Our Hippodrome Origins cohort have just finished the first six months of the programme, which was an intensive period of workshops, shows and discussions to ‘refill the creative well’. For the next year, each of our eight artists will be working on a new piece of theatre. Already they can be spotted in the Green Room, the Artists’ Lounge and in our studio spaces, writing, playing and creating.

Reflecting on the first six months of the programme, I’m so delighted by the facilitators that have come to the Hippodrome to work with our cohort. We’ve had workshops from incredible national and international artists, all of whom have roots in the Midlands. Director and playwright Chris Cooper led a session focusing on stagecraft, and creating images and moments full of meaning. Movement director and theatremaker Jenni Jackson helped us to see the body as a source of inspiration and creativity, and dramaturg Ola Animashawun focused on the strength of your work’s premise. Workshops with directors James Yarker and Jaz Woodcock-Stewart gave different perspectives on devising and game-playing as a starting point for making theatre.

We’ve seen shows at the Hippodrome like Plue and 10 Nights, been to venues across the Midlands to see plays and exhibitions, and gone on trips to the National Theatre and the Bush in London. All of this has helped to replenish our artists’ sense of inspiration, and been the source of critical and open discussion in our sessions. What was interesting? What was boring? What do we think of the technique, the content, the quality or the politics of what we’ve watched? It’s been a joy to have these enriching and refreshing conversations together, and hopefully this will continue over the next year as we turn our focus to peer-to-peer support and sharing work.

Find out more about our Origins cohort here.