News Release
Date: 23/2/12
Issue No: 1
Immediate Release
Pilot Theatre awarded BBC and Arts Council Funding
Pilot Theatre will make the York Mystery Plays 2012 available to view
across the world this summer. The innovative, York-based theatre
company will stream the outdoor spectacular live over the internet after
securing funding from a new BBC and Arts Council England project
called The Space.
The Space partnership will create a new digital arts media service and
commissioning programme, the aim of which is to help transform the way
people connect with, and experience, arts and culture through new
technologies. Pilot Theatre has been awarded £50,000 of funding as one of
53 digital initiatives nationwide.
Pilot Theatre’s involvement with The Space will be to track the progress of
York Mystery Plays 2012 which are being staged against the historic
backdrop of St. Mary’s Abbey in York’s Museum Gardens as part of York 800
celebrations. The Plays will be available to view live and online via a feed of
eight different camera views during the weekend of 11-12 August 2012.
Marcus Romer, Artistic Director of Pilot Theatre said “This is very exciting
opportunity for us to be able to share York and the York Mystery Plays with
the world in 2012. It allows us to extend the digital work we have been
developing in providing new ways for audiences to engage with the Arts”
More follows…
The livestream will enable audiences from all over the world to share and
engage in Mike Kenny’s (The Railway Children, Wind in The Willows) new
adaptation of the famous Mystery Plays, on top of the 1,200 volunteers and
30,000 people already expected to attend this summer. Pilot Theatre will
follow and document the build up to the event, enabling key characters and
members of the creative team to share their story, the creative process and
their part in the making of the Plays.
Following the event, viewers will be able to download and re-watch the plays
using a new set of iPlayer options, dragging and dropping all the different
camera views into a timeline, making possible an infinite number of ways to
watch and creating a completely unique experience.
Pilot Theatre will work with livestreaming specialists Kinura, who have
previously helped the company create ‘pilot-theatre.tv’ – an online television
channel on which they have broadcast conferences, festivals and rehearsal
rooms, providing live interviews with actors, poetry and monologue readings
and interactive question and answer sessions.
Sarah Platt, Director of Kinura said “We're so excited to be working with Pilot
Theatre on this project in 2012. The funding gives us a really unique chance
to capitalise on the great work we've been doing in innovative live streaming;
The Space is all about transforming audiences' experiences across digital
platforms and when you bring together creative producers with cutting edge
technologists, things start to get really interesting.”
More follows…
Jane Gibson, Chair of York Cultural Company Advisory Panel, said “Pilot
Theatre, one of the foremost digital innovators coming on board with this new
version of the Mystery Plays adds a whole new audience, and strengthens the
creative partnerships we have in York. The collaboration of the ancient Guilds
and Trades offered a creative sharing economy which is echoed in this new
21st Century interpretation, with all the activity culminating to create a whole
event for all to share and participate in - whether in Yorkshire or across the
globe.”
Liz Wilson, CEO of York Theatre Royal said “This project adds another
dimension to the Mystery Plays. A great partnership of York organisations
working on this artistic endeavour has just got better. It is a great pleasure
that the Fund has seen the potential of the experience of the Plays to be a
fascinating resource for this new venture.”
To find out more about Pilot Theatre and their current projects follow
@Pilot_Theatre on Twitter or visit www.pilot-theatre.com
Ends
Editor’s Notes:
Pilot Theatre is an award-winning National Touring Theatre Company
currently in residence at York Theatre Royal.
The Space is a joint partnership between the BBC and Arts Council England.
York Mystery Plays 2012 is produced by York Cultural Company which is a
collaboration between York Theatre Royal, York Museums Trust and Riding
Lights Theatre. The York Cultural Company has received Lottery and Arts
Council funding to help stage the Plays.
For additional information, quotes or images please contact:
Thomas Feeney
Press & Media Manager
Pilot Theatre
email
phone
office
twitter
thomas@pilot-theatre.com
07849 595159
01904 635755
@thomfeeney