Create Tour Connect - Applause Rural Touring

Create Tour Connect (CTC) is a new innovative partnership project commissioning, developing and touring theatre and drama across the rural touring network in England. CTC supports the regional creation and touring of new work and connects this with a network of partners dedicated to small-scale touring. 

Led by Applause, CTC is a unique collaboration of over 18 partner organisations from the rural touring network, with four regional hubs (consortia) covering the North, Midlands, Southwest and Southeast. They represent a diverse range of small-scale community spaces including village and community halls, libraries, pubs, and other locally led venues. Each regional hub will offer a commissioned opportunity for new contemporary theatre and drama pieces for national touring.

Community touring is facing an increasing lack of suitable performance work, particularly 2-4 hander drama and theatre which is relevant to contemporary rural audiences. This is evidenced by the current touring offers available nationally and is caused by a multitude of factors including the pause in production during pandemic, high costs associated with making and touring currently and the lack of available funds to underpin them. 

CTC addresses this by developing a nationwide network of localised commissioning consortia that will work together to source and develop new, relevant, multi-hand touring products and strategically maximise its reach and impact through a joined-up approach. 

There is currently a commission for a new piece of touring theatre from a North based company or artist.

Commission opportunity

Proposal for a new piece of theatre relevant to contemporary rural adult audiences (2 hander).
Fully funded 36-45 date tour across the Network (Feb/April 2026)
The company or artist must be based in the North region of England as defined by Arts Council regions. (Commissions for artists based in the Southeast and Southwest will be announced at a later date).
The company or artist must demonstrate understanding of or experience in touring to community spaces
Availability to develop a new show (2025) and tour across the network in Spring 2026

Budget

Development: £18,000 (inclusive) for the creation and production of a tour ready 2 hander theatre show
Associated Touring: The company will tour in spring 2026 fulfilling a national tour of between 36-45 dates over a 9-week period organised by the regional touring partners.
Touring fees: £31, 950 to cover all costs for two people on tour to deliver a 9 week (36-45 date) national tour.

Timescale

Development period (tbc during 2025)
Touring – 36-45 dates from Feb-April 2026

How to apply

Deadline: 3rd December 2024, 12 noon
Shortlisted interviewees informed: 18th December 2024
Interviews (online): Wed 8th January 2025
Decision: 15th January 2025

Applications will be via the Eventotron online platform.
If you are already registered with Eventotron you can apply to Create Tour Connect – North. Otherwise, you will need to register first and then apply to the season above.

We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from individuals or companies, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexuality, social background, religion and/or belief.

We want to hear about:

you/your company and the work you do
your proposal and your experience or understanding of rural and community touring
your budget and touring fees
your approach to sustainability

If you feel more comfortable applying by video or voice recording, please contact Applause – office@applause.org.uk for further information.

If you have any questions about this commission call out and want to discuss your application before applying, please get in touch by emailing Sue Robinson: sue@culturapedia.co