The Strollers Network is delighted to announce Choy-Ping Clarke-Ng 吳彩萍 as the recipient of the Propel Programme Award 2023

Following an open call application process the Strollers Network is  delighted to announce Choy-Ping Clarke-Ng 吳彩萍 as the recipient of the PROPEL Programme Award 2023.

PROPEL is a new, three year-long artist development and mentorship programme designed and produced by the Strollers Network, a partnership made up of ten arts centres from across four regions of Ireland. The aim of this programme is to strengthen the ecology of the Irish theatre sector by supporting the development of new work by independent theatre makers and to support the sustainable development of artistic practice through a structured mentorship and training programme designed and delivered in consultation with the artist or company.

The programme offers a €35,000 bursary over 3 years to support the research and development of new work and to cover the cost of ongoing professional development through training and mentorship.  The award also gives access to development and rehearsal spaces in ten Arts Centres across the country, support and mentorship from a panel of experts in producing, fundraising, technical production, dramaturgy, publishing, marketing, finance, cultural entrepreneurship, audience development and engagement, and strategic business development and cultural business management. Finally, this will give the artist an opportunity to present a work-in-progress performance as part of a major Irish festival.

ABOUT Choy-Ping:

Choy-Ping Clarke-Ng 吳彩萍 (they / she) is a Hong Kong-Irish theatre maker and designer of set, costume and video. Ping was born and raised in Enniskerry, Wicklow. They won a Linbury Prize after graduating from MA Performance Design at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School (2021). They have designed for venues including the Abbey Theatre, Bristol Old Vic and Singapore Repertory Theatre. Ping is a multidisciplinary theatre maker who writes, directs, designs and often performs their own work. They combine personal stories, surrealism, humour and socio-political engagement with innovative design. Ping is primarily inspired by their heritage, cross-cultural experiences and examining colonialism. Their most recent piece of theatre making / designing, WINDOW A WORLD, was co-produced by Dublin Theatre Festival and BUDA Belgium through the EU’s Be SpectACTive! project (2022). They are currently developing several new pieces and set designing Like We Were Born To Move by Eimear Hussey, opening at the Abbey Theatre this August.

Choy-Ping about PROPEL:

I feel incredibly honoured and thankful to be selected as the recipient of the 2023 Propel award. This recognition and support not only provides me with valuable resources and infrastructure, but also connects me with a community of new, experienced peers through the Strollers Network. I eagerly anticipate getting to connect with all the partners in the network. I will be able to strengthen the long-term planning of my career and further advance my current practice at this crucial stage of my development. The financial and spatial backing during the three years of this award will support me to complete several new pieces of theatre with old and new collaborators. I'm super excited for what the future will bring!