Building on our long history of supporting local creatives through the Futures programme and beyond, we’re delighted to reveal our first five Elevate Associates.
These talented South-West companies and artists will benefit from tailored support and development opportunities over the next year. We’ve also reserved one associate artist slot for University of Exeter graduates. A selection process will take place in spring 2025, and the recipients will be announced later on in the year.
Offering tailored support to local artists is central to Exeter Northcott’s mission. This is not an ‘off the shelf’ package. Instead, we’ll be working closely with the Associates to ensure we’re giving them the right the support and opportunities they most need.
Sam Parker, Artist Development Producer
Company Scheherazade
Company Scheherazade creates dance productions, installations and experiences examining identity and displacement, working with artists of the global majority. They use contemporary dance and classical Persian dance to tell stories of the diaspora that aren’t celebrated in contemporary culture.
The company is composed of dance artists, musicians and sound designers. Company Scheherazade specialises in creating work which fosters collaboration between dance, music and sound.
Photo by Alice Carfrae
Documental Theatre
Devon-based Documental Theatre is led by Naomi Turner and Lucy Bell. Naomi is a freelance producer and theatre/film maker, and recipient of the Stage One Producer Bursary. Kevin Elyot Award-winner Lucy was part of the first graduating class of Producers on the Northcott Futures Programme in 2020.
In 2023, Documental Theatre brought a work-in-progress performance of Mary and the Matrons to the Barnfield Theatre. The original musical featured a live band, an infectious 60s-inspired soundtrack, Makaton signing and a cast which included learning disabled performers.
After appearing at Edinburgh Fringe 2024, Documental Theatre’s new play Scaffolding was performed during Elevate Festival in October.
Estelle Buckridge
Estelle Buckridge is the founder and facilitator of Café Theatre Company, a community organisation who make theatre with participants over 60-years-old, holding regular sessions and sharings at the Barnfield Theatre. Café Theatre Company provides an essential creative outlet for older people to tell their stories and invites isolated people across the city to access fun performances in a social environment.
This December, Café Theatre Company are hosting their latest Theatre Café show, exploring the theme of change. The company will be performing a variety of sketches, songs and poems written by the group and inspired by their own lives and experiences.
Photo by Ralph Whitehead
Photo by South West Theatre Photography
Katie Villa
Katie Villa is a theatre director, performer and facilitator based in Exeter, interested in JOY, failure, collaboration and the transformative power of creativity, trusting deeply in the magic that happens when you gather wonderful people around a creative idea.
She is the Artistic Director of Quirk Theatre, having co-written and directed their last 8 shows, including Mary The Pigeon Who Never Gave Up and Rhia & The Tree of Lights.
Katie also co-hosts Failspace, our regular, informal gathering for artists at the Barnfield Theatre.
Squeeze Box
Squeeze Box (SqBx) is a creative organism, a mycelium of makers, who support the artistic vision and disabled-led practise of Hugh Malyon.
Their process allows us to understand the power of humanity more deeply, whilst developing together and growing as a care-centred transdisciplinary collective. SqBx opens direct conversation on care as a universal experience through installation, performance and workshop.
Photo by South West Theatre Photography
To find out more and stay up to date, take a look at our Elevate Associates page.
Elevate Associates
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