Andrew from Chol Theatre steps up to the decibel 10 questions challenge!

Artist: Andrew Loretto, Chol Theatre
Role: Director of Performance
Showcase Performance: Not for all the Tea in China

Chol Theatre makes vibrant performance work that aims to offer a fresh perspective on contemporary issues. I'm Belfast-born and raised and have lived all over the UK. This background and knowledge of different and ever-changing communities very definitely informs the theatre work I make.

I'm an avid consumer of newspapers and current affairs. I also naturally have very eclectic interests and so my work for Chol draws on fascination with how we live our lives and coexist on this planet. My theatre work is also informed by music, clubbing, cinema, countryside, movement, art, spaces, history, friends, technology, food - I aim to be open to as many cultural influences as possible. I don't want to be boxed-in in terms of the type of work I make!

For Chol Theatre, I'm particularly proud of 'Beast Market', which was a large-scale verbatim theatre and photography project lasting a year and a half. This culminated in a physical and visual main-stage 'state-of-the nation' theatre production at the Lawrence Batley Theatre in Huddersfield, March 2008. The show explored the extraordinary stories of ordinary people who have made Huddersfield their home - for whatever reason. Amanda Crowther worked as documentary phographer throughout.

Although the stories and images are Huddersfield-related, I strongly believe that the characters and concepts portrayed are universal and very accessible. Huddersfield town is a surprising place with an incredible international mix of inhabitants. It's also important for Chol to occasionally make theatre about and for its home base. I would dearly love to find a Producer to work with Chol to develop 'Beast Market' further and make a touring version. Come and talk to me at decibel!

I want to make and perform work anywhere that engages diverse, up for it audiences and where theatre is valued as both artform and part of a healthy society. I do also think the world needs a Tropical Beach theatre festival - and I need to do extensive site research of course.
On a more serious note, I've been part of a core team developing a project called the International Young Makers' Marathon over the past six years and we hope, funding permitting, to expand this international provision in 2010.

The many friends and colleagues I have met over the years have been most influential on me in terms of keeping me going - despite challenges along the way - and to seek ongoing inspiration in making work. People who have - and do - inspire me through their generosity and kindness include: Ness Roper Evans, Kaite O'Reilly, John McGrath, Jacqueline van Benthem, Caroline Lamb... there are many others.
I am also influenced by the artists I work with on each project - and because I have had the privilege of leading on many significant young peoples theatre projects such as NSDF and Sherman Youth Theatre, I am constantly challenged and inspired by young emerging talent.

I have lots of mini-highlights I guess... each project has its own challenges and successes. I'm really chuffed at the recent success Chol has had with its work - having been shortlisted for Theatre Centre's Brian Way Award at a national level with 'Space Circus', a touring, promenade-participatory-installation piece of theatre for schools.
Most recently, I was delighted with the reception received at this year's Glastonbury Festival by our decibel show 'Not for all the Tea in China'. We played nine performances over three days, reaching a hugely varied audience and the show was featured on BBC2's Glastonbury highlights coverage!

Oh gosh... my wish-list would be rather long! Let's see.... Graeae, Kneehigh, Robert Lepage, Neil Hannon... plus there are younger artists out there such as Riz Ahmed who I'd love to bring to Huddersfield to collaborate on a full Chol Theatre production if they weren't so busy with their snazzy movie and tv deals!
Basically I'm up for working with artists from extremely varied disciplines who take a sideways and critical look at the world and who also have a sense of humour and joy in their work and lives.

Every time a show 'clicks' in rehearsal and with its audiences - then any directing job is the best job in the world. Makes up for all the writing of funding applications, long hours, low pay...!

I'd like to see Chol Theatre recognised on a national and international level as an exciting creative hub, based in Huddersfield, that makes entertaining, surprising and challenging performance, that speaks of and for the times we live in.

For me, making theatre is not separate to the other functions of society - it is an intrinsic part. For Chol, our participants are also often our audiences and our artists. I delight in building up trust with new audiences and bringing them work that will both challenge and take them on a journey.
I'm excited when work resonates with people and they take away questions and thoughts that often impact long after they have attended the live performance. I hope that 'Not for all the Tea in China' does this in its own little way for the hugely diverse audiences we are touring to at outdoor festivals and events this summer.

Just how old-fashioned a great deal of thinking still is within the theatre industry about how to make theatre, why we make it and who we are making it for.
I do believe that smaller regional theatre and arts organisations are leading the way in making performance work that is genuinely engaging new audiences with artistically bold work. Our larger producing theatres need to work harder to engage with these smaller organisations - who are often on their own doorstep. Stop being so proprietorial and start collaborating!