Here & Now 2025: Championing Artists at Every Stage

We are delighted to share this years' Here & Now 2025 showcase line-up. Ad Infinitum, Andy Smith & Lynsey O'Sullivan, Jo Bannon produced by MAYK, Khalid Abdalla produced by Fuel, SERAFINE1369 and Sutara Gayle AKA Lorna Gee/Hackney Showroom.

Here & Now 2025 Showcase Artists

Here & Now strives to challenge what performance created in England might look or feel like. This year’s programme represents forms and perspectives that platform narratives from across England. It brings together lived experiences and personal stories, holding a mirror up to social, economic and political issues that feel pertinent to today.

Alongside the six artists and companies who will present performances as part of this year’s Here & Now programme we are also thrilled to announce a further five artists who will join the showcase artist cohort in Edinburgh in a range of capacities, all with the shared goal of growing their international networks. 

SCALING UP ...

Three artists who were previously part of Horizon Showcase -  Sung Im Her, Bullyache, and Dan Daw Creative Projects - will all take part in an event called Then & Now, a studio session pitching event which will provide each artist with an opportunity to present extracts of new performances created for larger scale than the works they previously showcased via Horizon. 

Our international delegates and industry professionals will have the chance to see and hear about these new ambitious works first hand, and engage in dialogue with the artists about their projects via informal networking. Dan Daw will be offering insights into their first large scale work EXXY; Bullyache will share an extract from A Good Man is Hard to Find, and Sung Im Her will share an extract from Tomorrowisnowtodayisyesterday as well as information about their new large scale work 1 Degree Celsius.

We anticipate this pitch event will open up a range of new and very exciting touring relationships for these shows.

FRINGE FIRST...

In addition to the pitching artists, two extraordinary artists who were both award winners at the Fringe in 2024 for their individual shows will also join the showcase in a new strand of Here & Now’s programme as Supported Artists - Josie Dale-Jones and Louise Orwin. 

As part of the curatorial process for Here & Now, there was strong international interest in both Louise and Josie, and so the Supported Artist strand of the programme was created in response to this, as an initiative designed to bring artists who had great success previously as part of Edinburgh Festival Fringe to further develop their international networks and touring possibilities via engaging in the networking possibilities that Here & Now offers.

Louise Orwin said: “After a wild and wonderful Fringe last year, we are absolutely buzzing to be back this year as a Here & Now Supported Company to help us push forward and capitalize on the momentum of this moment. We can’t wait to be back in Edinburgh, making contacts, seeing exciting work, and generally just being around all the urgent, brilliant artists and companies who are part of this year’s showcase."

Supported Artists Louise Orwin (FAMEHUNGRY) and Josie Dale-Jones (A Little Inquest Into What We Are All Doing Here) will take part in a peer-networking programme called Creative Oxygen designed to bring a small group of artists and producers together with the purpose of breathing new life into their creative practice. This will involve taking part in a series of artist development events alongside artists and producer peers from Canada and Denmark. Josie and Louise will also help launch the showcase week with their own distinct provocations as part of a panel discussion with some of Here & Now’s international delegates.

Josie Dale-Jones added: “I am thrilled thrilled thrilled to be part of the Here & Now Showcase as a supported artist this year. Art is a part of resistance and solidarity. I hope that by continuing to make art in all its forms we offer some hope of connection, of communal experience, and of bringing people together. Being part of an international showcase, and the collection of people it brings together is integral to making this a reality.”

If you are an industry professional and are interested in connecting with these artists as part of the showcase, then please contact kate@giftfestival.co.uk