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Local Theatre Producer Supported by Theatre Royal for Suffolk based Artistic Retreat...

Sam Worboys, a freelance theatre producer and founder of Worboys Productions, has secured an Arts Council Grant, along with help and support from various theatres including the Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds, to offer emerging theatre practitioners the unique opportunity to develop their work in a 2 week artistic retreat at Francis Farm in Upper Somerton.

The Theatre Farm Retreat is to be helped and supported by Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds, Cambridge Junction, The Garage in Norwich and Greenwich Theatre in London.  The retreat is set to happen 7th – 18th July.

‘Fantastic to have Worboys Productions at the venue during May 2014, with their shows Mrs McMoon and Signor Baffo. Two brilliant pieces of theatre perfect for young ones’ Alex Levene, The Place Bedford

Sam started his theatre career young by co-founding the highly successful Gomito Productions in 2001 when he was just 19 years old.  Now in his 30s, Sam’s ambition is to provide a network of support and a physical space for young artists so they can develop their work in a nurturing environment.  On-site during the retreat, theatre professionals from a variety of fields will be available to guide and offer advice to the 12 selected participants, enabling them access to invaluable artistic, production, technical and marketing advice.

Sam is committed to the project because he found as a young artist himself, with limited resources available, he had to quickly learn on the job and faced a lot of challenges on the way.  He would have loved to have been armed with the knowledge and the ability to see more clearly the opportunities for success and the pitfalls that always present themselves when tackling the huge task of mounting a theatre production.

Now, for a group of up-and-coming Eastern-based artists, Sam can share some of his hard learned wisdom to make the creation of work a little less difficult. 

‘Speaking as part of a devising theatre company, we were very lucky to work with a composer and designer from early on in our theatre making journey, but to make connections with other skillsets that strengthen your work can be tricky when you're starting out.’ Sam Warboys

Since co-founding Gomito Productions in 2001, Sam Worboys has acted in and produced over 20 productions. From their beginning he has been the company’s full time producer, as well as establishing himself as a producer in his own right through Worboys Productions.

As a freelancer, Sam has produced shows and tours for companies in the region, London and Brighton; most recently he worked with Katie Cooper to develop Mrs McMoon and with Oliver Harrison on his show Signor Baffo. Both toured nationally in Spring 2014, delighting audiences around the country and look set for further exciting tours in 2015.

Taking the name of, and built on land once owned by, French Benedictine Monks as far back as 1198, Francis Farm has been sympathetically restored – each building having its own character.  Set amidst rolling countryside, the farm offers a variety of accommodation and spaces for work, which makes it the ideal setting for an artistic retreat.  Still a working farm, the owners produce cereals. 

Upper Somerton is a picturesque village situated 20 minutes’ drive from Sudbury and Bury St. Edmunds.

www.worboysproductions.com

www.gomito.co.uk