Journey 007 - GIFT - Entering the Virtual Realm of Theatre

<p>As the only theatre festival in the North East of England, GIFT, offers an extensive variety of productions and thereby supports underrepresented North Eastern artists. Founder, Kate Craddock has spent years either working either on creative projects or in academia, building up GIFT to what it is today. Taking place this Friday 1 May to Sunday 3 May, it offers an extensive variety of daring new works, connecting self-isolating artists and audiences from across the world and bringing theatre to our homes in a way we have never experienced before.  </p><p><strong>Part 1: Embracing the Impossible (4:15)</strong></p><p>Kate explains her different roles in contemporary theatre both from an artistic and academic point of view. She also touches on some of the challenges she has faced over the last couple of years in keeping GIFT running and explains why it was so important to do the same this year.</p><p><i><strong>Questions</strong></i></p><p><i>Q2: How do North Eastern theatre makers distinguish themselves from the rest of the performing arts community? (5:48)</i></p><p><i>Q3: What motivated you to start GIFT? (12:20)</i></p><p><i>Q4: At what point did you decide that you were going to make a living out of theatre?  (17:27)</i></p><p><strong>Part 2: Stretching the Bounds of Theatre into the Virtual Realm (26:26)</strong></p><p>In response to the circumstances linked to COVID-19, GIFT has reimagined the entire festival as a digital experience. We discuss these circumstances, why the artists decided to continue with the festival and theatre as a digital experience.</p><p><i>Q6: Can you talk us through what you experienced when you realised that the festival will no longer take place as normal? (27:00)</i></p><p><i>Q7: Do you believe theatre is equally suited to a virtual domain as to live performance? (29:40)</i></p><p><strong>Part 3: Effects of the Bizarre on the Spectator (36:31)</strong></p><p>We discuss the festival programme and how booking events can bring a sense of normality during this strange time and also