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MASH UP 26: Creative sharing and what’s next!
Posted for the MASH UP 26 creative group — a quick round-up of our second session, plus everything you need to know before we meet again.
Thank you for your patience and understanding around the last-minute timing change for Session 2. We have both been appointed assistant directors for the forthcoming production of Macbeth, so we needed to attend the first team meeting. We’re sorry that the change meant some of you could not join us, but we’ll make sure everyone is up to speed and ready for next week.
We kicked off with imagination exercises, shared creative work and offered feedback. We then used a series of timed writing prompts to get the ideas flowing and begin exploring our theme, ‘Firsts’. We’ll share the results in Session 3. If you could not attend, please complete the writing tasks below — and stick to the time limits. Otherwise, it’s cheating!
It was also brilliant to read, watch and discuss your creative work, and to hear everyone’s thoughtful feedback.
Next week, we’ll set aside time for anyone who missed this opportunity. Please email or share your work in advance and bring it with you for feedback and discussion.
Missed Session 2? Don’t worry.
We’ll help you settle in quickly and bring you up to speed with the plans for MASH UP 26.
Need-to-know updates
Here are the key details to note before our next session on Monday 12 October.
1. Monday 12 October, 10.30am–1.30pm — MAHDLO
2. If you missed the last session, bring something creative to share: choose a piece of work you are proud of and would like feedback on.
This could be writing, a poem, a script, a spoken–word piece, a short film, a movement piece or anything else that inspires you and feels ready to share with the wider MASH UP group.
Sharing written work? Please choose something that can be read or shared in around 10–15 minutes, so we can give everyone’s material the attention it deserves.
Upload deadline: Friday 9 October.
Email your piece to the group at mashup@coliseum.org.uk so everyone can access it before Session 3.
3. If you missed the last session, try these writing prompts:
Writing prompt 1 — two minutes
Revisit your earliest childhood memory. Put down everything you can recall, including images, sounds, smells and as much detail as possible.
Writing prompt 2 — three minutes
Write in the third person, as an outside observer or storyteller looking in on your ‘First’. What do you see, hear and notice from this external viewpoint?
4. Bring your ideas for what you’d like to explore within our theme of ‘Firsts’. Please also plan ahead and make arrangements to attend the fortnightly Monday sessions listed below.
Scheduled MASH UP dates
12 and 26 October
9 and 23 November
No December sessions, due to the busy OCT and OTW schedule
4 and 18 January.
Proposed sharing day
Friday 22 January, 10am–4pm — OTW Theatre space
The full-day event will include final technical and dress rehearsals, followed by a sharing for invited friends and family.
See you at Session 3
Thank you again for bringing your creativity, curiosity and collaborative spirit.
We can’t wait to see what you create for MASH UP 26. Let’s go!
Thanks,
Lisa & Segun
MASHUP 2026 Co-Leads | Bloom Artists, Oldham Coliseum Theatre
