Companies to be supported by Launchpad announced

6 May 2021

The Watermill are pleased to announce details of the four companies that will be supported this year by LAUNCHPAD, a new artist development programme created in partnership with associate company Wildcard.

Launchpad will provide mentorship, professional support, free rehearsal space as well as a cash investment of up to £2,000 for each company

Through LAUNCHPAD, The Watermill and Wildcard teams will provide development support, offering dramaturgical and artistic guidance to four exciting companies. Producing support and networking opportunities will also be key components of the programme, helping companies to establish future opportunities and an onward life for their new pieces of work.

James Meteyard, Artistic Director for Wildcard said, “We’re really excited by the four organisations we’ll be supporting over the next year. The diverse range of artistic approaches and company objectives is very inspiring to see and has reminded me of the extraordinary breadth of our industry. I have every faith that these organisations have an extremely bright future ahead of them.”

Abigail Pickard Price, Associate Director (New Work and Artist Development) for The Watermill said, “The Watermill and Wildcard are thrilled to be joining forces with these four brilliant companies. As we emerge out of this impossible time for theatre the energy, innovation and ambition that we have seen from huge numbers of emerging companies through the LaunchPad application process has served to demonstrate what an exciting future there is for theatre. ”

Read below for more information about the selected companies.

Power Play Productions

Power Play Productions tells women’s stories of social injustice, using theatre, activism, and visual art. Their work is impact-driven, generating national recognition for social issues in publications such as The Independent, The Guardian, and Guilty Feminist and thorugh viral digital content (their NOW THIS video gained 150k views).

Their advocacy with change-makers including cross-parliamentary MPs has led to tangible change including inequality monitoring from Fringe Society and new Law Commission proposals. Their impact has been recognised with the Filipa Bragança Award 2018, and nominations for Sit Up Award (2018) and DBACE Social Entrepreneurship Award (2020).

Follow Power Play: @powerplaycrew 

Produced Moon

Produced Moon’s work exists at the intersection between theatre and technology – they make interactive work for the digital age. Produced Moon’s two artistic directors work collaboratively to create mixed reality, VR and theatrical works. Their Joint Artistic Directors are digital artist and mathematician Melanie Frances and queer immersive theatre maker Leonie Rae Gasson. 

“We make work that centres the audience’s experience. Our work ranges from escape rooms to game theatre, participatory digital storytelling to 360 degree film. We play with form and push at the boundaries between live and digital work. We put care at the heart of our processes. We care not just about the work we make, but how we make it. We disrupt traditional ways of making to prioritise our mental health, striving for sustainable and kind processes.”

 Follow Produced Moon: @ProducedMoon

Chuchu Nwagu Productions

CNP was formed in 2019 with the mission of elevating unheard voices through new stories, creating opportunities for emerging artists & creatives, being an instrumental voice in the re-shaping of the industry & levelling the playing field to provide diverse groups equal access to enter and progress.

Over the next few years, CNP look to develop bold, exciting and innovative projects for theatre; while also reviving and breathing new life into existing titles. Chuchu is Apprentice Producer on the West End transfer of Amélie the Musical, Assistant Producer on the UK revival of ‘The Wiz’ at the Hope Mill Theatre and Assistant Producer on Talawa Theatre Company’s ‘Run It Back’ & ‘The Tide’. Upcoming: Lead Producer on the world premiere of a new musical in London next year.

Follow Chuchu Nwagu: @CNP_London

FlawBored

From Left to Right: Aarian Mehrabani, Clo Palmer, Sam Brewer

FlawBored are an emerging company made up of three 2020 graduates from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. FlawBored create socially provocative devised work with creative access at its core.

“Lovers of all things ridiculous and tragic, our aim is to challenge the perception of what ‘normal’ is”.

Follow FlawBored: @AarianMehrabani // @clopalmer // @sambrewer133