The Albany to Sell 10 Tickets at £1 for Every Show Next Season, Dec 6 at Deptford Market

The Albany, South East London's leading arts centre, has just announced that it will release ten tickets at the cost of just £1 for every show next season - to be sold to the public via a stall in Deptford Market on Friday 6 December from 9am. Tickets will be available on a first come, first served basis from a dedicated (bright pink!) market stall nestled amongst the fishmongers and fruit and veg stands on Deptford High Street.

Gavin Barlow, CEO of the Albany, said: "Deptford Market is literally on our doorstep, and so it made sense to us to offer these tickets to local people through the market stall. It's a playful way of engaging with new audiences in our local community, who form the cornerstone of everything we do. Every season the Albany offers a large and diverse programme of theatre, music, spoken word, festival, circus and cabaret, so we hope that the cost of the tickets will encourage people to take a risk on something they normally wouldn't experience."

Highlights of the season will include How To Be Immortal (Tue 28 - Wed 29 Jan, 7.45pm), a bold, humorous new play based on the true story of Henrietta Lacks, whose DNA was used in the first human immortal cell line; Jonzi D's Lyrikal Fearta: The Letter and the Broken Lineage (Fri 7 & Sat 8 Feb, 7.30pm), about the dance innovator's decision to reject his MBE; and The Chair (Tue 29 Apr - Fri 2 May, 7.30pm), a reinterpretation of Eugene Ionesco's classic adapted by Martin Crimp and performed by Extant, the pioneering visually impaired performance company.

There will be music from Mercury Award nominee Eliza Carthy (Sun 15 Feb, 7.30pm), bold new circus mash ups in BITES: Remix (Fri 25 Apr, 7.30pm), and some of the UK's finest spoken word from Chill Pill (Thu 20 Feb & Thu 24 Apr, 7.30pm). Work for young people includes Polarbear's Mouth Open Story Jump Out (Sat 15 Mar, 1 & 3pm) for 8-11 year olds; the heart-stopping, immersive production Macbeth - Blood Will Have Blood (Tue 4 & Sat 8 Mar, 7.30pm & 1pm respectively) for 9-13 year olds; as well as a series of Families shows on Sundays for the Under 8s.

£1 tickets will not only be made available to market goers. From 2pm on Friday 6 December tickets will be available to book online and through the box office, and further releases of £1 tickets will be announced in the run up to Christmas and in the New Year, as further shows go on sale. With an average ticket price of just £6**, and no booking fees, the Albany offers affordable arts for all - even those that don't nab a £1 ticket.

The scheme came about as a direct response to conversations with visitors to Deptford Market.

"Over the last few months, we have been taking our (bright pink) Albany market stall out into the market, talking to local people about their lives, and their relationship with the venue, as well as telling them more about what we do. It was clear that people were keen to give new shows a try but were nervous about taking a risk, The £1 ticket scheme is a way to make it easier for them to do so," Gavin Barlow said.

Full details of the £1 Ticket Scheme can be found at www.thealbany.org.uk or visit our blog to learn more about the thinking behind the enterprise. Sign up to the Albany mailing list and on Facebook/Twitter to receive announcements of new ticket releases. *Please note, £1 tickets are subject to availability. **£1 average ticket price calculated based on all ticket sales in 2013 to date.

The Albany is an arts centre based in the heart of Deptford with a history embedded in the local community, and driven by the cultural diversity and creative mix of South East London. The venue has a 500 capacity 'big top inspired' main house, which has been described as 'a mini Roundhouse', as well as two smaller studio spaces, 26 resident companies housed in offices throughout the building, a café, a large garden and five friendly chickens.

The Albany has a diverse programme of events including theatre, music, comedy, spoken word, circus and work for families. From Kate Tempest's Brand New Ancients and Soweto Kinch's The Legend of Mike Smith to Simon Mole's Indiana Jones and the Extra Chair and Talawa's God's Property, the Albany commissions and develops new projects before they embark on London runs and/or successful tours - often returning to re-meet Albany audiences as polished pieces. In many ways a 'spiritual home' for works that challenge new forms, audience dynamic and social relevance, the Albany continues to work with high-profile partners and artists to celebrate original ideas and risk-taking.

The Albany has a range of engagement and participation enterprises, such as its UNCOVER Young Company and Meet Me at the Albany, an artist led day club for the over 60s taking place every Tuesday in the Albany café, with activities and performances for older people. thealbany.org.uk | @TheAlbanySE8