Since it’s launch in 2011, Play Pieces has gone from strength to strength, raising the profile of Highland Theatre companies and their work, as well as develop new opportunities for the wealth of theatrical talent in the area. Now Play Pieces wants to see if they can help raise the profile of another kind of business – one which might want to go into partnership with them.

“Play Pieces is in the really fortunate position to be funded by Creative Scotland for this year and next” explained Lindsay Brown, Artistic Director. “We want to use this time that we have to find a great Highland business to sponsor Play Pieces so we can really help raise the profile of another kind of business. It could be a lot of fun for everyone involved”.

Play Pieces aims to make Theatre accessible to everyone in the Highlands. In 2011, they launched lunchtime theatre based on the successful Play, A Pie and A Pint model in Glasgow, but adapting it for Highland audiences so that each performance is by a Highland based Theatre company, on the first Saturday of the month. In 2012, Play Pieces launched Play Pieces Shorts, a festival of new drama writing which created an opportunity for the drama students and Inverness playwrights group to performance their own material for the first time, in short performances of 2 – 15 minutes long. The three night festival attracted loads of attention for it’s off-the-wall approach and Fringe-like atmosphere. Now, with core funding secure from Creative Scotland, Play Pieces can start to plan the lunchtime theatre season for 2013 and 2014 as well as future developments, some of which will happen this year.

“We are looking for a sponsor who can see the potential to work with an arts organisation in the Highlands” Brown explained. “We have had support for specific projects from very enterprising bodies such as the Highland Bottle Shop, HISEZ, Inverness College and CREATE. In 2011 local butchers MacDougall & Hastie kindly supported Play Pieces lunchtime with their delicious award-winning pies. However, now we are looking for someone to come on board for a big Highland-wide sponsorship package which could be really rewarding for the right business.”

Sambrooke Scott, Portfolio Manager, Creative Scotland said: “Play Pieces lunchtime season provides new and existing audiences the chance to experience brilliant theatre at a time and length convenient for them. Drawing on local talent and stories and through working with international artists, the programme is an excellent introduction to the scope and richness of contemporary drama, and offers great opportunities for existing and new theatre-goers to enjoy accessibly priced bite sized drama along with a bite to eat!”

Arts organisations in the Highlands could benefit from teaming up with businesses through the support available with Arts & Business Scotland who run the Arts & Business Scotland Awards, rewarding businesses who do support Arts organisations with sponsorships.

“I would love to nominate our potential partner for an Arts & Business Awards, so few organisation in the Highlands seem to benefit from this great support so it would be key to our working relationship.” Lindsay said. And what is the dream organisation Play Pieces would like to partner up with? “Well, ideally I would love to work with a food production organisation. I think the key to the success of Play Pieces is the informal atmosphere, good theatre and good food. Promoting Highland talent and Highland business. That would be great fun. However, any organisation that would like their profile raised Highland-wide could really benefit from working with us, as well as the potential to win an award for the enterprising idea!”

Any organisation wanting to discuss the opportunities to work with Play Pieces should contact Lindsay Brown on info@playpieces.co.uk or even pop along to the next performance at The Spectrum Centre on Saturday 1 June for The Sea Between Us by Caithness Theatre Company, Skraelings. Doors open 12:30pm and tickets are available in person at The Spectrum Centre or online through www.playpieces.co.uk

Source: Play Pieces