Proposal
There are doubts about whether Leicester has a large enough student base to support the proposed festival, other suggested venues are: Glasgow, Newcastle, Edinburgh, London, or Nottingham. All of these have various advantages and disadvantages. The primary concern with choosing the venue should be the number and size of potential venues, the availability of local sponsorship, cost of the area, and whether or not people will be prepared to travel to the city. This last consideration almost rules out Glasgow, and the cost option rules out London out right. I think that Nottingham, Leicester or Newcastle are the best potential locations, further research into the viability of each of these cities is needed, and also the proposal of other potential venues.
2. The Cost:
The names of a number of potential sponsors have been put forward. These potential sponsors are:
Local Radio Stations,
It has also been suggested that to raise the profile of the event we approach famous actors, directors to attend the proposed festival, and that as a centrepiece for the event an extremely well known playwright should direct a play with a student theatre society. Suggestions are welcomed for these two proposals.
3. The Name:
The name has to be short, to the point, but attractive, and possibly amusing, only three suggestions have so far been made. These are:
National Student Theatre NST
4. Duration:
It has been suggested that the proposed festival should last for between 10 and 14 days, ideally spanning two weekends. With the larger pieces being performed at the weekends with smaller, less costly performances during the week. Two shows per day at the weekend.
5. Miscellaneous:
Tours of the theatres, if appropriate, to encourage schools to visit.
Maximum overhead recovery, the proposed festival must at the very least break even, any excess after that point should be placed in a fund to support any future event.
6. Drama Schools:
R.S.A.M.D.
The following points have been added to the proposal.
Names:
Uni-versal Stage,
Duration and Size:
It has been suggested that we organize a student section of a larger, already established theatre festival, or take part in a non-specific festival with short plays, street theatre and on or two larger pieces. This has the advantage that we can gage interest in a Student Theatre Festival at little cost to ourselves, also it is the general opinion that sponsorship will be easier to gain if we are part of a larger festival.
Theme:
One point that is being made repeatedly is the theme of the proposed festival, or lack of same. We cannot allow Universities to choose a play at random; we are obliged to give them some guidance. This is in our own interests as it allows us to regulate what is going out under our name. Proposed guidelines include, age of plays, Style of play, or an overall theme for the festival. Any or all of these are acceptable.
Problems:
These problems have all been raised.
� Target groups
� How wide a scope of plays/contributors do you want?
I don't think that any of these problems are insurmountable but they are all very valid points and worthy of consideration. The point about accommodation is very valid and is one that would have to be a factor in the choosing of the venue. As I see it we have the following cities to choose from:
Cambridge,
Opinions Please.
Any suggestions should be mailed to me.
The update
Newcastle venues and prices:
Live Theatre, 175 persons, �300 + vat per night - less than �2 per person.
City Hall, 2133 persons,
Tyne Theatre, 985 persons,
Playhouse, 512 persons, �850 + night per night - less than 2 per person.
Theatre Royal, 1294,
Any more info should be mailed to me. s
1. The Location:
Breweries,
Local University(ies),
The National Lottery,
The Princes Trust (or similar)
Sage Computers,
Proctor and Gamble,
Orange,
Local City Council,
Local Utilities Boards,
Local Theatrical Organisations.
Absolutely Dubious AD
Absolutely Ludicrous AL Only appropriate if a comedy festival.
Who to invite, all Drama schools, all active student theatre departments, all English departments with a drama component, also the possibility of inviting any active comedy societies and putting on a "Canned Laughter" style event has been proposed.
R.A.D.A.
L.A.M.D.A.
L.A.P.A.
Rose Bruford College,
Bretton Hall,
Queen Margaret College,
Guildhall School of Drama,
Mountview School of Drama,
Gateshead University,
Preston University,
On Q Productions.
You wanted a proposal, please read carefully and advise.
Me
There is now a lot more to be added, please note the people with whom I have been talking are assuming a Newcastle based event, I have no particular views one way or the other about this as yet.
Uni-verse of Mirth,
Up Staged,
Line Up.
� As Audience
� As Contributors
� As Sponsors
� As Judges
� What would the length of the event be?
� How are the contributors to be hosted?
Glasgow,
Leeds,
Leicester,
London,
Newcastle,
Nottingham,
Other.