Seven leading East Anglian theatres launch region's first touring consortium

Why it matters: The ambitious collaboration will introduce a fresh approach designed to tackle the challenges of midscale touring and bring high-quality, original theatre made by and for the people of East Anglia to communities across the region and beyond.

The details: The collaboration brings together Eastern Angles, HighTide, Landmark Theatres, Mercury Theatre Colchester, New Wolsey Theatre, Queen's Theatre Hornchurch, and Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds.

The consortium will pilot a region-wide sustainable model for mid-scale touring with a clear focus on new writing, local talent development, skills development and audience development. The project is designed to be both financially and environmentally sustainable, with significant funding from each of the consortium members.

What they're saying: Paul Jepson, chief executive and creative director of Landmark Theatres, said on behalf of the consortium: "This is a very exciting moment for theatre in East Anglia. This collaboration allows us to deliver high-quality, newly commissioned work at scale, reaching under-served rural communities across the region, while also benefiting from the sharing of our combined skills. We'll be announcing the first production very soon – watch this space."

Reaching underserved communities: The consortium aims to increase meaningful access and inclusion across diverse, underserved and marginalised communities, particularly those from lower socio-economic backgrounds and rurally isolated areas.

The consortium aims to reach a live audience of over 15,000, with an additional 3,000 viewers through a digital release designed to serve isolated rural communities. A percentage of tickets will be distributed to target communities through local networks.

Investing in regional talent: At least 50 per cent of the freelance workforce will be drawn from the region, and a week-long development period with target audiences will ensure the work is co-created with community input. The consortium will also facilitate peer learning, staff training, and the sharing of knowledge across organisations.

The touring model will be independently evaluated to shape future strategies and encourage wider adoption across the UK. The model will also aim to reduce environmental impact by meeting Green Book Intermediate Level standards, lowering tour haulage, and encouraging audience use of sustainable transport options.

The debut production: The consortium's debut production will be announced shortly. With early development already underway, the ambitious new original British musical will draw inspiration from East Anglia's rich cultural history.

The show is written by Olivier Award-winning writer, composer, and performer Vikki Stone, who said: "It is a delight to work with the East Anglia Touring Consortium team to develop this exciting new show. We can't wait to share the news, but can tell you now that you can expect a show that is bold, loud, and joyfully defiant, which celebrates the rich cultural history of the area."

Lead produced by the New Wolsey Theatre, the production will tour five local venues, with a digital release designed to serve isolated rural communities.

Douglas Rintoul, chief executive and artistic director of the New Wolsey Theatre, said: "This is not just about creating one ambitious show. It marks a level of collaboration never before seen in our region. This investment, and the collective ambition behind it, allows us to think bigger than ever for East Anglia – telling epic stories rooted in our people and places, while laying the foundations for a legacy of bold theatre-making for years to come."

The bottom line: The East Anglian Touring Consortium represents a strategic investment in the region's creative economy, strengthening collaboration among arts organisations while paving the way for more resilient, collaborative approaches to theatre-making.