Ignition, Frantic Assembly

Frantic Assembly are delighted to announce today that following a major fundraising campaign to save Ignition, sufficient funds have been reached to bring the programme back in 2025. Ignition is Frantic Assembly’s free, nationwide talent development programme for young people with little or no previous experience of the arts. Established in 2008 it gives a rare opportunity for young artists aged 16–24 from underrepresented and socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds to discover, develop and showcase their creative potential.

Ignition was paused last year owing to lack of funding and a major fundraising campaign launched to secure the long-term future of the programme.  Following a fantastic, generous response, to date £129,000 has been raised ensuring the programme can continue for 2025.

Frantic Assembly are also delighted to announce that Joe Layton (a former Ignition graduate who is currently appearing in ITV’s Coronation Street) and Hannah Sinclair Robinson will star in the company’s 30th anniversary production Lost Atoms written by Anna Jordan, directed by Scott Graham and opening at Curve Leicester from 22 September before touring nationally.

Lost Atoms tells the story of a relationship: an extraordinary, transformative love. Or is that only in hindsight? Perhaps it was just typical? Or toxic? Or doomed from the start?  One thing’s for sure: It changed their lives.  Two people plunge deep into their shared pasts and propel themselves into multiple imagined futures.  At times hilarious, at times devastating, Lost Atoms explores how memory impacts the way we look at love, and asks what makes a truly ‘successful’ relationship?

Ahead of Lost Atoms this summer, another highlight of Frantic Assembly’s 30th anniversary programme of work will be an exciting new project with Aurora Orchestra. Frantic Assembly will once again team up with the pioneering orchestra for a memorised and dramatised staging of Shostakovich’s gripping 5th Symphony as part of the iconic BBC Proms, performing at Royal Albert Hall  on 16 and 17 August and subsequently broadcast on BBC Four and BBC iPlayer. It will also be performed on 14 August at Saffron Hall, Essex. Ignition graduate Max Revell will play the role of Shostakovich with Ignition graduate Sean Hollands announced as associate co-director, working alongside director Scott Graham.

Joe Layton, Max Revell and Sean Hollands are a few examples of the impact Ignition has had over the last 15 years in finding and nurturing creative talent in the UK.