As Rendered Retina Theatre Company Win The Let Award, Les Enfants Terribles Launch The Stepladder Award

Yesterday, Les Enfants Terribles and Greenwich Theatre announced Rendered Retina Theatre Company as the winners of The LET Award and BoonDog Theatre and Lucy Roslyn as the winners of the Greenwich Partnership Award.

All ten nominees took part in a showcase at Greenwich Theatre last night (6 February) and two winners were selected to receive a performance slot at the Pleasance as part of Edinburgh Festival Fringe, a cash injection of £1000 and industry mentoring from Les Enfants Terribles and their partner Greenwich Theatre.

The winner of The LET Award 2017:

FORM by Rendered Retina Theatre Company

Rendered Retina Theatre Company are passionate about creating striking, energetic and visual performances that let loose their audience's imaginations. Formed from an intense curiosity of the human experience, they are constantly looking for inspiration for their next performance, drawing from themselves, their daydreams and everyday life. Their show Form is a three person show set in a typical office environment which uses mime to convey the joy and mundanity of everyday life.

Rendered Retina Theatre Company is made up of Tom Mangan, Alex Mangan and JorDan Choi who met at the University of Winchester. Their work is extremely collaborative and the company are committed to pushing their limits as performers and creators.

The winner of the Greenwich Partnership Award 2017:

GOODY by BoonDog Theatre written by Lucy Roslyn

BoonDog Theatre is a collaborative team including Sean Browne, Lucy Roslyn and Jamie Firth who make intimate and dynamic work. Their play Goody, is one of a series of interweaving plays all set in the same darkly comic BoonDog Circus. Written by Lucy Roslyn and directed by Jamie Firth the piece explores the fractured relationship between a man, Francis, and a chimpanzee, the eponymous Goody.

BoonDog Theatre's previous play was The State Vs John Hayes, the story of a murderer and her alter ego. The production won the Argus Angel Award going on to tour the UK and New York.

Following this, Les Enfants Terribles have today announced a new opportunity for fringe companies called The Stepladder Award in collaboration with house and in association with Wilton's Music Hall. The Stepladder Award is designed to support fringe theatre companies making original work as they look to establish themselves within the UK theatre industry. The emphasis of the award is on supporting a company to mount a professional tour of their winning Edinburgh Festival Fringe show and build their company profile and structure.

Submissions for the award will open on 8 March 2017. The judging panel, made up of Les Enfants Terribles, Wilton's Music Hall and house, will then see shortlisted shows during the first week of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and announce the winner at the end of that week.

The winner will receive a programmed slot for their work at Wilton's Music Hall in Autumn 2017 and will be supported by house in booking an Autumn 2018 tour of their production. The winner will also receive mentoring from Les Enfants Terribles as they prepare funding applications and plan their tour and in addition a programme of industry mentoring.

Oliver Lansley (Artistic Director) and James Seager (Producer) of Les Enfants Terribles said: "We were delighted to announce The LET Award winners, Rendered Retina Theatre Company and BoonDog Theatre and Lucy Roslyn, as two thoroughly deserving companies in an exciting roster of entries. We're raring to work with both shows and can't wait for everyone to see them in action in Edinburgh.

The LET Award was created based upon the support we needed when we started out - a place to perform, a bit of cash and a bit of advice. The Stepladder Award has been created to help companies make that next step up to become full time theatre professionals and start to earn money. This was a crucial step in Les Enfants Terribles' growth as a company and we're thrilled to be partnering with house and Wilton's Music Hall to create this unique opportunity that has long been missing from the UK theatre industry."

James Haddrell (Artistic and Executive Director) of Greenwich Theatre said: "At Greenwich Theatre we have worked with many companies who have won or been shortlisted for The LET Award in the past - it really is an invaluable start in the career of so many young and emerging artists. We are delighted to have partnered with Les Enfants Terribles for a second year to offer the Partnership Award again, and our congratulations go to both winners."

The previous winners of The LET Award over the past six years are SharkLegs Theatre for The Inevitable Heartbreak of Gavin Plimsole (2016), Fine Mess Theatre for Divas (2015), Human Zoo Theatre Company for The Hive (2014), PIT Theatre and New Diorama for Kubrick3 (2013) and Magpie Puppet Company for The Kites Are Flying (2012).

Photo credit: Anthony Hollis

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