New stretch target
Any extra funding will support us in:
Paying the creative team industry standard rates for their time.
Further marketing to reach a wider and more diverse audience.
Ensuring financial stability throughout the run.
Identities is going to Edinburgh Fringe this summer and we need your help to get there and raise as much awareness as we possibly can!
by Close To Home Productions in Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Any extra funding will support us in:
Paying the creative team industry standard rates for their time.
Further marketing to reach a wider and more diverse audience.
Ensuring financial stability throughout the run.
Over 153 people a day are diagnosed with breast cancer in the UK.
1 in 10 breast cancers are diagnosed late.
Rae Bell, an artist from Warrington, was 13 when her mum, Marion, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009. Fast forward to 2020, Rae experienced symptoms of breast cancer herself. After going through the screening process, she recognised the lack of information surrounding breast cancer for young people and wondered how she could make a difference. Unfortunately, Rae’s degree wasn’t in medicine and instead she went to drama school! Hence, ‘Identities: A play about boobs’ was born.
Since then, Rae has founded Close to Home Productions and worked with Prevent Breast Cancer and a group of kick-ass female and non-binary artists to develop a play that not only informs audiences about breast cancer but also shines a light on those who have experienced it. It began with a small sharing, in all black costumes, with a clothes rack and an audience of 25. More recently, Identities toured to the UK’s leading studio theatres as well as breast cancer support groups, women’s centres and community groups with a magnificently pink set, a boob van, a team of 20 and over 1500 audience members… It was glorious!
We are now ready to share the story with even more people. Going to Edinburgh Fringe will allow us to reach over 3000 audience members from across the globe. It also provides an exciting opportunity for programmers, venues and producers to see our work, expanding our networks as artists and company to help sustain our work into the future in this challenging climate.
We were delighted to receive three rounds of Arts Council England for this show previously, however, we can’t access this funding stream for Edinburgh Fringe and, although we’ve worked hard to apply for funding opportunities, unfortunately the demand is high and our applications have been unsuccessful.
We have run the numbers, and through savings, we are investing £7462 of private finances into the production. However, we still need a further £2000 to make it possible for us to pay our artists fairly, cover accommodation costs and produce the show for over 25 performances. This is how you can help:
£5 will pay for 50 miles worth of petrol to get our set up to Edinburgh.
£10 will pay for the washing of our costumes for 2 weeks.
£20 will pay for the hiring of a Rug Doctor to freshen up the set for a new audience.
£50 will pay one artist's fees for one performance.
£100 will pay for 1000 flyers.
£150 would pay for one night of accomodation for the whole team.
We understand the current financial climate, so what you can give would be greatly received. For context, if 200 people gave us £10 we would reach our target. However, if you’re not in the position to do so, don’t stress… just share with your rich mates instead!
Identities has touched countless audience members' hearts and encouraged so many to be breast aware. Please support us in bringing our pride and joy of a play to The Fringe this summer and show people how important art can be in making a difference.
Tits up,
Rae & Maya x
Artistic Directors
Close To Home Productions