An opportunity to join artist Victoria Firth in a series of tongue-in-cheek self help videos about touching and being touched. Having spent lockdown listening to podcasts and trying to do ’30 days of yoga’ this piece is her own online offer for contact seekers, the touch starved and the skin hungry. A literal and metaphorical response to our need for connection and intimacy during these times of social separation and vulnerability. A Diverge project supported by Waterside Arts, Originally developed for ‘Domestic’ by Word of Warning About the artist My name is Victoria and I’m a performer, theatre maker and director from Yorkshire. I think theatre should be joyful and full of heart. I am interested in exploring empathy, embodiment and connection – mainly getting under the skin of things that lots of us feel but no-one talks about. I make performance in lots of kinds of forms –theatre, comedy and live art. Almost always my shows are physical, playful and a bit perilous. Sometimes my performances have words. Sometimes not. Sometimes movement and images do what words might. Theatre is a place I feel at home and I’d love to share it with you.

An opportunity to join artist Victoria Firth in a series of tongue-in-cheek self help videos about touching and being touched. Having spent lockdown listening to podcasts and trying to do ’30 days of yoga’ this piece is her own online offer for contact seekers, the touch starved and the skin hungry. A literal and metaphorical response to our need for connection and intimacy during these times of social separation and vulnerability. A Diverge project supported by Waterside Arts, Originally developed for ‘Domestic’ by Word of Warning About the artist My name is Victoria and I’m a performer, theatre maker and director from Yorkshire. I think theatre should be joyful and full of heart. I am interested in exploring empathy, embodiment and connection – mainly getting under the skin of things that lots of us feel but no-one talks about. I make performance in lots of kinds of forms –theatre, comedy and live art. Almost always my shows are physical, playful and a bit perilous. Sometimes my performances have words. Sometimes not. Sometimes movement and images do what words might. Theatre is a place I feel at home and I’d love to share it with you.

An opportunity to join artist Victoria Firth in a series of tongue-in-cheek self help videos about touching and being touched. Having spent lockdown listening to podcasts and trying to do ’30 days of yoga’ this piece is her own online offer for contact seekers, the touch starved and the skin hungry. A literal and metaphorical response to our need for connection and intimacy during these times of social separation and vulnerability. A Diverge project supported by Waterside Arts, Originally developed for ‘Domestic’ by Word of Warning About the artist My name is Victoria and I’m a performer, theatre maker and director from Yorkshire. I think theatre should be joyful and full of heart. I am interested in exploring empathy, embodiment and connection – mainly getting under the skin of things that lots of us feel but no-one talks about. I make performance in lots of kinds of forms –theatre, comedy and live art. Almost always my shows are physical, playful and a bit perilous. Sometimes my performances have words. Sometimes not. Sometimes movement and images do what words might. Theatre is a place I feel at home and I’d love to share it with you.

An opportunity to join artist Victoria Firth in a series of tongue-in-cheek self help videos about touching and being touched. Having spent lockdown listening to podcasts and trying to do ’30 days of yoga’ this piece is my own online offer for contact seekers, the touch starved and the skin hungry. A literal and metaphorical response to our need for connection and intimacy during these times of social separation and vulnerability. A Diverge project supported by Waterside Arts, Originally developed for ‘Domestic’ by Word of Warning About the artist My name is Victoria and I’m a performer, theatre maker and director from Yorkshire. I think theatre should be joyful and full of heart. I am interested in exploring empathy, embodiment and connection – mainly getting under the skin of things that lots of us feel but no-one talks about. I make performance in lots of kinds of forms –theatre, comedy and live art. Almost always my shows are physical, playful and a bit perilous. Sometimes my performances have words. Sometimes not. Sometimes movement and images do what words might. Theatre is a place I feel at home and I’d love to share it with you.

Hosted by Ric Michael Born in New Zealand, Heather Morris is an international number one bestselling author, who is passionate about stories of survival, resilience and hope. In 2003, while working in a large public hospital in Melbourne, Heather was introduced to an elderly gentleman who 'might just have a story worth telling'. The day she met Lale Sokolov changed both their lives. Heather used Lale's story as the basis for The Tattooist of Auschwitz, which has sold six million copies. Her follow-up novel, Cilka's Journey, has sold more than a million copies worldwide. Part of the Northern Lights Writers' Conference 2020.

With Genevieve Pegg (Harper Collins), literary agent Louise Lamont (LBA Books) & author Okechukwu Nzelu Hosted by Ric Michael This facilitated discussion looks at key steps in the publication process for new authors - from how to approach agents and when to approach publishers, through to how literary agents and publishers work with authors once a book deal is signed. This discussion also reflects on new challenges faced by writers as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Part of the Northern Lights Writers' Conference 2020.

Puppet Masters' Conference 2020: Digital Edition. It's our honour to feature one of animation's most legendary figures at Puppet Masters 2020. Join us for this in-depth look at the career of a man whose work has entertained millions of people around the globe. Phil is an Oscar and Emmy Award-winning visual effects supervisor and producer, specialising in stop motion, creature design and character animation. His career spans over 40 years, with credits including Star Wars, RoboCop and Jurassic Park.

Puppet Masters' Conference 2020: Digital Edition is powered by Diverge. We're delighted to welcome back Francesca following her popular and informative masterclass at our 2019 conference. In this session, she reveals key insights into her visual storytelling process. Francesca is a Production Designer who has worked with Tim Burton, Wes Anderson and Aardman Animations. She is a tutor on NFTS Production Design Course.

Puppet Masters' Conference 2020: Digital Edition. Panel: Guidance for emerging animators, what the industry is doing to survive. An essential panel discussion featuring established and emerging animators as they explore how they continue to create new work and develop their careers in challenging times for the animation sector. With Laura Tofarides (Aardman, Junior Animator on Chuck Steel: Night of the Trampires), Sam Tipper (director of Socks), Zoe Hutber (director of Toyhood and BAFTA-nominated Short Changed), Ben Gardener and Phil Wall (director and writer of Patricia and the Witch). Hosted by Steve Henderson, Manchester Animation Festival.

Puppet Masters' Conference 2020: Digital Edition. Model-maker, puppet-maker and creative supervisor on some of the best-loved animation films in recent years, we meet Georgina Hayns for this discussion on her career and inspirations. Georgina has worked with Cosgrove Hall Films, Mackinnon and Saunders and Warner Bros. She has since worked with LAIKA as Creative Supervisor and Puppet Fabricator on films such as Coraline.