PolkaLab Commission won by Two Tonne

In a collaboration as Two Tonne, Pauline Mayers, Iain Bloomfield and Andy Brooks have been announced collectively as one of six artists Polka Theatre will be working with as part of the PolkaLab programme 2019/20

“Two Tonne will be developing a beat box musical for children aged 3-5, that will explore similarity and difference in the context of racism and multiculturalism in Britain”.

Two Tonne is a Northern based theatre company led by Artistic Director Iain Bloomfield, creating contemporary work that is poignant, political and ethical.

All work is created in collaboration with other artists with a range of specialisms, and seeks to promote both access and equity. This project will be a collaboration between Iain Bloomfield, Pauline Mayers and Andy Brooks. Andy is an MC, beatboxer, musician, playwright and theatre-maker; Pauline, a writer, theatre-maker, choreographer and facilitator; Iain, a writer, director, dramaturg and mentor. 

Two Tonne say…

“Collectively and individually we are delighted to have been offered a place on the PolkaLAB programme for 2019-2020. Multi-stranded R&D support opportunities that celebrate the iterative nature of developing new work and explore the ways that that work can find its voice and its audience in tandem are few and far between. That this is run by an organisation with such a history in making work for children feels particularly joyous and important in 2019.

We are excited about the opportunity to make a piece of work in collaboration with Polka Theatre and work with them to create a process that includes children as co-authors. As artists (and a venue) we have different career paths, art form histories, lived experiences – as will every single child we engage with throughout the process.”