01 November 2018
Newsdesk
Improbable’s 14th annual unconventional convention for performing arts people, Devoted & Disgruntled will take place on Saturday 26, Sunday 27 and Monday 28 January 2019 at Royal & Derngate, Northampton.
Devoted & Disgruntled is an opportunity for performing arts people at every point in their careers, from audiences to artists, CEOs to FOH staff, grassroots groups to seasoned professionals, to come together and focus on the question WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT THEATRE AND THE PERFORMING ARTS? This event uses an Open Space format, meaning that attendees set the agenda themselves - anyone can call a session, bringing the issues and topics they want to discuss to the floor.
Phelim McDermott, Co-Artistic Director of Improbable describes D&D as "a slow but persistent revolution of meaningful dialogue and emergent action for our arts and culture”. He says
“It feels like in the past year there has been a huge amount of change for theatre and the performing arts. Amidst the seismic political change in the world, we now have new Artistic Directors starting their tenures, we have been scrutinizing our traditional working practices and are working on more transparency, better environments, being kinder. How is this going, for you and for Theatre? What are we doing well? What could we do better? What can we share? What connections can we make? I believe that meeting together in Open Space, is the best way to start our year, set our goals, have authentic, meaningful conversations, make better and theatre better. Come and be part of it.”
Over the last 13 years, D&D has grown to become one of the biggest and most loved gatherings of theatre and performing arts people in the UK. Following last year's annual event with the New Diorama Theatre, D&D14 heads to Northampton and continues Improbable's commitment to presenting D&D outside London in at least two of every three years.
James Dacre, Artistic Director of Royal & Derngate said:
"Royal & Derngate gained so much from partnering on Devoted & Disgruntled 13 last year, Improbable's largest and most accessible open space gathering to date. So we’re thrilled to be collaborating with the team once again to build upon this experience by bringing Devoted & Disgruntled 14 to Royal & Derngate, in the heart of the Midlands.”
Dacre added: “I’ve never known a time where our industry has more to gain from the kind of open discussions, debates, and displays of solidarity and collective problem solving that Devoted & Disgruntled can provoke, helping all who attend to start to envision the kind of future we want for our industry, our communities and ourselves. I know that that this will be an invaluable resource to our community of local artists and audiences.”
D&D14 will once again see Improbable partner with Royal & Derngate to make D&D an accessible and inclusive conversation with D/deaf, disabled and neurodivergent people. Access provision will include an accessible changing space, support for neurodivergent attendees including plain-text materials, stim and silent spaces, and BSL interpretation. Details of further access provision will be announced in the coming weeks. Anyone who would like to discuss specific access requirements is encouraged to contact dandd@improbable.co.uk or 020 7240 4556
Olivia Coxhead, Producer of D&D14 and Improbable said:
"Whether you're a librettist or lighting designer, producer or puppeteer, gatekeeper or graduate, Devoted & Disgruntled is for you. The annual event is a space for meeting old friends and new faces, sharing ideas, and working together to shape the future of theatre and performance. Royal & Derngate's support with the last annual D&D in London helped to create one of the biggest and most diverse gatherings of performing arts practitioners in the UK. We're excited to be working with Royal & Derngate again and taking D&D to Northampton for the first time. We hope you can join us."
Tickets go on sale on Friday 2 November, and are £27 full price and £17 concession for the full 3 day event. There is an early bird offer for full price tickets at £23 (15% discount), until 1 December. Thanks to support from the John Thaw Foundation, Improbable is also offering a bursary to support young people aged 16-25 with travel, accommodation and attendance costs at D&D.
Royal & Derngate and Improbable are also partnering as part of a wider consortium to develop original musical theatre for mid-scale touring. This collaboration will doubtless inform discussions at D&D14.
Devoted & Disgruntled 14
Royal & Derngate, Northampton, 19-21 Guildhall Rd, Northampton, NN1 1DP
26 - 29 January 2019 - Saturday 11am-7pm, Sunday 11am-7pm, Monday 10.30am-2.30pm
Tickets and Booking URL www.devotedanddisgruntled.com/devoteddisgruntled14
