Our Impact
Novo Theatre creates exceptional and remarkable theatre in unusual places from our home in Northumberland.
Arts Council England (ACE) recognises the unique opportunity Novo Theatre has to engage people in the arts. It has been supporting us as part of its national portfolio since 2012. We are one of only eight organisations in Northumberland that is recognised as such.
We create high quality performances for residents of Northumberland and beyond: Between 2023 and 2025, we have reached audiences of 6,294 for our live and digital work.
We celebrate storytelling and creativity: Between 2023 and 2025, we have created 5 new stories linked to our local culture.
We inspire the next generation of theatre makers, and between 2023 and 2025 we have engaged with 3,024 young people through workshops, assemblies and work placements.
We offer employment opportunities through our Novo Talent programme. Since it’s launch in 2023 we have employed 10 freelancers and awarded £3,000 in personal development bursaries.
“Novo Talent has been an amazing resource for me to further on my abilities and practice in theatre-design. As well as hugely helping with the upheaval of returning to the North East and feeling more established in my role.”
Amy Watts, Designer.
Only 4% of all arts organisations producing and presenting theatre across England are located in the North-East (including Northumberland).
Northumberland residents have less access to high-quality theatrical experiences than individuals from other parts of the country.
In addition, in 2023 we conducted research into North East theatre freelancers at all stages of their career, 75% of them suggested that there was currently insufficient career development opportunities in the North East:
“When I try to increase my skills in order to diversify the range of positions I can apply for; the training available is often too expensive and based far away from the North East.”
We developed Novo Talent to support freelancers to develop their skills and experiences. This helps them to stay in the North-east to build their careers and us to continue to recruit local talent.
“This project is unlike any other! Meeting Tatty and other young people to discuss ideas was some of the best fun I’d had in ages. Our imaginations were opened, and it made me extremely excited for surrounding myself in culture like museums and theatres when we are able to. ”
“No-one has quite the ability to get under the existing narratives of places and find such riveting stories and then tell them with such integrity and so delightfully.”
— Nicholas Baumfield, Arts Council
Support Our Work
Novo Theatre is a registered charity. The public funding we receive only goes part of the way to allow us to deliver the work we do.
If you can support our work click on the donate button and help us out.
Awards
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2019 Journal Culture Awards Finalist
Best Event: Northumberland – Provocations and Revelations at National Trust Wallington, near Morpeth
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2018 Journal Culture Awards Winner
Best Performance of the Year – Beyond the End of the Road at Hexham Auction Mart and a regional rural tour
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2018 Rural Touring Awards
Best Touring Collaboration – Beyond the End of the Road