New Work
Norwich Theatre supports the development of work that is new, or an original adaptation. We prioritize the live experience, and we’re best placed to support theatre, physical theatre, dance, musical theatre and opera. Here you can find out about the resources and platforms we offer.
Did you know?
- Since 2022, 8 original productions by local artists or companies have been fully realized with the development support of Norwich Theatre.
- The new work we have supported has toured regionally and nationally, with performances at Stage Two and Norwich Playhouse, and includes productions to be experienced in schools, community centres, on WhatsApp, at a Cathedral and on a nature reserve.
- In 2024/2025 we provided 95 days of in-kind R&D or rehearsal space for the development of new work.
Stage Two
Beyond Stage
Co-Creation
Stage Two
Stage Two is a space where artists can be bold. We can provide space for high quality, bespoke R&D processes, which allows artists to take risks. As it’s also the home of our creative engagement work, it’s also a great place to engage communities in making. Thanks to a regular public programme of completed work, Stage Two also draws in a keen and informed audience to attend play readings and work-in-progress sharings. To find out more about the facilities at Stage Two, contact us for an information pack.
Did you know?
- In 2024/2025 Stage Two hosted 15 new work sharings attended by either invited or public audiences.
- In 2024/2025 we provided 202 hours of in-kind technical support to help develop new work.
We curate a Scratch Night showcasing some of the best new work being created by local artists. Selected through an application process, artists get to test out work-in-development in front of a paying audience. They receive both written feedback from the audience and get to chat to them more informally. Every artist is matched up with a peer to help facilitate discussion, note feedback and talk it through with the artist after the scratch. As well as rehearsal space and tech support, all selected artists receive an upfront performance fee, and a video recording of their work. The Scratch Night is open to all members of the Artist Network.
“I performed a work-in-progress of my solo show “The Kids Are Fine”, about the rollercoaster of motherhood, during the December Scratch night. Being paired with a mentor was incredibly valuable — they took the time to understand what I needed and documented the audience’s feedback, which gave me a solid base to move forward. The fee was a key reason I applied, as it allowed me to cover childcare costs. The studio space was essential in helping me bring the ideas to life and to experiment.The whole experience gave me clear, tangible next steps in the studio and the clarity to develop the show into a more fully-fledged performance.”
– Emma Zangs.
Beyond
Here are two examples of productions we’ve supported through our Beyond stage. They received the benefit of Norwich Theatre’s box office process, our audience engagement data and marketing platforms. By supporting productions like these staged in unusual places, we aim to elevate and give profile to some of the most innovative work being made in Norfolk today.
Norwich Under the Water
Produced by Vatic Theatre. Developed with the support of Norwich Theatre and Norwich Puppet Theatre.
The debut production from Norwich-based physical theatre company Vatic, Norwich Under the Water was a site-sensitive, carbon neutral production, performed in the cloisters of Norwich Cathedral.
A reaction to the prediction that 2m rises in sea levels over the next 78 years will see the River Wensum at the foot of the Cathedral’s tower, the production was a creative response through movement, and an original soundscape blending music, site-recordings and fragments of verbatim voices. This soundscape was experienced by the audience through headsets, whilst four actors performed a physical score. The score was a response to research with scientists from ClimateUEA, and interviews and creative workshops with communities from Norwich Over the Water, the neighborhood in which the cathedral sits.
Edgeland
Produced by Limbik Theatre in partnership with Norwich Theatre and Norfolk Wildlife Trust.
Edgeland was created by Norwich-based Limbik Theatre for Sweet Briar Marshes, Norfolk’s newest nature reserve, managed by Norfolk Wildlife Trust.
Audiences began at the Theatre Royal and were transported to the site by coach. Wearing headsets they were met by what appeared to be a guide with a live mic, who led them on a nature tour. As 3D spatial sound blurred the boundaries between liveness and absence, past and present, it transpired that behind the tour lurked a mystery. The mystery of a young woman who went missing seven years previously. Represented by a community chorus wearing surreal masks and costumes, the plants and animals of the marsh were animated, bearing witness the truth of what happened.
“Edgeland was developed and programmed as part of Norwich Theatre’s Beyond programme and grew out of two years of development work with Jez Pike, Head of Artist Development. Working in the context of Beyond and knowing we had the expertise of NT’s Marketing, Box Office and Visitors’ Services teams behind the show, enabled us to think bigger and take more artistic risks. Our position as Associate Company provided us with the opportunity to collaborate with Artist Development and Visitors’ Services to envision an upscaled experience for our audiences. This level of care meant that we were able to attract audiences, who without the reassurance of the Beyond umbrella, may not have had the confidence to try something as experimental as a promenade audio theatre show on a Marsh. All this has led to a huge shift in our thinking which is shaping the Company’s work going forward.”
– Sarah Johnson, Co-Director, Limbik