News Story
Embarking on an international journey as an artist can be both exhilarating and daunting. In this blog post, we delve into the experience of writer-director Nathan Ellis, whose work titled work.txt, gained international recognition after participating in caravan assembly 2022.
Nathan's experience before caravan assembly
Before the assembly in 2022, Nathan had already made a significant mark in the UK. Making work for around 5 years prior, Nathan’s first play had toured nationally and his second had a run in a large London theatre. Along with participating in a writers group at the Royal court, Nathan had explored play writing practices across Europe. Themes of technology and capitalism resonated in his work, showcasing a penchant for experimental, playful, and confident storytelling. Nathan presented his critically acclaimed work.txt as a performance on the closing night at 2022 assembly.
Nathan‘s journey with caravan began when the producer of work.txt suggested applying for the assembly. He saw this as an opportunity to take work.txt on a potential European tour.
"I had some experience of work in Europe and thought it would be a good fit but we didn’t have any networks or contacts at any of these places and didn’t have much of a way of sharing the work with them."
Mentoring throughout assembly
All artists involved in the assembly have the opportunity to work with a mentor prior to the event and take part in bespoke training to best prepare them for the assembly and the potential opportunities that arise.
"The mentoring was amazing...[My] mentor gave me great advice to prepare a plan of about 10 people I would like to talk to, with the expectation that you won’t be able to talk to everyone, so being focused means you can be more successful and also kinder to yourself, as it can be a very overwhelming environment."
Making a plan for networking
Nathan researched several places he was keen to connect with and excluded people who were looking for work that was obviously not what he was making, and made sure to ask his mentor to introduce him to the people he wanted to meet.
"I also used the online portal to schedule a handful of in-person meetings online while the assembly was happening, mainly as a way to make sure I definitely met the people I wanted to while they were engaged in the process."
"I practised pitching myself and the show in a few sentences, which sounds silly but was helpful, because it meant I didn’t have to panic when the conversation turned towards me and my own work and I didn’t end up saying silly things, which can happen when you’re nervous."
Challenges and opportunities at assembly
work.txt was presented as the closing show of the 2022 assembly which Nathan reflects on saying that it was both challenging and good for different reasons.
"…it meant I could talk to delegates and just say “you should come along” but also difficult as I was often in conversations saying little else than “wait till you see it” and I didn’t have much to talk about. I mainly focused on talking about the other artists, and trying to ask questions about the delegate’s own work: I kept lists and notes of all the conversations, which was really useful afterwards as it meant I could be targeted and personal in emails I sent."
Nathan reflects saying that some of the best conversations he had were about the shows we’d seen that day. This provided a way into a bigger conversation that would eventually segue into a conversation about how the delegate might engage with your work.
"The sense of comradeship with the fellow artists was so helpful. I was so glad I made an effort to get to know them at the mentorship group sessions, as it becomes a friendly face in a sea of strangers, which can really help with nerves."
How assembly has impacted Nathan's career
Nathan’s work received overwhelming interest, resulting in offers from ten different festivals and a programmer in Italy eager to facilitate an Italian tour. The positive reactions and connections made during the event expanded the international reach of the work, leading to performances in nine languages on five continents.
Nathan has been able to build networks with programmers who have expressed interest in supporting future work.
"I have been interviewed in papers in Italy, Germany, Brazil, Egypt, and Canada. I’ve run workshops in Portuguese and Arabic, and been invited to speak on multiple panels.
It has given my work a confidence it did not have before, and an understanding of the kind of work that can really be a success internationally."
On a personal level Nathan says
"I felt more confident and capable of talking to programmers and I felt I gained a greater understanding of their work and what they are looking for. I also understood more clearly that the artists are the special people, the people the delegates are there to meet and engage with, and that left me feeling more positive about how my work sits within a wider international ecology of work."
Nathan acknowledges a broadening in his artistic horizons.
"... not least seeing work at festivals all over the world and meeting artist in these places – the company are now able to speak confidently of our ability to produce an international tour, sometimes with performances simultaneously in different countries."
Reflecting on the overall experience
In conclusion, Nathan emphasises the importance of preparation, engagement, and understanding the invaluable nature of the assembly.
"It’s an amazing thing but you get out what you put in. Plan ahead, ask as many questions as possible of the caravan team and understand that this is an invaluable time – you won’t get a chance to share your work with this number of people with power to help you at any other time, not in Edinburgh, not at an international festival, nowhere else."
Nathan's top tips for fellow artists interested in caravan assembly
Nathan shared the following bits of advice and insights for any artists thinking of applying for, or working out how to make the most of, the caravan assembly programme.
- Preparation is really key – research delegates and ask questions.
- Read about other caravan participants from previous years and ask the caravan team – the delegates will normally be returning, so if you are able to connect about another show they saw a few years ago and ask what they got out of previous years, that will be gold-dust information.
- I wish I had come with a clearer sense of other things we might ask for – be really prepared with specific asks (space, residencies, commissions, performance opportunities) and be aware that you can ask there [during assembly] and then follow up later.
- Be aware that some of the delegates are programming for multiple festivals, and they watch a lot of work internationally, so you can also ask them about the kind of work they are looking for, the kind of work they have seen that they like – take an interest in their work and the work of their country, you never know you might know someone in common, and they might be able to put you in touch with your dream contact.
- Charge your social batteries! It’s a very overwhelming period of time, and you should be aware that while it is very pleasant and easy to just swim through, that you get out what you put in, so don’t rest on your laurels and just talk to people you know. I was there on my own, which I think in some ways made it easier to go and talk to people, as it was the only option, but you need to be brave and take heart if they don’t seem interested in you.
- Follow up - I spent about a day of work personally emailing every person I met and some people I didn’t manage to – which felt like a waste of time when ninety per cent didn’t reply, but then I followed up again a few months later (I tracked everything on a spreadsheet) and eventually they did reply. It just took time and patience.
- Finally, use the caravan team as much as possible, they are on your side and they know what these people are expecting, so ask them for their advice, because their knowledge will be invaluable to you.
Huge thanks to Nathan for taking the time to talk to us about his experience of caravan assembly 2022.
