UP(BEAT) - Research & Development

UP(BEAT) proposes an urgent artistic intervention to the current mental health and addiction crisis in the UK.

It is a live theatre production. The story centres around grief, substance misuse and challenging emotions, things we all experience. UP(BEAT) sparks a conversation on these experiences through its innovative storytelling using text and music.

We are raising money for a Research & Development week. Your contributions will directly pay the artists that will be working with us. We are currently unfunded so any donations, big or small will have a HUGE impact on the realisation of this project. We have everything organised in this project to make it happen. Please read on to find out more about UP(BEAT) and why you might like to support us.

Link to project trailer

UP(BEAT)

Annabelle is a young DJ, chasing her roaring ambition to make it to the top. Full of unresolved grief for her beloved brother, she avoids her feelings through a chaotic lifestyle. This DJ set is her now or never. Her final chance to work out how it has gone so wrong. Carrying the weight of questionable decisions and the consequences of substance misuse, Annabelle’s resilience will shine through in her hopeful demand to live a different and better life.

Research & Development at Streatham Space:

Throughout UP(BEAT), Annabelle is playing her DJ set, within this, her emotional journey is manifested through sound into the external world. This will be created, live on stage by the performers. We will spend 5 days exploring how the music and sound is a driving force in the narrative. The week will include us working closely with a sound designer and DJ to share skills on how theatre and music production can live together, at the heart of one story.

At the end of the week we will host an industry sharing with the support of Streatham Space Project. This will be to secure future project partners to develop UP(BEAT) further.

The innovative form of UP(BEAT) will draw in new audiences and redefine theatre spaces. We predict that will we reach younger audiences with this story because of the use of music, encouraging much needed conversations on mental wellbeing within younger generations.

What do we need:

We have budgeted around £6000 for the Streatham Space R&D. Hopefully most of this will come from a successful Arts Council England grant and some from your kind donations. If we are unsuccessful we will scale down the project and solely use this fundraising pot, so please donate whatever you can.

The money will pay all the artists for the weeks work and will be used to hire essential equipment. The rehearsal space has already been confirmed in-kind.

Who we are:

Ella is a Director and Facilitator. Most recently, she has directed A Goodbye Kiss (The Drayton Arms), UPBEAT (the Omnibus) and See How They Run (Not Too Tame & Derby Theatre). As a facilitator, she works with the Old Vic, Southwark Playhouse, The Almeida and Tender Arts & Education.

Sarah is a writer and performer. She is currently writing a poetry anthology and has been developing UP(BEAT) over the last couple of years. She is a co-founder of Speakbeat Collective, a theatre company that produces interdisciplinary performances at the Bush Theatre.

Ella and Sarah have been working together creatively for 5 years and have a large combined network to help us with this project.

Thank you again for taking the time to look at this information.