The Lowry has a history of developing close working relationships with artists and companies who are making exciting, ground-breaking work which we believe in.
Our Associate Artists are mid-career and established artists and companies who are making nationally and internationally touring work, and tackling the challenges of our industry.
Through our Associate Artists programme:
- We are committed to a new approach to Associate Artists relationships in which we aim to cultivate a true, balanced partnership between artist and venue.
- We believe in the social and artistic impact of our Associate Artists’ work and invest in the making, production and touring of their work.
- We invite our Associate Artists to share their skills and expertise with us to inform the way we work and our future planning.
- By democratising the relationship and ensuring that both parties are making contributions, directing the support and being heard in the conversation, artists and venues are empowered and supported by each other, as they should be.
Who is it for?
Experienced mid-career artists and companies who are confident in their practice and their artistic voice, and who want to invest time and effort in a relationship with a venue in order to develop themselves and the industry at large.
Meet Associate Artists
POLICE COPS
Finn Anderson
Finn Anderson is the Cameron Mackintosh Resident Composer awarded by Musical Theatre Network, Mercury Musical Developments. Finn’s residency is co-hosted residency at The Lowry and Hope Mill Theatre, which started in April 2020.
Finn is a composer, writer and singer-songwriter with a focus on creating new musical theatre.
Musicals include Islander (Off-Broadway, Playhouse 46/Southwark Playhouse/Paines Plough Roundabout/Mull Theatre) A Mother’s Song, City of Dreams (American Music Theatre Project/Royal Conservatoire of Scotland) Come Hell or High Water (Citizens Theatre/Sky Arts) Streets (Hackney Empire/The Vaults, Off West End Awards ‘Best New Musical’ nominee) Alba (Edinburgh Fringe, MTM Award nominee).
He has composed music for plays, circus and dance with leading companies UK-wide. As a singer-songwriter, he has released two albums Until the Light and Into the Arms of Ghosts and performs throughout the UK including regularly with ‘Bogha-frois: Queer Voices in Folk’ a community of musicians and storytellers working to increase LGBTI+ visibility in the Scottish folk music scene.
The Associate Artist relationship includes support the making of ACTUAL BODILY HARM.
1993. 15 gay men are charged for their part in what the British tabloids call a “vicious and perverted sex gang” and “a cult of violence”. The men – including a UN lawyer, a preacher, and a fancy dress proprietor – had engaged in safe and consensual BDSM in the privacy of their own homes, unaware their actions could be illegal.
In a UK-wide police operation, over 100 men were interviewed and 400 videotapes seized, with several imprisoned after a judge ruled that consent was not a valid defence in the case of sadomasochism as “people must sometimes be protected from themselves”.
Drawing on these true events which led to the first ever SM Pride march in London, ‘Actual Bodily Harm’ will be a new musical about the complexity of human desire, about finding community in unlikely places, about exploring and navigating our emotional and physical limits.
“I’m delighted to be in residence with The Lowry and Hope Mill Theatre for 2022 through the Cameron Mackintosh Resident Composer Scheme, and to have the opportunity to work within the Manchester theatre community to develop a new project from scratch. I’m particularly excited to form new collaborative relationships, to explore new musical territory, and to tackle a challenging and unusual story within the musical theatre form.” – Finn Anderson
Twitter @Finn_Anderson
Instagram: @finnanderson
Web: finnanderson.co.uk
The Letter Room
Police Cops
POLICE COPS are Zachary Hunt, Nathan Parkinson and Tom Roe; a three man multi award-winning, globally acclaimed comedy group based in London.
With a shared vision of creating highly physical, highly entertaining and even highlyer clever comedy, POLICE COPS have enjoyed TOTAL SELL OUT runs at The Edinburgh Fringe Festival (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021) and on London’s West End at Soho Theatre.
POLICE COPS create highly playful performances which combine inventive physical storytelling with their own brand of off-the-wall comedy. Parody and satire are centred at the heart of their productions, where they integrate with dynamic stagecraft, supercharged physical theatre and cinematic style.
