Interview: Anna Rutherford, In Between Time

In Between Time is a Bristol-based production company dedicated to creating astonishing art works, from films and sound works to theatre and live art. Ahead of its biannual festival starting next month, executive director Anna Rutherford talks to Bristol24/7.

Most people would expect an international festival to have a huge team behind it. The IBT team is never big enough! But perhaps that’s because our ideas and ambition always push us into new territory. There are seven of us on the core team, but we also pull in associate producers and production crew in the run-up to a major event. We’re lucky to have an incredibly talented bunch of individuals on board, something which allows us to punch above our weight on a world stage.

Helen Cole, our Artistic Director, started the festival in 2001 within Arnolfini – before an award from the Paul Hamlyn Foundation in 2009 propelled her to set up In Between Time as an independent organisation. The current team came on board from 2012, and made a huge difference to IBT’s capacity to realise its dreams.

I left the world of biotechnology for a life in culture, founding the Pride Festival in Bristol, then joining Helen at IBT. We connected through a huge passion for culture and, critically for telling stories, and for creating work that connects with people. We’re different characters, but on a personal level we are both brave, creative and determined – put us in a room together with plenty of caffeine and fantastic projects like Night Songs (see Music section) and The Storm (see below) emerge.

Planning for IBT15 began early. Our festivals are biennial, so the thinking started in 2012 and the real work began after the last festival in spring 2013. We’re quite unique, in that we don’t just present work, but we create and produce lots of it ourselves. Large partnerships like Night Songs with the National Trust take two years to get from the drawing board to reality. It’s not just producing the artistic ideas, but securing the investment and infrastructure to deliver them, that requires time.

I am looking forward to seeing Fog Bridge (pictured) in the harbour, and to watching people’s reactions as they come across it. And The Storm, at The Island, has been one of our biggest challenges. We’ve commissioned digital artists Playmodes from Barcelona to create a storm of sound and light every hour at the heart of the party. Brilliant DJs create different clubbing experiences and throughout the old fire and police station you will find superb artists, scores of performers and hundreds of partygoers! I’m also fascinated to see Nightwalks with Teenagers – and to find out what Canadian theatre company Mammalian Diving Reflex will create with the bright, buzzing teens of Knowle West.

IBT don’t just produce festivals. We create, produce and tour as well. Our internationalism is important to us, and that comes from a history of working with producers and venues around the world. We create artworks like Helen Cole’s installation We See Fireworks, and we tour them to all kinds of museums, theatres and galleries, everywhere from Edinburgh to Sydney.

The festival is a launchpad for some shows. But that’s only half of the job for us. In 2012 we selected Jo Bannon and Action Hero, both incredibly talented local artists, for commissions. We’ll work with them right up to the show premiere at IBT15, and then look at using our national and international relationships to tour them.

Partnerships are also important to IBT. To create work with real impact, partnerships are crucial. This year we have more than ever before, but some highlights include: working closely with The National Trust’s Trust New Art on Night Songs, a song commission and immersive concert which premieres at Tyntesfield. Elsewhere, Bristol 2015 – European Green Capital, the Cabot Institute (University of Bristol) and Watershed have all worked with us on Fog Bridge. Knowle West Media Centre bring their brilliance to Nightwalks with Teenagers – and of course Arnolfini is our major partner. 

IBT15 takes place between February 12 to 15 at various venues. For more information and to book tickets, visit ibt15.co.uk