The Bridge House Theatre has now announced the artistic team that will accept submissions for consideration as part of their new programming initiative.
"I believe representation is key in knocking down barriers"
Things are clearly moving on apace in Penge. Only three weeks ago we reported the reopening of the Theatre under the artistic direction of Luke Adamson, assisted by Joseph Lindoe. They have now begun ‘actively seeking out socially conscious work, in any format, that offers opportunities to, and representation of, groups that are traditionally underrepresented in the theatre world’. This remit for the team includes, but is not limited to, material representing working class artists, artists from the Global Majority, non-binary or gender-fluid artists and LGBTQ+ artists.
These focuses are reflected in the composition of the literary team that is be tasked with actively seeking out shows and reviewing submissions. Its members are all successful performers & playwrights in their respective areas, but also are part of, or have insights into those four categories of theatre. Commenting on the group Adamson said, “I’m delighted to have such a diverse group of people on our literary team. I believe representation is key in knocking down barriers and hopefully, through this, we can start to inspire and engage the next generation of theatre-makers from all backgrounds.”
Jo Abram is a freelance technical and stage manager, a writer and a playwright. She was previously technical manager at the Hope Theatre where she met Adamson. Emily Carding is a non-binary actor, theatre-maker and author with an MFA in Staging Shakespeare from the University of Exeter. Best known for their work as an associate artist with Brite Theater, Emily is a single parent from a working-class background. Chantelle Dusette is a writer and performer whose play EVE(E)OLUTION made the longlist for last year's Alfred Fagon’s Play of the Year Award. She also runs GROW, a multidisciplinary monthly arts meetup that provides a space for work to be tested and shared in front of a diverse audience, with the aim of progressing an artist’s creative journey. Leon Fleming is a gay, working class playwright based in Leeds. He's a former member of the literary team at Leeds Playhouse and Co-Artistic Director of 5Pound5 Theatre. Michael Lyle has known Adamson and Lindoe since their drama school days. He’s an actor whose career has taken in the National Theatre and the West End and while he’s delighted to have joined the literary team apparently still feels he’s ‘a glorified fan-boy’.
Founder of Actor Awareness, which fights for equality, diversity, and working class talent in the arts, Tom Stocks is an actor, writer, producer and spoken word artist with eight years of professional experience in the arts who. He is the writer of the award-nominated show Netflix and Chill and is the Programme Manager at The International Youth Arts Festival and The Creative Talent Programme Manager for Creative Youth.
EM Williams grew up in the Midlands with their Jamaican father and Irish mother. Their studies and training began in Kent and spanned California. They now go back and forth between Northampton and London, specialising in physical theatre, aerial circus, and ensemble, with international credits. They have been an actor and theatre maker for over ten years, working for The National Theatre, RSC, the AIIA Theatre Tokyo, and in the West End.
In addition to the confidence inspired by such a diverse, experienced and imaginative team, The Bridge House Theatre offers a flexible and supportive financial model and an adaptable sixty-seat space that can be transformed to meet the particular needs of a production. Submissions are welcomed from established theatre-makers and those just starting out on their theatre-making journey and the Theatre has adopted. If you have a show that you would like considered for programming you should send your script (or treatment), ideally as a PDF attachment, preferred dates and length of run (all durations considered),details of the company and any creative team or actors on board and any reviews, images and videos of previous runs, if applicable.
The Bridge House Theatre looks set to have a major impact on the arts in south London, providing quality theatre with wide appeal and opportunities for creatives across the board. We wish them every success in their exciting new venture.
Send submissions to: [email protected]
