Vamos Theatre inspires early career performers with its Emerging Artists Programme

Thirteen talented and passionate emerging artists have recently taken part in Vamos Theatre’s Emerging Artists Programme, a scheme that aims to create a new generation of performers skilled in full mask, devising, non-verbal and physical theatre.

Three years ago, Vamos Theatre, the UK’s leading full mask theatre company, launched its new programme to give more opportunity to early career artists who would like to explore non-verbal theatre. Vamos Emerging Artist Programme welcomes everyone, and particularly deaf and disabled artists and artists from low socio-economic and diverse ethnic backgrounds, to take part. With the help of partner organisations, the scheme invites inquisitive early career artists to take part in free or subsidised mask taster sessions, learning mask techniques, creating physical character and devising non-verbal theatre that connects and moves audiences.

From these taster workshops, the company invites a group of artists for a residency to create and perform mask theatre from shared stories and backgrounds, finalising in a public performance.

2024’s programme brought together thirteen emerging artists for a four-day intensive training residency at 101 Outdoor Arts Newbury. The residency was led by Vamos Theatre’s Creative Producer, Honor Hoskins, and Sean Kempton (Kook Ensemble, Cirque du Soleil), with the support of Peer Mentor, Aadil Din, and focused on using mask theatre, devising and clowning skills for outdoor performance.

Participants received two days of training, focussing on mask, clowning, playing and exploring, followed by a day of guided devising and the programme finished with a scratch performance which took place on the streets of Newbury. Honor Hoskins, Vamos Theatre’s Creative Producer, comments, “The intensity of the four days working together in the immersive creativity space at 101 Outdoor Arts Newbury is like nothing else. We are living, creating and playing together, kept well fuelled by amazing food and cradled by the ever-supportive 101 team. This year’s cohort of artists, who ranged in age from 19 – 33, came from far and wide; from Tokyo to Sheffield, Bilbao to Ilfracombe, Peterborough to Hong Kong. In the rehearsal room, creativity and ambition were set alight, skills were soaked up, and everyone gave their all. I feel honoured to have worked with such an amazing set of performers, who will take the skills they’ve learnt on into their careers.”

Scarlett Rolls, one of this year’s cohort, comments, “The Emerging Artists residency was simply life changing. It was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced, it was informative, invigorating and inspiring, and I’ve come back from it with renewed confidence and a sense of play, which I’m excited to inject into my future work. This residency is so necessary, and I’m sure everyone who attended can agree. The atmosphere was electric, and I’m grateful and humbled to have been a part of something so special.”

Gracie Avery added, “The Vamos Theatre Emerging Artists Programme is a beautiful chance to explore mask theatre freely and unbound by expectation. The learning is rooted in play and silliness and gives you every opportunity to discover who you are as a performer both with and without a mask.”

Vamos Emerging Artists 2024 are Amy Addis, Ines Aresti, Amy Askew, Gracie Avery, Kate Evans, April King, Harvey Kitchen, Sarah Lamb, Jonny Mills, Shota (Oshow) Oshitani, Lillie Prowse, Scarlett Rolls, and Tsoi Huen Wong.

Vamos Emerging Artists programme is supported by The Garfield Weston Foundation, Arts Council England and partner venues The Landmark Theatre Ilfracombe, The Point Eastleigh, Arena Theatre Wolverhampton, Key Theatre Peterborough, University of York, University of Worcester, 101 Outdoor Arts Newbury.

For more about the Vamos Emerging Artist programme visit: www.vamostheatre.co.uk/VEAP