Amplify: Artist Development

Nottingham Playhouse’s Artist Development Scheme

The Amplify programme is here to support local artists. We know that the East Midlands is full of talented theatre-makers and we want Nottingham Playhouse to be a hub for artists. We are committed to developing a network where ideas can be shared, challenged and grown.

Throughout the year, we host several events to help artists show their work and get feedback. These include Amplify Festivals, Amp Nights, plug in events, surgeries and workshops.

Creative Associates

Our Creative Associates develop a significant relationship with Nottingham Playhouse over the course of a two year period.

During this time we offer a bespoke partnership, supporting the development of their career – this might be through offering rehearsal space and building resources, giving artistic support, or an opportunity to make work. We’re so excited to champion some of the most exciting talent from our region through this scheme.

Lewis is an East Midlands based actor, writer and theatre-maker. After studying Drama & Theatre Arts at the University of Birmingham, he then trained as an actor at the Oxford School of Drama. Lewis has starred in Hood Documentary and Enterprise (both BBC), and was one quarter of award-winning sketch comedy group Laughing Stock.

As the Creative Director of production company, BEASTHOUSE, Lewis has received critical success with his shows WOLF and BOAR. The work Lewis makes is physical, filmic, and funny. He plays every single character, mimes every prop, and makes all the sound effects in his one man Hollywood blockbuster style theatre shows. Both shows have enjoyed sold out runs at the Edinburgh Fringe and have completed successful UK tours too. Performing at theatres and festivals including The Lowry, The Other Room, The North Wall, Nottingham Playhouse, Birmingham REP, Latitude Festival, and Soho Theatre.

Lewis has also created a one man audio series named SHADOW CITY CHRONICLES which delves further into the neon soaked world of WOLF and is available to stream on all good podcast platforms.

Major Labia are here to smash the patriarchy through vaginal comedy. More raucous than righteous, Major Labia is an all-female comedy collective founded by Artistic Director Siobhán Cannon-Brownlie (The Elves and the Shoemaker, Nottingham Playhouse). Performers include Gemma Caseley-Kirk (My Mad Fat Diary, Channel 4), Narisha Lawson (The New Worst Witch, CITV) and Phoebe Frances Brown (Small Island, National Theatre).

Major Labia are a Nottingham based collective who are graduates and associates of the BAFTA award-winning Television Workshop, and have been tickling audiences for over three years. They tackle the insidious notion that women aren’t funny through live sketch shows, recorded work on their YouTube channel, and educational programmes. They have performed in many theatres across the country including Nottingham Playhouse’s main stage, Battersea Arts Centre and Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Major Labia have been supported by PILOT nights, Old Vic New Voices and are a Breakthrough Company at Curve Theatre, Leicester.

Major Labia are elated to be Amplify Creative Associates at their local theatre, and can’t wait to create more seriously silly content for audiences in Nottingham and beyond.

Ben Norris is a writer and performer from Nottingham, and the voice of Ben Archer in ‘The Archers’ on BBC Radio 4. Twice a national poetry slam champion, Ben has appeared everywhere from Latitude Festival to the Proms at the Royal Albert Hall. His debut solo show, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Family, won the 2015 IdeasTap Underbelly Award at the Edinburgh Fringe before touring the UK and Australia, including a sold-out run at Nottingham Playhouse. His first short film, commissioned by Channel 4 for their Random Acts programme, was nominated for a Royal Television Society Award, and his second is currently in development with BBC Films and BBC Drama.

He is an enthusiastic commoner and packed lunch advocate.