Last call for Hidden Door
Theatre deadline for Leith Theatre proposals
The deadline for theatre proposals to the 2017 Hidden Door festival at Leith Theatre is one minute to midnight, tonight, Monday 7 November 2016.
The festival is open to all kinds of proposals to work with them at the recently announced venue in the Citadel Theatre, part of the Leith Theatre complex. Hidden Door will run from Friday 26 May to Sunday 4 June 2017.
Citadel Theatre, Leith. Looking from the circle down to the stage. Photo: Chris Scott Photography
Creative Director David Martin told Æ that so long as proposers can back up their ideas they should get them in as soon as possible. Besides theatre, they are looking for poetry, spoken word and visual art.
He said: “Hidden Door exists to give artists the chance to innovate what they do, develop and break new ground, or do their projects and productions in new ways. So if you have an idea for doing that, send us something. As much as we like to discover new spaces, we also love to discover new talent. That is even more exciting!”
The take-over of the Citadel Theatre will use every inch of the available space. Beside the stage, auditorium and balcony, the venue has a labyrinth of old dressing rooms, passages, a projector room and an orchestra pit – all of which are available to use.
“run-down charm”
Martin said that the Leith Theatre Trust started the ball rolling, overseeing work to make the main auditorium safe for use and Hidden Door is in discussions about what is needing to be done. Although the building is big, any problems are relatively few and contained, so he is confident that the building can be made completely safe “without losing any of its run-down charm”.
Citadel Theatre, Leith. The auditorium from the stage. Photo Chris Scott Photography
He added: “Our intention is to use Hidden Door as a lever to get the whole Leith Theatre project moving, and get people excited and involved in it. Although much of what we do will be a temporary solution, it will be a way to get people into the venue and able to enjoy it.
“Hidden Door is all about creative solutions to get something to happen where things aren’t happening. Our job is not to build a permanent theatre venue, but to use the shell to get people excited about it, and then the work can begin to make it a permanent fixture. Hidden Door will be happening somewhere else then.”
Concerning proposals to perform or create art installations in the building, he said that because the venue is relatively unknown, and has only just been announced, proposers should not be too fixed in their ideas.
“We are looking for proposals that can be quite flexible,” he said. “So if we like the sound of something we will think of where we would like to put it inside the venue and then we will work with the artists to see if that is going to work, and if it doesn’t we will find them an alternative space.
“When we accept a proposal we go into a process with the artists where we support them through the development of their project. To make sure if works with Hidden Door.
Citadel Theatre Leith. Backstage is a labyrinth of round spaces. Photo Chris Scott Photography.
“We want people to be able to use us to try something out, whether they are a new graduate or have been doing stuff for years, but want to try a different approach or new technology, we are the place to try it.”
Hidden Door says that it has decided to refer to the venue as the ‘Citadel Theatre’ because ‘Leith Theatre’ is currently more commonly associated with the adjoining Thomas Morton Hall which is already open as a functioning venue. The venue was, for a short time in the sixties, known by that name (also known by many as the Town Hall).
They said: “We wanted to make sure that people understood that we’re reopening completely abandoned, disused areas of that complex, whilst also referring back to the past and the building’s many former glories. We hope to reveal more of the building’s wonderful history and heritage as we progress with creating the festival over the coming months.”
Full details of how to apply for Hidden Door 2017 are on the website: http://hiddendoorblog.org.
The deadline for Theatre and Performing Arts Proposals is Monday 7 November, 11:59pm.
The deadline for Visual Art Proposals has been extended to Tuesday 8 November, 11:59pm.
The deadline for Poets and Spoken Word Performers is Friday 11 November, 11:59pm.
ENDS
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