PlayWell Productions: With Courage

by PlayWell Productions in Poole, Dorset, United Kingdom

Total raised £255

raised so far

10

supporters

To develop a new show about the lives, history & sacrifice of lifeboat & lifesaving crews and communities.

by PlayWell Productions in Poole, Dorset, United Kingdom

We're still collecting donations

On the 7th September 2022 we'd raised £245 with 9 supporters in 69 days. But as every pound matters, we're continuing to collect donations from supporters.

WHO ARE WE

PlayWell Productions develops relationships with artists in order to provide long-term support and nurture both artists and projects. Our focus is on providing platforms for stories that are not given enough spaces on our stages and for artists with urgent voices.

OUR NEXT PROJECT

WITH COURAGE is a new musical by Jon Hare, being written to celebrate and commemorate the stories and lives of our coastal life-saving communities. Audiences will be taken on a musical journey through historic rescues and dramas, whilst also reflecting on what it means to be a part of a lifeboat crew and a lifesaving community today.

The draft script and songs have been developed with input from existing members of life-saving communities, as well as archival research. Over the Summer and Autumn we want to invite members of these communities to come and see how the show is developing and give us their feedback. It is of prime importance for us to ensure our show is recognisable and authentic to those whose stories we are telling, as well as exciting and enjoyable for all audiences.

Over two weeks we will work with actors and musicians on the script and songs. At the end of each week we will invite people from lifesaving communities to watch a sharing of material and discuss with us their thoughts on what they see and hear. Both sharings will take place at The Lighthouse in Poole, the town where the Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI) train their lifesaving crews.

Feedback from these crucial sharings will feed into further script and music drafts, strengthening the show, which we hope to premiere in 2024, in time for the bicentenary of the RNLI.

WHY SHOULD YOU HELP?

The development of the show was paused during covid-19 closures, leaving us with a much shortened timeframe in which to develop this show to our 2024 target. These stories are important, exciting, and speak to the heart of the sacrifices that life-saving volunteers and their communities have made for 200 years - and continue to make. Your donation will help us to celebrate and commemorate the stories, histories and bravery of life-saving men and women, and the families, communities and volunteers that surround them.

HOW CAN YOU HELP? 

We have a target of £5000, which is approximately 15% of our budget for this next development phase. Some examples of what your generous donations could be used for are as follows:  

  • Purchase of Covid tests to ensure safety of those in the space (because sadly it remains an ongoing risk!) - £40
  • A night in digs for an artist - £55
  • A day of rehearsal space hire - £90 
  • A day of a Performer's time - £100
  • Filming of the workshop sharings for wider circulation and feedback - £500
  • A day with British Sign Language interpreters to embed access into the sharings - £600
  • Captioning of recorded content, to ensure wider access - £450

On top of this, we are seeking to raise funds to take a short performance of some songs to varied coastal locations across the country, in order to involve more people in the development, and to support subsequent funding applications. Part of the donations may be used as match-funding in future Arts Council England and associated funding bids.

WHERE TO FIND US 

You can find out more about who we are, our team, and our show on our website. You can also find us on Twitter @withcourageshow and @playwellprods. If you have any questions, you can contact us by emailing [email protected]  

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Rewards

This project offered rewards

£20 or more

Join our list of supporters

Thanks for your donation! Your name will be included in a comprehensive list of our supporters on our website.

£35 or more

Workshop pictures

Thank you so much! As well as all the previous rewards, you will receive a personalised thank you email, containing photos from the workshop and sharings.

£50 or more

Personalised video thank you

Brilliant, thank you! As well as the previous awards, you will receive a personalised thank you video from the With Courage team.

£80 or more

Digital sharing of the musical workshop

Thank you so much! Alongside the previous rewards, you will a digital sharing of the musical workshop, where you will see some of the material that has been developed.

£150 or more

In-person invite to the musical workshop sharing

This is fantastic! Alongside the previous rewards, you will receive an in-person invite to the live musical workshop sharing, where you will get to see some of the material that has been developed and share your thoughts.

£250 or more

Selected recordings

Nice one, thank you! For your lovely donation, alongside the previous rewards you will receive a recording of three (not publicly released!) songs from the show.

£750 or more

With Courage Angel

You utter legend - as well as all the previous rewards, you'll be listed as one of our Angels on the With Courage website (this year). Should a full production go ahead, you will be on the VIP list for press night, and be named in any printed programme during 2024.

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