Highland theatre group born out of Covid, is set to stage its second festival
An innovative Highland theatre company created during Covid, is staging its second annual festival this month, designed to showcase the talents of local performers.
And it is looking for public support to help it achieve its goal of creating paid opportunities for artists around the Highlands.
Vivid Roots Collective is a group founded by University of the Highlands and Islands drama graduates Laura Walker, Sophie Wink, Keira Smith and Sophie Bender.
Unable to find jobs in their chosen field themselves during the pandemic they decided to try to create more opportunities for theatrical talent in the north.
The ROOTS 24 festival at Inverness Creative Academy, (former Inverness Royal Academy building, Midmills) includes a day of performances by early and emerging theatre-makers in the Highlands and three days of online workshops and panels – from October 16-19.
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Overall, the group is hosting six online workshops, three online panels, as well as the day of in-person performances in a bid to develop new skills, make new connections and showcase work.
Chief executive Laura said: ““There are so many talented writers, directors and performers in the Highlands and the purpose of ROOTS 24 is to empower them to make a career in the theatre and celebrate local talent with Highland audiences.”
She added that Vivid Roots Collective, which is also a charity, is keen to garner public support – something that was effective last year.
In 2023 the event created paid opportunities for 22 artists and worked with five volunteers to deliver 14 events across two days.
Further support this year will again allow the group to deliver a high-quality programme of online and in-person events to support emerging theatre-makers across the Highlands and further afield.
The aim this year is to create paid work for more than 30 artists, and support six new performance ideas through mentorship and the opportunity to be seen by an audience.
The festival is instrumental in all the work the group does and feedback from audience and artists shapes its programme of events, and company values, highlighting the importance of creating spaces for local and emerging theatre-makers to connect and share their work.
Vivid Roots Collective creates new theatre, such as its production of The Wound, the Rag, and the In-Between in May this year, and researches the needs of the local arts sector, highlighted in its 2023 report FUTURES.
In addition, it runs workshops, facilitates spaces for emerging theatre-makers, delivers projects for local organisations, and supports artists to make theatre.
Laura said: “By supporting a growing culture of professional theatre-making in the Highlands, we believe that we can contribute to tackling regional depopulation by improving the cultural offering of the area and creating more job opportunities for local artists, championing the Highlands as a place to live and work.”
Since its inception in 2020, it has delivered paid roles for 52 emerging artists, 11 established artists, six mentors, and opportunities for nine volunteers, engaging over 300 audience members in the process.
It has also engaged over 60 research participants and delivered workshops with young people and teams in schools and arts organisations across the Highlands.
If anyone is interested in finding more about ROOTS 24 or donating to the festival, they can access information here.https://vividrootscollective.co.uk/roots-24/
