The Centre
​A dark comedy with pop punk music set in a "Career Centre".
Writer Evie Osbon
Composer Chuck SJ
Director & dramaturg support from Jamie Fletcher
From being on benefits to working for benefits, new Work Coach, Mir embraces their queer identity. In an ever-changing world, Work Coaches and customers alike attempt to make sense of their everyday lives by categorising each other. We are all at the mercy of the system. But humans programmed the system...
Which side of the desk will you be? And could both sides work together?
A pacy and surreal story about privilege, power and solidarity.
“I am literally a transgender civil servant. It felt, like, a little bit uncanny. ”
~ Audience member from Phase 1's script in hand read through (June 2023)
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This narrative is incredibly timely, with the insidious media coverage on Trans & Queer bodies, the cost of living crisis, an ever-growing society of people experiencing burnout, & mental ill health - not to mention the gapping disparity between the rich & those experiencing poverty. The Centre will expose all these cracks & fill them with glitter.
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So how have we made the show and what's next?
How it came about...
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Evie wrote an early draft of the play when they were part of Nottingham Playhouses’ 2022 Playwright Playground cohort, based on their time working in a Job Centre throughout the Pandemic.
Evie received paid support from the Young Vic for a one-day R&D to try out some of the script, discuss themes & characters, and improvise some new scenes.
Mind Out Theatre then received Arts Council funding to develop the show through an R&D in April 2023, with in kind support from the Nottingham Playhouse, Nonsuch Studios, In Good Company, Captivate & City Arts.
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Phase 1 R&D 2023
We used the R&D weeks to explore early play concepts, including some scripted work, improvisation, musical ‘jamming’, and movement workshops to experiment with narrative & form.
Uniting queer artists at different stages in our careers, we co-created with 10 local queer artists (paid Creative Mentees).
The R&D culminated in s script-in-hand reading at Nonsuch Studios in June 2023.
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Phase 2 R&D 2024
Supported by the Arts Council, Mansfield Palace Theatre and Nottingham Playhouse, we developed the script further through a two-week R&D.
We focused on composing songs, finalising the script and continuing to work with community groups to explore the work.
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Groups included: Unanima, residents from Bulwell (young people and adults), and Phoenix Young Company.
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This led to the creation of QUEERDOs - a great legacy piece! Go to the QUEERDOs project page to find out more about the monthly online creative check ins for Queer, Neurodivergent and Disabled people
