• SIT-UP Awards back at the Fringe

    After a successful launch in 2018, the SIT-UP Awards are back again for the 2019 Edinburgh Fringe Festival. This year, there will be some innovations in the way the awards work, they are providing two main awards:

    SIT-UP 2019 Award with a prize of £5,000
    SIT-UP Audience Engagement Award with a prize of £1,000

    and starting two new initiatives:

    SIT-UP Tickets Scheme
    SIT-UP & Talk

    SIT-UP 2019 Award

    The SIT-UP 2019 Award will go to the production that effects the greatest change in audience perception, understanding and empathy for the issue. The award will also take into account engagement with audiences by the production before and after the show.

    This award will be given based on audience voting – experience in 2018 was that the audience polls almost exactly matched the judges decisions.

    The final winner will be announced at the end of the 3rd week and the winner will receive £5,000 of which £1,000 is cash – to use as they like – and £4,000 of support to extend the social impact of the piece after Edinburgh and widen its audience reach. The support will be tailored to suit the company and issue. The winner will also be offered a showcase at the Park Theatre, London.

     

    SIT-UP Audience Engagement Award

    The SIT-UP Audience Engagement Award with a cash prize of £1,000 will recognise a production or company which has developed or adopted a particularly novel and innovative way of engaging with audiences, or does a really good job of engagement.

     

    SIT-UP Tickets Scheme

    The organisers will underwrite the cost of several tickets for shows that can demonstrate that they have access to a relevant audience who would benefit from seeing their show. This could, for example, be to provide tickets for homeless people to a play about homelessness or charity workers to a play relevant to their activity.

     

    SIT-UP & Talk

    Theawards want to create a more active post-show discussion climate as this is a very effective way to engage with audiences. They are encouraging productions to do this more and get members of their cast or creative crews to meet with audiences just after performances end. They have been in touch with venues about how to facilitate these and although it is not possible to hold these in the space due to tight turn around times, venues are happy for them to be held informally elsewhere, e.g. bars. They can also introduce charities, keen to be involved with productions, to provide relevant material.

     

    More Details

    For more details, or to apply, see the SIT-UP Awards website.

    Categories: Theatre Companies, Tickets

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