c e r b
e r u s
t h e a t r e
c o m p a n y
F A Q
What does Cerberus Theatre Company do?
Who is responsible for setting up Cerberus Theatre
Company?
Does Cerberus have an audience development
strategy?
Does Cerberus have an education strategy?
Where is Cerberus Theatre Company based?
How does the collaboration process work?
Does Cerberus Theatre Company tour its
productions?
Does Cerberus Theatre Company accept
submissions?
Does Cerberus Theatre Company Commission
writers?
What opportunities for employment exist within
Cerberus Theatre Company?
How should I best approach the company?
What does Cerberus Theatre Company do?
Cerberus Theatre Company produces new works of quality text based theatre. The company develops its work from a process of extensive collaboration between a writer, a director and a principal performer. Working this way means that richly textured characters, plots and set pieces evolve through the development period, freeing up much time in the later rehearsal period. The collaboration process also allows each discipline (writing, directing, performing) to gain an insight into the work of the others. Top
Who is responsible for setting up Cerberus Theatre Company?
Director Andi Ross, Performer Sean Hay and Writer Michael Begg formed Cerberus in 1996. Andi Ross, before becoming a freelance director, was the Scottish Arts Council's Associate Director at the Tron, Glasgow. She has also held the position of Senior Drama Worker at Edinburgh's Theatre Workshop. Sean Hay is one of Scotland's most exciting young actors and has performed in leading roles with most of the major Scottish theatre companies including TAG, Boilerhouse and Communicado. Michael Begg's first play, You Dance The Swords Alone was commissioned by Cerberus following several community theatre projects on which he worked together with Sean Hay. His poetry has appeared in magazines and in online publications in Britain, Canada and the U.S.A. The Balerno Archive was set up in 1999 to archive much of Begg's work including Laborare est Orare (poetry collection) and This Filthy Job (novel). Top
Does Cerberus have an audience development strategy?
Cerberus develops its audience through regular community workshop activity and through its commitment to community education. Each of the three founding members of the company have an extensive track record in community arts practise. As well as this the company tours workshops relating to their own working methods. Recently, Sean Hay and Michael Begg delivered a 2 hour workshop on the collaborative development process first tried out in You Dance The Swords Alone. This event took place at the Traverse Theatre and has been invited to various locations throughout the country. Top
Does Cerberus have an education strategy?
Cerberus Theatre Company makes itself available to any education body for workshops, lectures or other specified presentations. When working in a community arts setting, Cerberus ensure that interested volunteers receive training in appropriate skills. For further information on community arts practice refer to questions relating to audience development. Top
Where is Cerberus Theatre Company based?
Cerberus Theatre Company is based in Edinburgh, Scotland. There, it maintains an office, though as yet all rehearsal and much development work has to be undertaken in outside venues. Previously Cerberus has been gifted rehearsal space in the Traverse Theatre, Out of the Blue and in the workshops of North Edinburgh Arts. Top
How does the collaboration process work?
Each Cerberus production begins by finding a core team of director, writer and principal performer who shall then enter into a period of development. The raw materials for starting might be a single prop, a character sketch, a notion of theme, tone, atmosphere, or a brief storyboard. The team then improvises around available materials, gradually finding the focus of the piece. The writer goes on to work up a first draft, section by section. The director and actor work around each new section, uncovering layers, indicating where further dramatic possibilities might lead away from pure text. The three core team members should learn from each others contribution during this time, gaining insights into the related theatre disciplines which they might otherwise have taken for granted. As the script nears completion the three core members enter into the rehearsal period, having accomplished a great deal of the territory that other working methods would only be starting to confront at this stage. From this point the roles of writer, actor and director take the traditional format. The development of the cerberus project, Human Greed, shall extend this development process to include collaborators with a background in 'sound' and 'light'. Top
Does Cerberus Theatre Company tour its productions?
Cerberus Theatre Company believes that touring a production is the best way of increasing the life of any production. It also serves to reach a higher number of potential audiences. Cerberus shall always endeavour to try and fit any venue/promoter request into it's schedule. Promoters and venues should contact the company by email in the first instance. Cerberus.co@freeuk.com Top
Does Cerberus Theatre Company accept submissions?
So far as scripts go, those interested in submitting work should take careful note of Cerberus Theatre Company's working methods. It is pointless to send us a complete script and ask if we shall produce it for you. That is not how the company works. However, if you want to send us examples of your work and your reasons for approaching Cerberus in particular feel welcome to email us submissions@cerberus.co.freeuk.com Top
Does Cerberus Theatre Company Commission writers?
Technically, yes. Cerberus would hope in the future to be able to commission writers, as well as directors and performers to come together to develop new collaborative works. However, due to financial constraints that will be some time into the future. Again, don't let this put you off introducing yourselves to us. Top
What opportunities for employment exist within Cerberus Theatre Company?
At present there are no employment opportunities within the company. Cerberus maintains a small office with one part time administrator in Edinburgh, Scotland. Other employees are hired on a fee/volunteer basis as and when required. Top
How should I best approach the company?
Cerberus is best contacted through email. General mail should be sent to cerberus.co@freeuk.com Those wishing to submit work, C.V.s (resumes) etc should follow the link to the submissions page (below) and read the relevant faq's relating to submissions. Top
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