Derby Theatre announces new associate company
Derby Theatre is delighted to announce that award-winning theatre company Not Too Tame are now an official Associate Company of the organisation.
Not Too Tame are an ensemble company of actors who are firmly founded in the belief of ‘Theatre for All’. As the company names suggests, they focus specifically in creating work that breaks the boundaries of tame, polite theatre and they aim to engage with those who feel that theatre isn’t a place where they belong.
Not Too Tame already have a relationship with Derby Theatre; they have performed twice as part of the Theatre’s Departure Lounge festival, a summer festival of fresh and exciting theatre, with their twice sold out performance of Early Doors that was performed in a local city pub. Jimmy Fairhurst, Artistic Director of the company, has also appeared as an actor in three Derby Theatre productions, Look Back in Anger, Brassed Off and Kes, as well as leading a number of workshops with regional artists, members of the community and school groups.
Now, as an official Associate Company of Derby Theatre, Not Too Tame will benefit from the following: in-kind rehearsal space, the chance to attend artistic programming meetings and feed into the running of the Theatre, direct access to the advice, skills and expertise of Sarah Brigham, the Theatre’s Artistic Director and Chief Executive, and Ruby Glaskin, Creative Producer of In Good Company; free press night tickets, professional development sessions and connection to the Theatre’s learning department and projects.
Jimmy Fairhurst (Artistic Director, Not Too Tame) said: “We are thrilled to become an Associate Company of Derby Theatre. At Not Too Tame, we believe in ‘theatre for all’ and create work that aims to engage those who feel theatre isn’t for them. By performing in non-traditional settings, like pubs, shops, working men's clubs and other community spaces, we bring a very different style to our productions. Our work celebrates and champions the identity of communities and performs accessible stories with heart, passion and humour. Stories to laugh, cry and dance to, all with a drink in hand. The East Midlands has a rich history to be proud of, and a vibrant cultural future, one which we are delighted to be a part of.
Derby Theatre creates and programmes some of the most exciting shows in British theatre, earning fantastic relationships with the community of Derby and beyond and we are looking forward to getting involved. Get your glad rags on Derby, we’re going to have a ball!”
Sarah Brigham (Artistic Director and Chief Executive, Derby Theatre) said: “Not Too Tame are an exuberant, humour-filled and incredibly popular ensemble theatre company who perform in a range of every day and accessible spaces and locations, and who genuinely connect with a wide range of different communities. Through their engagement and highly relatable performances, their mission is to convey a strong message that theatre is truly for all. I am incredibly proud of our association with them to date and now, as an official Associate Company, I am thrilled that we will develop our relationship with them even further and be able to provide them with the support this award-winning company fully deserve. I look forward immensely to working on joint artistic projects with them…Derby audiences are in for an exciting ride!”
Not Too Tame will join two other highly acclaimed theatre companies as fellow Associate Companies of Derby Theatre, Milk Presents and Maison Foo.