The Belgrade Theatre and University of Warwick have teamed up and are looking to commission a writer to develop and deliver a brand-new piece of theatre to be workshopped and shared in December 2023.
As part of Coventry City of Culture, West Midlands Police (WMP) worked closely with the delivery team to co-design and co-deliver a number of creative initiatives. This was an opportunity to explore the power of arts and culture as a tool, and its potential to build collaboration and spark conversation between communities and the police. Over the past two years, Professor Jacqueline Hodgson and Dr Rachel Lewis from the University of Warwick have been conducting extensive interviews and focus groups with a wide range of people in Coventry to understand how these initiatives might help build trust and confidence in policing.
In doing so, they are exploring perceptions of policing within communities and the police force, considering the benefits and challenges afforded by the WMP involvement in the City of Culture, and examining the broader implications of police-community engagement through arts and culture – for policy change and for training.
This project is a continuation of this work and will utilise theatre and storytelling as a tool to provoke, challenge and create discussion.
Brief
Using the research as fuel, the commissioned writer will create a piece that explores the low levels of trust in the police amongst young people, women and people of colour. The piece will aim to challenge stereotypes, and demonstrate the power of arts and culture collaborations to build trust and confidence and shift perceptions within marginalised and seldom-heard communities, in addition to policy makers.
The writer will work closely with the Director and Dramaturg, Jennifer Davis, to develop the piece in advance of a workshop period in November 2023.
There will be one performance for targeted audiences in early-December 2023. The team are exploring options for additional performances to be presented in the future.
The Writer
We are looking for a writer who is
• Ambitious, rigorous and a risk taker in their work and practice
• Open and excited to engage with and use research to inform their writing process
• Over 18 and are not in full time education
• Based in the UK
• Open to working with a Dramaturg/Director to develop a piece of new writing
We are particularly interested in hearing from writers who have lived experience of the criminal justice system, and who have a connection to the West Midlands.
We actively encourage applications from those with lived experiences that are relevant to the project and its themes, including those who are from the Global Majority, Working Class and Disabled.
If you would like to find out more about this opportunity and meet some of the team then join us at our virtual drop-in session on Friday 16th June from 1pm.
If you are interested in attending, please email jrose@belgrade.co.uk stating “Commission – Drop-In Session” in the subject line and we will send you a Zoom link to join.
Please note potential applicants should request a link no later than Thursday 15th June at 5pm.
Closed captions will be enabled for the drop-in session, and we encourage you to reach out to us to discuss any additional access requirements you may have. A recording will be made available to those who cannot attend the session.
For further details on the opportunity, including key dates, fee and how to apply please view the Call Out / Job Description on the website.
Deadline: 23 June 2023
Source: Arts Jobs