Polka reveals 'under-represented' artists chosen to make work for young people

Polka Theatre has announced the six "historically under-represented" artists it has chosen to make new theatre for young people as part of a new artist development scheme.

Ashton Owen and Natalya Martin, Farrell Cox, Layla Bradbeer, Mikayla Teodoro, Ruby Kitching and performing arts collective Kiota will receive industry help and showcase opportunities from the children’s venue’s Catapult Programme.

As previously reported, the programme will support six projects over 12 months, with seed funding, free rehearsal space, mentoring, training from industry professionals and access to shows produced by Polka, as well as showcase opportunities.

The selected artists include people from the global majority, who identify as disabled or LGBT+ or who come from a lower socio-economic background. Catapult was "specifically designed to address a lack of representation of work from these artists", Polka said.

Artistic duo Owen and Martin, physical performer Cox, designer and theatre-maker Bradbeer and puppet-maker and designer Teodoro have been chosen for the Catapult programme’s ‘First Steps’ scheme, which supports artists who have ideas for a children’s show that have never been drafted, performed or rehearsed before.

Meanwhile Bristol-based performing arts collective Kiota and playwright Kitching are the participants in the programme’s ‘Next Steps’ iniative, in which the early draft or initial developments of their work will be elevated and shown to programmers and producers. 

Announcing the artists, artistic director and joint chief executive Helen Matravers said: "Artists creating brand new work and taking risks need more support than ever." 

She added: "I am so excited by how original, inspiring and diverse each story being developed will be, and cannot wait to work with these writers, designers, makers and collectives to see how their sparks of inspiration become potential groundbreaking new theatre pieces for child audiences."

All the artists will showcase their work at Polka’s Big Dreams Early Years festival this September. 

Polka has also announced Second Hand Dance, Tangled Feet and Beats and Elements as its new associate companies.  

Matravers continued: "These three associate artists encompass the very best of unique, innovative and trailblazing theatre, which is made with incredible rigour, research and joy!"

"Polka has a great history of supporting work that pushes boundaries, and with the beautiful, innovative dance created by Second Hand Dance, socially aware and rich storytelling of Tangled Feet and the brilliant musical hip-hop talent of Beats and Elements, we are honoured that they have agreed to be associates and advocates of Polka."