Open Call: Creative Collaborators for HELD

Company of Others is looking to connect with woman-identifying creatives from across the North of England and Scotland who have lived experience of displacement.

We are looking to build a creative team for HELD, a new dance theatre co-created production exploring holding and being held, made with mothers and daughters.

We are interested in hearing from artists, makers and practitioners working across all artforms and technical disciplines, including but not limited to:

  • Movement
  • World-building & Set design
  • Photography
  • Projection & Videography
  • Visual arts & design
  • Costume & Textile design
  • Lighting Design
  • Music & Sound
  • Singing
  • Writing and spoken word
  • Stage management & production
  • Interdisciplinary practices

Who we’re looking for

We would particularly like to hear from woman-identifying creatives who:

  • Have lived experience of displacement, migration or seeking sanctuary
  • Have experienced of co-created practice or community collaboration
  • Are based in the North of England or Scotland
  • Value care, generosity and relationship-building within artistic work

About HELD

HELD is concerned with the things we’re forced to let go of, the things we cling to, and the ways in which we allow ourselves to be held and hold others.

The work is being co-created with women and girls who are people seeking sanctuary, have lived experience of displacement, or are from the Global Majority. Through workshops in Newcastle, Stockton and Gateshead, women and girls have been exploring the themes of the work, the form of the work, and building their ways of working together. We’re now at the exciting stage of being able to invite collaborators to work with us!

Research and development for HELD began in 2026 through a series of workshops led by Company of Others’ Artistic Director and Choreographer, Nadia Iftkhar.

Expression of Interest

If what you’ve read so far speaks to you, please accept our invitation to tell us more about you and your work:

If you have any questions or access requirements, please contact: sekeenat@companyofothers.org.uk

Call Out: Women & Girls for New Production

Company of Others are inviting women and girls with family connections (for example mother & daughter, grandmother & granddaughter) to take part in a new, gentle and playful dance theatre project called HELD

This opportunity is for families who are People Seeking Sanctuary, have lived experience of displacement, and/or are from the Global Majority, living in GatesheadNewcastle or Stockton.

Led by our Artistic Director Nadia, workshops take place throughout the year. These workshops will be funwelcoming and a chance to come along see if you enjoy it. No previous experience needed. 

The call-out is available in Arabic, Bengali, English, Farsi, Kurdish Sorani, Pashto, Tigrinya and Urdu. Interpreters will be available for the workshops.

Full details and the Expression of Interest form can be found here: https://www.companyofothers.org.uk/held-recruitment/