This episode features Matthew Blyth, Culture and Heritage Officer at Arts Centre Washington. He speaks with Dr Kay Hepplewhite about the venue’s role in Sunderland’s theatre ecology, supporting local artists and creating opportunities for new work.

Matthew shares his thoughts on:

• The range of activities at Arts Centre Washington, from touring theatre and community productions to youth theatre, classes and exhibitions.
• The importance of the Centre as a small-scale venue in providing opportunities for local groups and visiting companies.
• The strengths of Sunderland’s grassroots and community theatre, alongside the gap in mid-scale touring and locally produced professional work.
• The value of supporting emerging artists through rehearsal space, development opportunities and platforms to share work in progress.
• How collaboration across Sunderland’s cultural venues can create opportunities and strengthen the local creative scene.
• The ambition to help more Sunderland and Washington-based artists develop work locally and take it to wider audiences.

This podcast is part of the AHRC-funded research project Local Theatres: Participation, Inclusion, Imagination, which explores the people, places and opportunities shaping local theatre.

Find out more:

localtheatres.wordpress.com

sunderlandculture.org.uk/arts-centre-washington