This year's conference is all about the opportunity to unite, to celebrate partnerships and collaboration, and in working together as a whole, we can ensure equal creative opportunities to the rural communities we work with.

Join us in the beautiful market town of Shrewsbury for this year's 3-day Rural Touring Sector Conference Tuesday 27th to Thursday 29th June. Everyone is welcome.

Latest news:

Artists Announcement - Updated 30th May

Ballyhoo Artists coming soon!

We have now chosen our 4 Ballyhoo artists who will be joining us in Shrewsbury, look out for details coming in the app soon!

Russell Lucas comes from a working-class background and has forged a long career in the arts without funding, an agent, or a degree.

As a champion for independent theatremakers, he will share the practical toolkit he uses to get theatre projects off the ground. Using some of the ideologies from his new book, 300 Thoughts for Theatremakers published by Nick Hern Books, he will show how he made the show and how he tours it around and how the RTN can further engage with artists, thus enriching the network.

Russell will also be performing extracts from his show 'The Bobby Kennedy Experience', you can see him on Wednesday at the Conference.

Programme Overview:

More speakers, showcases and events to be announced.

Day One - Tuesday 27th June 3pm - 10pm

Dedicated to networking, generating opportunities and evolving working partnerships. Our Ballyhoo stage will offer 4 artists the chance to promote their work to a captured audience on a boat trip down the River Severn.

The night will end with award-winning Elvis impersonator Joe Reeve (Best Sideburns: GlosVegas 2014) starring in his version of the classic Elvis film Blue Hawaii.

Day Two - Wednesday 28th June - 10am - 11pm

The Buttermarket, an iconic grade 2 listed building, and Shropshire’s biggest entertainment venue programme, will be packed with showcases from the local and national rural touring sector.

Stan’s Cafe are bringing their “Internationally acclaimed performance installation”, Russell Lucas, co-creator of critically acclaimed Edinburgh Fringe show An Evening without Kate Bush will perform his new show The Bobby Kennedy Experience, and the night ends with Glastonbury's Emerging Talent Competition Winner N'Famady Kayoute.

Day Three - Thursday 29th June - 10am - 4 pm

We will take over Shrewsbury's Museum and Art Gallery with a focus on outdoor touring, showcasing and international partnerships.

Look out for Timberlina - The World's No. 1 Environmentally-Friendly Bearded Drag Lady who will be performing alongside Equity councillor, Creative Climate Leader and performer Dan de la Motte in their new show Rock n Roll Nature Revelation as part of the outdoor showcase in the Town Square.

Access

We want to ensure that everyone is able to attend and make the most of the event. That's why we're offering a range of services and support to meet your access needs.

We plan to have an open and relaxed atmosphere, and chill out spaces will be available. We understand that everyone has different requirements and we want to make sure that our conference can be enjoyed by all. 

If you have any concerns or any specific requirements that you would like to discuss with us, please contact Jess on project@nrtf.org.uk or message us on social media if you prefer.