Paines Plough Gives Preview of 2014 Anniversary Programming

Paines Plough celebrates its 40th year in 2014. Under the artistic leadership of James Grieve and George Perrin, the company today announces a taster of the work to come across its anniversary year - the company's most ambitious programme to date.

Where it began... In 1974 actor Chris Crooks asked playwright David Pownall to write a play for him. John Adams, who had worked with them both on the road with the Century Theatre, would direct it.

Christened over pints of Paines Bitter in The Plough pub in Bolnhurst, Paines Plough was registered as company no. 1165130 on 1st April 1974. The following year, the company opened David's play - Crates On Barrels - at the Lyceum Studio, Edinburgh as part of the Festival Fringe.

128 productions, 300 playwrights, eight Artistic Directorships, and 40 years later, Paines Plough is now The National Theatre of new plays - still doing what it has always done, touring the best new plays to every corner of the UK.

James Grieve and George Perrin said today, "It is a true honour to lead Paines Plough in to its fifth decade of touring new plays.

"Talking to our illustrious alumni in the lead up to our 40th anniversary year, it has become clear that Paines Plough is less a company than a movement; generation after generation of the UK's top directors and playwrights have assembled in our shabby Aldwych offices to conceive some of the most important modern plays before setting off to share them with audiences in every corner of the country.

"That's exactly what we've done since we took over in 2010 - and we hope our 40th anniversary year programme will encapsulate all that is essential about Paines Plough's contribution to British cultural life."

With lots more to be announced, the 40th anniversary year will include new plays from playwrights spanning Olivier Award-winner Mike Bartlett and debutant Sam Burns, touring the length and breadth of the country.

The centrepiece of the year will be the unveiling of Roundabout - the company's portable, in-the-round auditorium. A prototype of the theatre space was co-produced with Sheffield Theatres in 2011 and played at Shoreditch Town Hall in 2012. Armed with the experience of these two runs, and the generous support of the Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation, Paul Hamlyn Foundation, J Paul Getty Jr Charitable Trust, John Ellerman Foundation and Garfield Weston Foundation, the brand new pop-up theatre will form an integral part of future Paines Plough programmes.

"In 2005 Paines Plough made me their writer in residence and I can honestly say it was the single most important event in my career as a writer. Being a playwright moved from being a dream into being a reality as I got to spend time with people I'd only heard about, people whose books I read and plays I'd seen. I was given the chance to write what I wanted in a place that cared about writing." Dennis Kelly, playwright.

The company will be resident at the NT Shed for a series of PP Platforms at the start of the 40th anniversary year. Paines Plough alumni - writers, actors and directors - will share their memories and celebrate the crucial part the company has played in their careers to date.

"For me personally it was a paradigm shift. To discover, encourage and direct the work of some extraordinary writers, to begin to understand audiences, to learn to be part of the landscape of Britain was a privilege and enormous fun. It opened the doors for all my ensuing adventures and for many others too and will always remain thrillingly alive and inspiring in my heart."

Vicky Featherstone, Artistic Director Royal Court Theatre (Artistic Director of Paines Plough 1997 - 2004)

On the 30 January, in conjunction with the Royal Exchange Manchester and ITC, Paines Plough will host a Small Scale Touring Symposium, inviting leading practitioners, journalists and companies across the UK to share in talks examining current and new aspects of touring theatre.

Full details of Programme 2014 will be announced in January.

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