Setting the stage in Edinburgh - Spotlight on Theatre and Dance from Northern Ireland

Recently I was in Edinburgh with my colleagues Gilly Campbell and Siobhan Molloy, for the 7th Spotlight on Theatre and Dance from Northern Ireland.

Supported by ACNI through National Lottery and by British Council NI, and delivered by Theatre and Dance NI, the event is a curated platform of the best NI shows appearing at the Fringe, where the work is pitched to 80+ international industry delegates.

The Edinburgh Fringe is one of the largest arts marketplaces attracting industry programmers from across the world. The Spotlight maximises the opportunity of being at the Fringe by supporting NI artists to develop their international profile, make meaningful international connections, and explore touring opportunities.

This year’s Spotlight platformed three top quality shows from NI which were playing at the Fringe: Consumed by Karis Kelly, Anthem for Dissatisfaction by Gina Donnelly, and Shame Show by Colm McCready and Fergus Wachala-Kelly.

Spotlight also features a Fellowship Programme, which offers mentorship and bursaries to Edinburgh for four artists/companies with tour-ready work: playwright Carley Magee, and companies Amadan Ensemble, Kabosh, and Bruiser.

On the day, I MCed the event as each of the three Spotlight companies presented an eight-minute pitch of their tour-ready shows, then we opened the room to networking. In advance of the event, we compiled a personalised list for each Spotlight and Fellowship artist of delegates who might be interested in their work, ensuring that vital connections are made and conversations are started in the room. We also advise artists about any funding or partnership opportunities which could help them bring the work out on tour, such as Artist International Development Funding.

In the past, Northern Ireland shows have been picked up through Spotlight and toured to: Auckland National Arts Festival & San Francisco Arts Festival (Green Shoot’s In The Name of the Son); Melbourne and Sydney Fringe Festivals and Irish Cultural Centre (SkelpieLimmer’s Two Fingers Up); Royal Court London (Prime Cut’s Lie Low); and Keegan Theatre Washington and Teatro Mayor in Bogotá, Colombia (C21’s Expecting). And we’re building up strong relationships with other key international and national venues and festivals, such as the Irish Arts Centre (NY), the Abbey Theatre (Dublin), Traverse Theatre (Edinburgh), and PuSh International Performing Arts Festival (Canada).

It is an intense day, which comes out of months of preparatory work and collaboration. We’re really seeing the rewards of this bespoke artist platforming at a global arts festival and look forward to seeing the results of this year’s event.