The Associate Artist relationship includes support the making of POLICE COPS THE MUSICAL.
USA, 1985: Rookie Police Cop Jimmy Johnson joined the force to protect, serve, and avenge his sister’s death…
But now Jimmy’s in deep, partnered up with a disgraced, renegade Police Cop and leaned on by a racist Chief. With guns loaded and safety catches off, Jimmy’s on a freewheeling adventure from the mean streets of America to the back-alleys of Mexico – where destiny awaits in the form of grizzled Mexican ex-Police Cop Juanita Gonzalez.
Multi-award-winners Police Cops present a cinematic musical comedy blockbuster full of grit, guns and uncompromising facial hair – all set to a blasting 80s power-pop soundtrack. Featuring an expanded ensemble, original songs and a live band, their unique physical comedy mayhem is supercharged for their most ambitious show yet.
Commissioned by New Diorama Theatre. Co-commissioned by The Lowry and New Wolsey Theatre.
“With Police Cops The Musical we’re really pushing ourselves to the limit. We’re challenging ourselves in new and exciting ways to develop something unlike anything we’ve ever done before. It’s a big step up. We can’t wait to show it to you!” – Police Cops
Twitter: @Policecops_
Instagram: @policecopsofficial
Facebook: policecopscomedy
Web: policecops.co.uk
The Letter Room
The Letter Room is a national touring company from the North East working with actor-musicians to create fearless, original musical theatre.
Previous work includes: No Miracles Here, Five Feet in Front: The Ballad of Little Johnnie Wylo, Bonenkai, The Man Who Thought the Moon Would Fall Out of the Sky. They also run ��Club Bonenkai’ an immersive cabaret which combines theatre, music, and speakeasy with a night at the pub.
Our work has been made with and supported by The Lowry, Northern Stage, Royal Shakespeare Company, Shoreditch Town Hall, New Wolsey and the mental health charity Mind.
The Associate Artist relationship includes supporting The Letter Room with company development and R&D’s of new work.
“We have always had a special relationship with The Lowry, we were a Developed With Artist in 2015, and it feels wonderful to now be Associate Artists. Their support is giving us an opportunity to focus on company development, sustainability and upscaling our work.” – The Letter Room
Twitter: @TheLetterRoom
Web: theletterroomtheatre.co.uk
The Letter Room
Thick & Tight
Daniel Hay-Gordon and Eleanor Perry established Thick & Tight in 2012.
Their award-winning work mixes dance, mime, theatre, parody and drag, influenced by a wide range of historical, political, literary and artistic subjects.
The work has been shown extensively in the UK and beyond, often within a queer context where it is most at home. Thick & Tight are interested in promoting queer culture and anti-elitism, exploring dance theatre as a political art form with the power to challenge and dispel social stigma. Trained at Rambert School, Daniel and Eleanor work extensively as freelance performers and choreographers.
The Associate Artist relationship includes supporting Daniel and Eleanor as they rethink how Thick & Tight should run, ensuring the company’s ethos and artistic output is matched by its organisational set-up, for greater accountability and impact.
This includes considering new ways of collaborating; expanding and diversifying decision-making; interrogating the company’s working practice.
Supporting Thick & Tight find new contexts for their work in the region.
As part of this support, the Lowry presented Thick & Tight’s new show Short & Sweet, a collection of 9 recent works, in the Quays Theatre in January 2022. Later this year, Thick & Tight hope to work with the gallery team to research the life and work of L.S. Lowry for a new work about dour stoicism, northern humour, loneliness and people who are carers for their family members.
“We are delighted to be working with The Lowry as we undertake lots of changes as a small company. It’s wonderful to keep returning to the North West to research, create and present work and to begin to feel part of a community connected with the Lowry. Thank you!” – Daniel & Eleanor
Instagram: @thicktightdance
Facebook: @thicktightdance
Twitter: @thicktightdance
Web: thickandtight.com