Based in Newcastle, Open Clasp collaborates with working-class women and their communities to make authentic, award-winning theatre. The drama they produce sees women become co-creators on work which explores and documents issues that control and disempower working-class communities such as poverty, lack of land, opportunity, homes, heat, food, and rights.
In collaboration with grassroots workers, the company creates safe spaces through workshops, events and theatre for women and girls to discuss and debate the issues their communities are facing and what needs to change. The women worked with find a ‘voice’ – and as well as having a transformational impact on their own lives, this allows them to influence policy makers and educate service providers. The company’s work is regularly performed in theatres, prisons, schools, conferences, and community centres.
Working with Open Clasp has been life-changing and empowering and has given me a voice when mine has been taken. I now have hope for the future…
Co-Creator – Rattle Snake
With support from the Foundation, Open Clasp will develop and pilot bespoke creative writing workshops for up to 12 women (per workshop). This work builds on feedback from local women in Newcastle who want to develop their skills and tell their stories. They have requested flexible and light-touch workshops that fit around family requirements such as childcare. Many have expressed that they do not feel comfortable accessing mainstream workshops and therefore have not had the opportunity to further this ambition. For some women, this course will enable them to learn the basics and be a platform for them to go on and do more. For other women, the workshops might be about confidence building and shared experience within a supportive environment.
The workshops will be tailored to the needs of the women and will focus on:
What it is to write – a monthly provocation topic, which the women can explore further outside of the sessions;
Team building and shared experience – exploring different narrative methods;
Building confidence and empowerment – sharing with the group/small audiences in a safe space and receiving feedback.
Following the pilot year, Open Clasp aims to continue this work through a larger community project, all about collecting local stories in Elswick - where the centre is based. As part of this, some of the women could be commissioned to produce written pieces for the project, and some could be trained to facilitate this work in the future, supporting others to join and participate in multi art-form workshops. The longer-term aim is to run this workshop annually, using Open Clasp’s bespoke design.
