The North Wall provides opportunities for artists, young people and the general public to make and experience art of the highest quality. Alongside our ambitious public programme of events in our 200-seat theatre and gallery, we deliver ArtsLab: our artist development programme which aims to foster excellence and support early-career talent from across the UK. We create a nurturing environment where artists can challenge themselves to grow their practice and flourish through residences and mentorship.
Who is it for?
Early-Career Artists
ArtsLab provides opportunities for talented theatre artists aged 18+ to succeed and excel as professionals.
For residencies we hold an open national call out to recruit people from across the UK through auditions and interviews.
For other workshops and programmes we recruit more locally, with an emphasis on providing opportunities to early-career artists in Oxfordshire.
ArtsLab also provides opportunities for talented visual artists aged 18+. Once a year we offer an early career artist the gallery space for an exhibition and support with the curation, logistics, marketing, sales and events linked to the show. This opportunity is for an artist or group of artists working, studying or living in Oxfordshire.
All participants are united by their talent and desire to pursue a career in the arts.
What do we do?
Catalyst
Catalyst is a two-week residency, providing a framework of support for early-career writers and directors to develop their craft, to progress their work and to establish a strong network of peer creatives. Six writers and three directors are selected through a national call-out, and paired with professional mentors and a company of actors. The residency culminates in a public showcase.
Alchymy
Alchymy is a festival of new writing. It includes professional development workshops and panel events as well as opportunities for North Wall ArtsLab alumni and Creative Associates to showcase work. It provides the framework for early career theatre-makers to develop their craft and networks.
Productions and Co-productions
Every 1-2 years, The North Wall produces home-grown work and collaborates with other theatre companies on new productions. Our most recent in-house production, Rosie & Hugh’s Great Big Adventure, premiered in Oxford before touring to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and Soho Theatre in 2024, with music by Nick Cope, book by Victoria Saxton, and directed by Ria Parry.
Our production of Brown Boys Swim premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2022, and was directed by The North Wall’s Co-Director John Hoggarth. Writer Karim Khan took part in the Catalyst residency in 2019.
Our production of E8 by Marika Mckennell premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2019, and was directed by The North Wall’s Co-Director Ria Parry. E8 won a Fringe First Award and Stage award. Writer Marika Mckennell took part in the Catalyst residency in 2017.
To find out about current ArtsLab opportunities, click here.
