ARC has two major co-commissioning partners:
The Albany
Since 2017, ARC and the Albany have co-commissioned Christmas shows together.
The co-commission packages include cash funding plus in-kind support. Every two years, we support two companies to make exciting and diverse Christmas shows which have a wide appeal to local primary schools, nurseries and family audiences in both South East London and the North East.
Each successful company makes and presents a new show, performing in one venue the first year and in the other venue in the second, delivering up to 50 performances each year.
The commissions grew out of a shared desire across our organisations to provide exciting, original and excellent work for our audiences, and to champion companies making that work. We look for companies who can bring a contemporary approach – taking familiar titles or a seasonal theme and using them to create something that reflects modern British audiences.
To date we have co-commissioned:
- tutti frutti – Ugly Duckling (2017/2018)
- Nearly There Yet – Pinocchio (2017/2018)
- Dumbshow – Humbug! The Hedgehog Who Couldn’t Sleep (2019/2020)
- Stuff and Nonsense – The Man Who Wanted to be a Penguin (2019/2020)
- Kitchen Zoo – The Tin Foil Astronaut (2021/22)
- Wrongsemble – The Snow Queen (2021/22)
- Can’t Sit Still – Well Done, Mummy Penguin (2023/24)
- LAS Theatre – The Light Princess (2023/24)
We publish details of these commissions on our opportunities page.
The Civic, Barnsley
RC and The Civic have been co-commissioning shows for February half term since 2016. The partnership grew out of challenges finding good quality children’s work for ages 3 – 7 that felt relevant for our audiences.
To date we have co-commissioned:
- Jack Dean – Horace and the Yeti (2016)
- Compagnie Animotion – The Musicians of Bremen (2017)
- Wrongsemble – The Selfish Giant (2018)
- Filskit Theatre – Stella (2019)
- Can’t Sit Still – Oh No George (2020)
- Moth Physical Theatre – Jack, Jill and the Landfill (2021/22)
- Roustabout Theatre – Little Red Riding Could (2024)
- Tessa Bide Productions – The Detective Dog (2024)