Derby LIVE - Questions and Answers
Derby LIVE = Excellence + Diversity
Question: What IS Derby LIVE?
Derby LIVE is the new model for the delivery of the performing arts in Derby. It hopes to include five auditoria in three venues:
The Playhouse Main Auditorium - 535 seats
The Playhouse Studio - 90 seats
The Guildhall Theatre - 242 seats
The Assembly Rooms' Great Hall - 2000 standing, 1200 seated
The Assembly Rooms' Darwin Suite - 500 standing, 300 seated
It also includes a range of high-quality, large-scale outdoor arts events in places such as Darley Park, the Market Place, Cathedral Green and Markeaton Park.
Q: Will Derby LIVE produce its own high-quality theatre?
A: Absolutely. It has to, in order to justify the high levels of Arts Council and City Council funding that will be invested in Derby LIVE over the next three years. The main difference is that, while theatre will still be produced for the Playhouse Main Stage and Studio, it will also be produced in the Assembly Rooms and Guildhall Theatre as well as in some of our outdoor venues. The theatre that Derby LIVE produces must at least equal both the quality and quantity of theatre which was previously produced in Derby, in order to justify Arts Council and City Council investment.
Q: What other art-forms can we expect to see within Derby LIVE?
A: All performing arts will be presented within Derby LIVE, across all of its venues. The venue they will be programmed into will depend on what fits best in which space.
Q: Will Derby LIVE be 'dumbing down' the arts in Derby?
A: Quite the opposite. Arts Council and City Council investment in Derby LIVE is firmly based on artistic excellence. National and international artists will feature within Derby LIVE’s programmes.
Q: Will there be room for local artists to feature in Derby LIVE?
A: Of course. Engagement with the arts is of prime importance to the cultural health of a city. Local artists – professional and amateur – will have significant access to Derby LIVE’s venues and programmes.
Q: What about provision for young people?
A: Derby LIVE will have its own Learning and Inclusion department. This will cater in a variety of ways for people of all ages, allowing them to connect with Derby LIVE’s programmes and develop their own creative potential in a professional, high-quality arts environment. Derby LIVE will also have its own Youth and Community theatre groups.
Q: Will Derby LIVE go ahead even if it doesn’t have access to the Playhouse?
A: Yes, it will. We have to ensure that investment by the Arts Council and the City Council in Derby’s arts provision represents excellent value for money. Of course, if we can’t get access to the Playhouse facilities, we'll have to rely on the venues and spaces which we can use. As well as this, we will also look to programme more theatre and performing arts product in site-specific venues around the city centre.
Q: Why hasn’t Derby LIVE announced its programme for produced theatre yet?
A: Derby LIVE has developed two different programmes for produced theatre – one with the Playhouse building included, and one without. As the availability of the Playhouse is currently uncertain, we're reluctant to reveal our planned programmes at present. We intend to publish both a Business Plan and a draft programme towards the end of June.
Q: Will Derby LIVE be consulting on its plans?
A: Derby LIVE began its consultations in February 2008. Since then it has held more than 30 consultation meetings and will continue to hold more. These have ranged from meetings with individual artists and small arts organisations to consultations with groups such as the Derby Arts Forum, the Derby Arts in Education Network and the Derby Cultural Diversity Arts Network. If you would like to attend a consultation meeting on Derby LIVE, please contact Pete Meakin on peter.meakin@derby.gov.uk or 01332 715515, minicom 01332 256666.