Greenwich Theatre Sells Out First Show in New Studio Space

Greenwich Theatre boss James Haddrell is feeling like two men following the sell-out success of the first ever show at the theatre's new studio space.

Under My Thumb - an original play presented by CultureClash Theatre - was directed by James, the theatre's artistic and executive director, and played in the new studio as first The Man Who Would Be King and then The Rise And Fall Of Little Voice played upstairs on the main stage.

"This was the realisation of a vision for me," said James after the first night on Wednesday, September 21. "I'd had the notion for a studio in my mind for five or six years so it was incredibly exciting and fulfilling.

"Greenwich Theatre has always been a bustling, driving hub of activity but all located around the single, main auditorium. This is a complete change that's sending the theatre in a very positive direction and is immensely satisfying to me personally.

"It was always a great frustration not to be able to offer new companies rehearsal space to experiment and try out new shows. The studio releases so much of that frustration and sits alongside our negotiations with the local authority for a 25-year lease."

The studio's flexible seating and full technical facilities also open up opportunities for stand-up comedy, music gigs and various charity, community and business groups. "We've never been one of those theatres that's dark during the day," said James, "but now we've got so much more to offer the local community."

Even a previously open plan office on the top floor, is now being used for rehearsals. "We have unofficially transformed it into a rehearsal room, and now we are going to decorate it and equip it with rehearsal facilities," said James.

"All this results from the studio space. It's helping to embed the way we want to work in a vibrant multi-space, multi-company venue, creating an exciting long-term future in the Royal Borough."

Culture Clash's Serin Ibrahim said: "The studio was perfect for our latest show, an original drama about six women imprisoned for crimes against society, but with its flexible seating and great technical facilities it will suit a whole range of shows.

"I can't wait to see what arrives in the studio next, and we look forward to talking to the team at Greenwich about our next show!"

The company worked with Greenwich Theatre on their first ever production last year, Hannah and Hanna, about an unlikely friendship developing between a teenage asylum seeker arriving in Margate in the 1990s and a local girl linked to the National Front.

"We were delighted to launch the new studio space," said Serin. "The theatre plays such an important role in nurturing young companies like ours, but the financial burden of producing a show for a large theatre like Greenwich can be intimidating for companies just starting out.

"We needed a space in London where we can develop ideas, try out new shows in front of smaller audiences, and then hopefully take the best of those shows and transfer them to a larger scale.

"Every week of the year there seems to be a touring show heading around the country that has some kind of support from Greenwich - but the launch of the studio will make the support on offer even more significant."

*A professional reading of Gazing At A Distant Star will be held at the studio on Thursday, October 6. Go to www.greenwichtheatre.org.uk for more details.

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, visit www.greenwichtheatre.org.uk or contact the Box Office at 020 8858 7755.