A brand new online performance network is launching in Bath this week. Theatre Bath, which is a website for Theatre, Music, Comedy, Dance and Performance within a ten mile radius of Bath officially re-launches on Thursday 13th September.
The new website will contain all listing info for performances in Bath as well as becoming a vital networking point for individuals both professional and non-professional that work within the performance industry in Bath. Offering features, reviews, latest news and production information, Theatre Bath is set to become the site for anything and everything to do with performance in Bath.
Theatre Bath started life as a Twitter account in Bath’s growing online community in November 2011. It was founded by Luke John Emmett, who works freelance within the performance industry in Bath. It started with around 100 followers which has now grown to over 1300, and has become a vital, immediate information point for anything to do with performance in Bath.
Luke John Emmett said, “I set up Theatre Bath originally to help promote the amazing thriving Theatre industry within Bath. I looked at the area and what was available for theatre companies and individuals and there seemed to be a huge hole in the market. There are some outstanding performances and companies within Bath who are struggling to get the coverage they need. Theatre Bath is there to help anyone and everyone within the performance industry, whether they are professional or non-professional. It’s ethos is to promote all performances equally in an unbiased way and it’s completely independent of all venues and companies within the city and will always remain so. We will go out of our way to help promote arts within Bath and our new website will allow for members to have a lot more control over their own content. They will be able to register with the site and upload their own information, add events and put up casting notices or job information.”
At the moment Theatre Bath is completely self-funded but it is already recruiting a wide range of board members from within the local community who will help to manage the future direction of the site and hopefully help to secure funding to allow it to continue its work helping performance within the Bath area.
There are a number of events already being planned that will help to increase communication and offer support to artists, venues and companies in the area and to offer them valuable training sessions.
Luke said, “Next year we are planning to hold a huge weekend event where local companies can have a stand to help promote themselves and what they do. There will be extracts of performances throughout the days and also seminars and workshops from industry professionals covering a whole host of topics such as marketing, social networking, directing, writing and technical skills. The ideas for these events will come from our members. They tell us what they want or need as a company and we will create the opportunity for these events to happen.”
Theatre Bath is currently looking for help with funding and would like to hear from any local businesses or individuals who would be interested in supporting the site by making a donation towards running costs or by taking out advertising on the site itself. Every little helps. They would also like to hear from anyone interested in helping with the site, either by editing content or perhaps helping with some of the design elements.
The next event from Theatre Bath will be one of it’s monthly Tweetups, which is an informal evening where members meet to chat, socialise and discuss important issues that are affecting them with other like minded people. The evenings are always relaxed and friendly and give people a chance to chat without the normal confines or time restraints of their usual rehearsal or production schedule. The Tweetups are open to anyone with an interest in performance and Theatre Bath, like it’s independent policy actively encourages all members of the community to come and join in with these fun evenings. This Tweetup will be a special one focusing on the new website and helping users familiarise themselves with the user interface. The next Tweetup is on Monday 17th September from 7:30pm at the Cork, Westgate Buildings.
The website re-launches on Thursday 13th September and can be found at www.theatrebath.co.uk.