Greenwich Theatre Lifts Curtain on New Studio Space for Emerging Artists

A new studio space opening at Greenwich Theatre as part of a major refurbishment is described as "absolutely the cherry on the cake" by the theatre's artistic and executive director James Haddrell.

A six-panel soundproofed partition wall was installed last week in what was historically the theatre restaurant as part of the £400,000 first phase of the refurbishment of the iconic building at the bottom of Crooms Hill.

"We've had roof repairs, rewiring and new lighting but this is the most exciting moment for me," said James. "This is what people will see, the artistic element, and it's changing the shape of Greenwich Theatre."

The soundproofing means the theatre can now programme two shows at once for the first time, starting this autumn season."It's obviously a major change for us and we are starting with a programme of three Studio Productions to test the space," said James. "Each will use the space very differently and the flexible lighting rig and seating will allow us to put the actors where we want and the audience too.

"We open with a show I am directing, Under My Thumb - a co-production with CultureClash Theatre - which opens onSeptember 21. For that show we will have the audience on two sides, which is something we have never been able to do before at Greenwich.

"It's a brand new play written by a fantastic young writer, Cassiah Joski-Jethi. CultureClash, one of the emerging theatre companies that we support at Greenwich, picked up a string of four- and five-star reviews for their first show, Hannah and Hanna, and have now received support from Arts Council England for Under My Thumb, so this really is an exciting way to open the studio - asserting its position as a space to nurture new theatre companies and test new ideas."

The second studio show on Thursday, October 6, will be a professional reading of Gazing At A Distant Star by Sian Rowland. "Sian's a writer I've been aware of for about a year," said James, "and she's very talented. The play is about three people dealing with the experience of loss in different ways and how their lives gently inter-connect.

"After the reading, Sian, the cast and the audience will have the opportunity to chat about the play and discuss its development, as there are hopes to mount a full production of the show next year."

Internationally award-winning The Flanagan Collective - one of the theatre's closely supported companies - present a double header from October 11-16 when From The Mouths Of The Gods will play in the studio while Snakes And Giants takes over the main stage.

"The studio show is a lovely piece transferring from the Edinburgh Fringe," said James. "One of the parts will be played by a different actor every night and the other part will be played by a member of the audience, selected on the night. From The Mouths Of The Gods revolves around the notion of a kiss and what a kiss can mean.

"So, three different shows launch our studio at the start of a new era for Greenwich Theatre. To me this is the most significant change since I took over the theatre in 2007. As well as giving us a new rehearsal and performance space, it also offers us the chance to move some of our more intimate productions into the studio and release more stage time in the main auditorium for larger shows.

"The studio is absolutely the cherry on the cake. As well as underpinning our strategy of supporting emerging theatre companies, I think it will make a real impact on the national theatre landscape over the next few years."

FOR details of all three shows go to www.greenwichtheatre.org.uk

ENDS

ABOUT GREENWICH THEATRE

Funded by RoyAl Greenwich, Greenwich Theatre is one of London's foremost Off-West End theatres, presenting a year round programme of drama, musicals and family theatre. It is one of the country's leading supporters of young and emerging theatre makers, currently supporting up to 20 young artists and companies in everything from production and tour management to script development and marketing.

Greenwich Theatre is also a significant developer and programmer of theatre for families and children, and lead producer on the annuAl Greenwich Children's Theatre Festival (part of the RoyAl Greenwich Festivals), and producer of one of the country's favourite traditional family pantomimes.

The launch of Greenwich Theatre On Tour has seen the theatre work with emerging companies to co-produce theatre at a range of national and international venues, with performances in London, Brighton, Edinburgh, Dublin, Adelaide, Madrid and New York.

For more information, please visit www.greenwichtheatre.org.uk

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