Happy May!
Momentum, Milestones and the Season Ahead
The past few months have been defined by momentum - across places, partnerships and projects. From shaping major cultural bids to supporting touring work across the UK and Europe, and reconnecting internationally, it’s been a period of both reflection and forward motion.
As we move into May, there’s a palpable shift. Festival season is beginning to unfold, outdoor work is returning to public space, and new conversations are opening up across borders. We’re looking ahead while staying closely connected to the work on the ground - supporting artists, partners and places as they navigate what comes next.
As ever, more information can be found on our website. And do reach out if anything here strikes a chord with you.
Sud, Giulia, Lia x
Third Version Creative
The Season Ahead
Dalija Aćin Thelander: Fields of Tender Returns
We’re delighted that Fields of Tender returns to the UK this May, continuing its journey with new audiences with a visit to Kent. This intimate work for very young audiences and their carers creates a carefully held sensory environment - one that prioritises gentleness, attention and shared experience. Its recent presentations have been met with warmth and curiosity, and we’re excited to see it continue to resonate. Dalija’s work remains a powerful example of how thoughtful, precise performance can create meaningful connections across generations.
Ensemble 84 - New Venue & New Production
Ensemble 84 open an exciting new chapter this season with the launch of their new venue, The Playhouse in Horden - an ambitious, community-rooted space for performance in County Durham. Alongside this, they present a striking new staging of The Tragicall Historie of Hamlet, Shakespeare’s First Quarto - a shorter, rarely performed version of the tragedy. Told with notable differences in structure, dialogue and character, this version unfolds with a raw, compelling theatrical energy.Directed by Mark Dornford-May and performed by an all-County Durham cast, the production combines powerful storytelling with live music, song and movement - offering a fresh and immediate perspective on a familiar work.The opening of The Playhouse signals an important investment in local cultural infrastructure, and we’re proud to be supporting Ensemble 84 at this pivotal moment.
Caravan: International Exchange and Connection
In May, we’ll be attending Caravan in Brighton - a key moment for international exchange within the outdoor arts sector. Caravan offers a vital space to meet peers, build relationships and explore future collaboration across borders. At a time when international touring continues to evolve, these moments of connection feel more important than ever.
We’ll be there to support artists, deepen partnerships and contribute to ongoing conversations about mobility, sustainability and the future of international work.
The Point Is Portsmouth
We’re excited to see our brilliant consortium partner Crying Out Loud launch The Point Is Portsmouth as part of Portsmouth100, the city’s centenary year celebrations. Running from June to September 2026, the programme brings a summer of high-energy events to the city, spanning contemporary circus, large-scale outdoor performance, immersive installations and community-led activity across a range of civic and heritage spaces.
With an international line-up including artists from Lithuania, Morocco and Catalonia, the programme places a strong emphasis on bold, visually striking work and shared public experience - reinforcing Portsmouth’s growing reputation as a destination for ambitious cultural activity. A brilliant example of partnership working at scale, and of culture animating a city.
City of Culture: From Longlist to Shortlist
Following months of intensive work, we were delighted to see the City of Culture process move from longlist to shortlist. Supporting a place to articulate its identity, ambition and cultural ecology at this level has been both complex and rewarding. This stage marks a shift from broad vision to clarity and precision - refining narratives, strengthening partnerships and aligning cultural ambition with civic reality.
The shortlisted cities each bring distinct perspectives on what culture can do, and it’s been a privilege to help shape one of those journeys. We now look ahead to the next phase - supporting the development of a compelling final proposal that holds both local specificity and international resonance. More on this soon.
