NURTURE
NURTURE is Amadan Ensemble’s long-form artist development and mentoring programme, designed to support emerging theatre-makers as they develop their own creative practice.
Rather than learning from the outside, NURTURE places artists inside the process of making professional work. Artists spend time in the rehearsal room with Amadan, experiencing first-hand how we devise, experiment, collaborate and develop a production from its earliest stages.
Alongside this, they are given something that can often be difficult to find as an emerging artist: dedicated time and space to develop work of their own, with ongoing support from experienced theatre-makers.
Artists are invited into the development of one of our productions, giving them direct experience of working alongside a multidisciplinary professional ensemble on highly physical and experimental work. They can observe the process, contribute to it and see how ideas are tested, changed, discarded and eventually developed into performance.
We believe there is a huge amount that can be learned by simply being in the room — seeing not only what works, but the uncertainty, experimentation and problem-solving that are an essential part of making new theatre.
NURTURE also gives artists access to the practical experience Amadan has built through creating, producing and touring its own work. Depending on the needs of the artist, this can include guidance around funding, budgeting, production, logistics, working with other creatives and developing partnerships and networks.
NURTURE includes four weeks of rehearsal space, 16 days of mentoring and opportunities to share work in progress, alongside the experience of being embedded within Amadan's professional rehearsal process.
"Working with Amadan Ensemble has been a huge turning point for both me and the show I am creating. The space you created allowed me to take big artistic risks in a supported, structured way. It’s rare to find a programme that values risk and vulnerability so highly. I left every rehearsal feeling more certain of the work’s potential and more certain of my voice as an artist." - Steven Millar, 'Arcadia'
"The mentoring programme provided by Amadán has been so valuable to us in moving this project forward. We found the cost of renting rehearsal space really prohibiting. Having the space for 4 weeks has allowed us to just focus on the work and not limit rehearsal time due to the cost. Secondly they provided us with support, accountability, advice and reassurance throughout this project. Amadán have helped us to understand many of the practical challenges in producing a piece of theatre. We have also leaned on them for their creative experience which has enriched our creative process.
" - Declan King, 'Plantin'
For us, NURTURE isn't about telling an artist how to make work. It's about giving them the time, space, experience and support to discover how they want to make it.
Interested in NURTURE?
Keep and eye here and on our socials for future announcements.