Pulse Festival Ipswich has announced its £1000 prize winners for the second Suitcase Prize Day, which took place on Friday 30 May. The winners were ANTLER with their extract from a work-in-progress development of their show COPY.

A Pulse initiative, launched at last year’s Festival, the Suitcase Prize is aimed at encouraging theatre makers to think in an environmentally and economically sustainable way. 10 work-in-progress performances were presented that must be brand new and able to travel on public transport in luggage carried by those taking part. At the end of the day a panel of industry professionals awarded £1000 to one of these bold and adventurous ideas.

The Suitcase Prize judges this year were producer David Micklem, Julie’s Bicycle’s Yasmine Ostendorf, and New Wolsey Young Associate Gemma Raw.

David Micklem says of the day: “It was a great pleasure to judge the 2014 Suitcase Prize - a brilliant initiative to get great new work out on the road using public transport and extraordinary talent. The judges saw exciting potential in each of the 10 pieces presented and singled out Jack Bennett, Sh!t Theatre and Tessa Waters for special commendation. But our unanimous decision was to award Antler for Copy which showed huge potential as a playful, inventive and moving tale for audiences across the UK. We wish it well and await the finished piece with great enthusiasm.”

ANTLER, who were the third company to perform during the day, presented their new show COPY – billed as a show about invisibility, impersonation, vicariousness and narcissism.

Jasmine Woodcock-Stewart of ANTLER says: “We are absolutely delighted to have won the Suitcase Prize. We are in the early stages of developing our new show COPY (working title) and as well as the money being extremely helpful, it’s very encouraging for us to know that the judges and the audience were impressed and want to see more. Thanks to everyone at Pulse for a brilliant day!”

Those reviewing the Suitcase Prize Day as a whole have said of ANTLER’s entry:

“Beautifully written and performed you can’t help but look forward to the full length finished production.” – Glen Pearce, The Public Reviews

“A quirky show with little spirals of Kafkaesque comedy and despair… packed with juicy characters and whacky visuals” – Miriam Gillinson, Exeunt Magazine.

The rest of the Pulse Festival for 2014 continues until Saturday 7 June.