Auld Lang Syne ‘for old times sake’ referring to a shared past that underpins current relationships’.
I’m writing this blog as one year ends and another begins. Reflecting back on Open Clasp, our year where, we once again witness the value of the arts to support and fight for the human rights of women and communities we co-create with. Not other, led by and for. We aim to create the best theatre we can with the aim of changing the world one play at a time, we are political, feminist and use the arts to make social change.
When reflecting back I asked the core staff team to each share three standout moments in the year.
Mycelial was our most ambitious project to date and some say the best one yet. Co-created with sex worker activists from Aotearoa New Zealand, Ireland North and South, across the North of England and the midlands. Mycelial has just completed an international tour, returning to our co-creators and countries, including screenings in Aotearoa New Zealand and the Sex Worker Collective who worked to secure legislation that Decriminalised Sex Work back in 2003. We also returned to HMP Low Newton and HMP Askham Grange with Mycelial. Each show was supported with a post-show panel discussion, art creating space for discussion and debate. A Call to Action, for Allies to stand with and for the human rights of Sex Workers.
The team celebrated Mycelial in Belfast; the whole team went to support (a screening I missed due to ill health). For some in the team it was like coming home (three are from the North) – they describe their pride in the production, the audience and the call to action for change. Both in the North and South is also where Governments brought in the Nodic Model, legislation that impacts negatively on sex workers, results in violence, fear and lack of human rights. ‘It was a warm and supportive audience who showed lots of care around being an ally, learning more and understanding the impact the Nordic Model is having on sex workers in the north’ Carly McConnel Senior Creative Producer. ‘the audience was brilliant and the craic afterwards was very lovely’ Ellie Turner CEO Executive Director) and ‘I don’t often get to do stuff out of the office, and never get to travel so it was cool to be out and hear people from a different City’s perspective’ (Rachel Errington Finance and Office Manager)
Other moments shared related to securing project funding from the ACE because our Mycelial ‘might not fit’, but it did. Ellie Turner also securing a major grant from Comic Relief ‘it was tough to secure’, but Ellie did it. The team also shared their development, in terms of securing smaller grants, the big and small all making a whole that supports the creative teams to build the productions. We work as one team to make the change a reality through theatre.
Our AGM in 2024 was another moment highlighted, as here we celebrated 25 years of Open Clasp. Those who had stepped with us for a quarter of a century gathered, as well as new co-creators and allies. It was a moment in the year where we awarded a Gold Star to a co-creator with Mycelial, and this happened again in Aotearoa New Zealand in November. Our Gold Stars are now a collective of women who have gone the extra mile with projects. They sit with us on review days and join post show panels – they are also (to me) like guardians of the productions, safeguarding ethos of the work and supporting the legacy of each one created.
There was also pride in the team attending the House of Commons and ‘hearing our co-creator talk at the ECP’s launch of their report, Proceed Without Caution. It was great to hear the Green Party leader show her support and be in a room PACKED with people demanding a change to legislation’.
The team talked about Rupture, a production co-created with incarcerated mothers and touring in Spring 2025. The production has already won its first award. Erin Connor is our Producer and said ‘Having Rupture win a Certificate of Excellence at the Ruth Cranfield Awards. My first time working with Ellie to submit an award and it being recognised. A project I really believe in and having it recognised felt so special. I’m really proud of it’. We also held a joint event with Durham University and NEPACS to launch the Parental Rights Report, the panel prestigious and the value of Rupture to tour agitated for. The whole team support the facilitation of discussion and Rachel Errington said ‘was brilliant to hear from the academics and other people who believe in improving parental rights in prison’
There has been personal development with writing applications, awards and facilitation skills with Us Too and Alisha’s Story. The UsToo project is led by and for women who are learning disabled, and have experienced rape and/or sexual assault and have been failed by the Criminal Justice System. They co-created Alisha’s story (a film created to train others the police and other service providers) and in 2024 Open Clasp team delivered the training. Erin said – A big development step up for me in developing facilitation skills, being in a room and trusting the methodology and myself. Seeing it work how it’s supposed to. Seeing art make change happen in a room in real time in magic.
Key Change celebrated its 10th birthday this year, created in 2014 it is still as strong relevant today, screenings in schools and in HMP Deerbolt. In Deerbolt we used the character of Sammy (talked about by Angie from Key Change, same experiences she had ‘his dad did the same to him as my dad did to me’ ) – to support the ‘lads’ to work creatively up on the feet, to discuss and debate issues that have impacted on their lives, including domestic violence and childhood abuse. They also talked about their fear of released and life on the outside, along the real challenges of being incarcerated in overcrowded prisons. Key Change heart still beating strong, again the power of theatre to make change a reality.
My top three – Mycelial in Auckland (Aotearoa New Zealand) it was near the end of the tour, and I was in the southern hemisphere, sitting alongside the Sex Workers Collective and their allies. I felt emotional as I stood to take my place on the panel. I felt so honoured to be honoured by the collective, and huge pride in Open Clasp. We worked hard, everyone involved from the co-creators, actors, creative teams and core staff team. We all kept our eye on the prize and for me we won, it’s a huge success and that screening was like coming home, activism at its very best.
My second was the I CARE Project, working with Sharon Bailey on Two Sides of the Same Coin (sequel to Home Alone) performed in the Grainger Market. I loved working on the script, the words and the relationship with carers, the grandmother and granddaughter on a protest. I hope that both these productions get the funding needed to make into films for us to help share far and wide. Thousands of carers across the UK, their voices need to be heard.
My third was also the AGM, celebrating 25yrs, writing the blogs, reflecting back and seeing Board Members, staff, creatives and co-creators gathered. I always love our AGM’s, people say they leave feeling that power has been built in that room, and that’s how I feel too. Like Auld Lang Syne ‘We’ll take a cup o kindness yet, for days of auld lang syne’
But I can’t not mention the Aspire Project. I went back there to work with their women, it’s a relationship we have had with this project since we founded (first when it was the Bridge Project). I loved working with the women, their culture, honesty and I hope that we can continue to work together in the future.
Auld Lang Syne ‘for old times sake’ referring to a shared past that underpins current relationships’. This is Open Clasp, our foundations built by those that went before us, and with every project created. Collaborating and co-creating, is at the core of our work, has been and always will be. Together we use theatre to change the world.
Catrina
