About Arcola
“Supporting emerging talent in a stimulating mix of new music theatre, opera and bold new interpretations of rarely performed repertoire and familiar classics ” WhatOnStage
“Arcola Theatre brings the very best of the worlds performing and visual arts to the people of the world living and working in London ” The Guardian
We stand for an artistically adventurous, radical theatre, constantly responding to an everchanging contemporary British culture. A theatre that brings to one of the most disadvantaged areas of the UK new audiences, home grown powerful productions and the very best of UK and international theatre companies. Founded in 2000 by Mehmet Ergen and Leyla Nazli, Arcola Theatre has built a reputation as one of the leading fringe theatres in London and has staged work by some of the best living actors, writers and directors including William Gaskill, Timberlake Wertenbaker, Ariel Dorfman, Dominic Dromgoole, Max Stafford-Clark, Frank McGuinness, David Farr, Helena Kaut-Howson, and Kathryn Hunter. Arcola has won – among others – the Peter Brook Empty Space Awards in 2002, 2003 and 2008; in 2009 was a nominee for the Peter Brook Equity Ensemble Award for Grimeborn; our 2012 production of Sweet Smell of Success won a Whatsonstage Award for best new music.
Grimeborn OPERA FESTIVAL
Funders Circle “Grimeborn is an opera festival that strives
Arcola Theatre 24 Ashwin Street, London E8 3DL Registered Charity no. 108613 020 7503 1645 www.arcolatheatre.com
to be everything that Glyndebourne isn’t. Instead of boozy picnics, dress codes and country house manners, there is theatrical innovation from the frontline of contemporary music. ” Evening Standard
About the Festival Launched in 2007, Grimeborn is Arcola’s annual festival of new opera and musical theatre. It brings together innovative adaptations of traditional operas, new, unknown, rarely seen or underappreciated works. It introduces new audiences to opera, and challenges the perception that opera is inaccessible and elitist. A fundamental aim of the festival is to foster emerging talent and provide a platform for them to develop their work beyond the fringe. Festival participants receive personal mentorship, technical and marketing support together with free or subsidised rehearsal rooms.
Why we need you Seven years after its launch, we are ready to take Grimeborn to the next level; an ambitious schedule is laid out for 2013, with longer runs across both studios. Looking to 2014, we have commissioned an opera from Gabriel Prokofiev. To date Grimeborn has largely been funded through our main budget and box office income, supported by small grants. This is becoming harder to sustain and
“ A unique opportunity to perform opera in an edgy, leftfield venue that allows the audience to be immersed in the drama ” Thomas Blunt conductor and Grimeborn participant
“The place was packed out with a crazy crowd so buzzing that I felt I had crashed some very hip party ” Telegraph
The Grimeborn Funders Circle levels of membership Level 1
makes it difficult for us to achieve our ambitions: to commission more works, provide more seed funding for new projects, expand the festival and increase support for participating artists. Recent Arts Council research points to a lack of opportunities for emerging talent with limited prospects for new performers and composers. Grimeborn is one of the few platforms where artists can take that next step – but we can’t do it alone. We’d like to bring you into the Grimeborn circle to help us foster new talent and build relationships that will champion the next generation of artists. We are looking for people who are keen to support Grimeborn in more ways than “just” making a donation. We want to show you where your money is going, enable you to meet the artists you are funding, visit their rehearsals, pass on your own knowledge, and get more of an insight into the work that is presented at the festival. The Grimeborn Funders Circle will offer opportunities for exchanges, encounters, masterclasses and talks for you and the participants and thus enrich the festival and opera community.
£50 • Advanced information about the festival • Complimentary festival programme • 10% off food and drink during the festival • Invite to the season launch
Level 2 Up to £250 Everything offered under Level 1 plus: • Acknowledgment of support in the festival programme • Invitation to the Grimeborn reception • 2 free tickets to Grimeborn events
Level 3 From £1,000 Everything offered under Level 1 plus: • Acknowledgment of support in the theatre’s foyer • 4 free tickets to Grimeborn events • Invitation to Grimeborn dinner – wine and dine with fellow donors and meet the season’s major artists
To join the Grimeborn Funders Circle, or to find out more please contact Ruth Tosha Mulandi, Commercial Manager on 020 7503 1645 or development@arcolatheatre.com