Platfform: Artist Development

The Platfform programme supports the creation of new theatre and writing for young people by Welsh and Wales based artists. The two year programme is exploratory in nature, and looks to work with emerging and established artists who may not have made work for children before.

The Platfform programme is fundamentally about development, on a variety of levels:

• Artist development: the programme will encourage the development of new and exciting work for young people created with young people involved in the creative process if suitable.

• Artform development: there is a lack of quality product in Wales and our hope is that this programme will encourage a new generation of artists to see work for young people as an artform in itself, and one worth pursuing.

• Audience development: we particularly like working with artists whose idea looks to increase access to theatre for children and families on low incomes, or suffering from other forms of poverty e.g. rural isolation or those identifying themselves as having protected characteristics.

The Platfform programme has two stages;

STAGE 1
Every two years, we invite Welsh and Wales based writers and theatre makers to surprise and inspire us with play ideas or stories for the stage, written especially for young people. Whether the idea is for three-year olds, teenagers or somewhere in between, we would love to hear about your idea or read new work that’s been written for a young audience.  

We would like ideas/scripts to be developed in either Welsh, English, BSL or a combination of these. Ideas must suitable for a cast of maximum of 3 actors. Applicants must have a desire to produce their own work, as this will be a key requirement of the next stage of development.

Scripts, excerpts of new scripts or the seed of a proposal for a devised piece can be submitted in a written or video format. A short feedback report will be provided for all submissions. Two writers/theatre makers will be chosen to explore their idea further and offered up to £2500 and mentorship by Theatr Iolo’s Artistic Director, Lee Lyford.

STAGE 2 
Following Stage 1, both artists will be offered an additional 12 months of in-kind support and expert guidance from Theatr Iolo on how to develop their idea further, including connecting the artist with specialists within the TYA sector. The whole Iolo team will help the artists with mentorship, advice, training and support with funding applications, producing, touring, budgeting and marketing.