Cause for Celebration as Gate Duo Get £254,000

Judges
praised this year’s winning applicants, selected from a shortlist of nominations from 14 industry experts, for their vision, drive and proven track
records. Previous recipients in the field of theatre include Felix
Barrett of Punchdrunk and David Jubb, formerly of Battersea Arts Centre.

In
a joint response to the announcement, Abrahami and Cracknell said: “We
are thrilled to have been offered such an extraordinary development
opportunity at this stage in our careers as it will increase the scope
and ambition of our programming at the Gate while enabling us to
develop as directors in our own right.”

The pair first
met in 2004 on the National Theatre Studio Directors’ Course. Bonding
over a mutual interest in international theatre practice, they applied
for joint artistic directorship of the Gate following the departure of
Thea Sharrock in 2006.

Abrahami and Cracknell now plan
to use the Breakthrough grant to fund two new positions of associate
and assistant producer to mirror their own partnership. Their hope is
to develop stronger relationships with regional and international
companies, expanding the Gate’s work through touring, revivals,
co-productions and site-specific productions beyond the boundaries of
the existing 70-seater space

Acknowledging the
commitment to experimental work which the grant represents, they said:
“We can’t wait to see what possibilities the next three years will
hold.”