Guest Blog
By Órla O’Connor - Networking Bursary Recipient
in april 2023, Órla O’Connor received a classroom networking bursary to grow her network of working class creatives. in this guest blog, she tells us more about her experience, its impact, and why you should apply!
Last June, a group of Working Class theatre makers got together for an evening of performances, talks and networking at a pub theatre in Leicester. For many of us it was the first time we had met, celebrating our creativity, putting the world to rights, and having a space that was our own. The ripple of these connections continues to this day.
When I applied for the Classroom bursary, I was feeling isolated from other Working Class theatre makers; who are they? Where are they? What are they making? After 16 years in the industry, I was sick of knocking on the doors of venues or organisations that hold the money, the people who choose the creative output of our regional theatres and/or productions. The one-off schemes that aim to ‘include’ or ‘diversify’ the theatre industry never work because really, they do not want working class people to be part of it. They don’t want us to have access to the money to make what we want, the way we want. I think most WC creatives can count on one hand how many other WC people they know in theatre.
In early 2022 I became a new director at Upstairs at the Western pub theatre in Leicester, a co-operative run small venue, programming new work and comedy. We held our event here and the money from the bursary was used to pay everyone involved, cover travel, and buy a zoom account for everyone to use and stay in touch.
We continue to programme creatives that came that evening. We run an 80% box office split to artists because we know how vital that money is. In March we are hosting an international Working Class Storytelling festival, which definitely grew out of the event we held last June.
If you are thinking of applying, do it! I no longer feel isolated, we have made connections and create new theatre work. It’s time to stop knocking on those doors and build our own platforms.
Keep up-to-date with Orla:
Twitter/X: @WorkingClassCol or @AWCAcademics
Instagram: @workingclasscol
you can Apply for a networking bursary by monday 11 december 2023, 5pm. click here