentoring for Belfast dancers

 20 supported rehearsals sessions for ACSONI members

 15 supported rehearsals sessions for East and North Belfast community groups as part of the Spirit of The Shipyard

 3 rehearsals each for three intercultural groups from across the city linked to the Terra Nova Steering group

 5 rehearsals each for three local drumming groups/bands

 4 full days of set building from recycled materials by the T13 community set-building team

 4 rehearsals each for the masque and storm sections leaders

 1 group rehearsals for all of the groups to working together on the Storm

 1 group rehearsals for all of the groups working together on the Intercultural Masque

 2 weeks of professional rehearsals for the actors and the apprentice actors working on the play

 1 week of evening rehearsals for professional cast and community performers

 1 full technical rehearsal for everyone

 1 full dress rehearsal for everyone

 6 two hour performances at T13 by everyone working together on the production