Wikipedia

Theatre503

Theatre503 is a theatre based at 503 Battersea Park Road in Battersea in the London Borough of Wandsworth, above The Latchmere pub. The venue is known for promoting the work of new writers and is one of the most important new writing theatres in the United Kingdom.[1]

Theatre503
The Grace Theatre
The Latchmere Theatre
Theatre503 and Latchmere Pub
Map
Interactive map of Theatre503
Address503 Battersea Park Road
London, SW11
United Kingdom
Coordinates51°28′29″N 0°09′15″W / 51.4746°N 0.1542°W / 51.4746; -0.1542
Capacity64 seats
TypeFringe theatre
Current use
Theatre
ProductionNew writing
Public transitNational Rail London Overground Clapham Junction
Construction
Opened1982; 44 years ago (1982)
Website
theatre503.com

History

edit

The theatre was founded in 1982 as the Latchmere Theatre (the name taken from that of the pub downstairs), an offshoot of the Gate Theatre, Notting Hill Gate. It is a studio theatre. The opening production was an adaptation of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, which proved so successful that the production transferred to the West End.

In 2004, the theatre was renamed as Theatre503. Under that name, the venue saw the premiere of works by writers including Duncan Macmillan, Tom Morton-Smith, Anna Jordan, Alice Birch, Charlene James, Katori Hall, Jon Brittain, and Phoebe Eclair-Powell.[2] It has won the Peter Brook Empty Space Award and two Olivier Awards: in 2010 for its production of Katori Hall's The Mountaintop and in 2017 for Rotterdam by Jon Brittain.[3]

Over 120 debut and emerging writers are staged each year in more than 70 productions, ranging from one-night series of short plays to full-length four-week runs. In a two-year cycle, the theatre reads and receives over 4,000 scripts, including through their biennial International Playwriting Award, the 503Five writers-in-residence scheme, unsolicited submissions, and their Rapid Write Response programme.[4]

Writers' Programme

edit

Theatre503's Writers' Programme supports emerging playwrights at all stages of their careers through a range of courses, masterclasses, intensives and development schemes. It is facilitated by industry leaders including Theatre503 alumni and team members, and offers a mix of in-person and online sessions.[5]

503Five

edit

The 503Five is an 18-month writers-in-residence scheme, supported by Philip Carne MBE and Christine Carne and the Orseis Trust. It offers writers a seed commission of £2,000, masterclass workshops, peer-to-peer support, industry connections, dramaturgical support, and opportunities for research and development and rehearsed readings. The scheme is designed for UK-based writers who have developed their craft to a high standard but are not yet professionally produced.[6]

503Five alumni include Jon Brittain (Rotterdam, Olivier Award winner), Charlene James (George Devine Award winner for Cuttin' It), Vinay Patel (BAFTA-winning writer of Murdered by My Father), Yasmin Joseph (James Tait Black Prize winner, J'Ouvert), Benedict Lombe (Susan Smith Blackburn Prize winner, Lava), Ross Willis (Writers' Guild Award winner, Wolfie), Tyrell Williams (George Devine Award winner, Red Pitch), Asa Haynes, Rex Obano, Brad Birch, Beth Steel, Joel Tan, and Mahad Ali, among others.[7]

Rapid Write Response

edit

Rapid Write Response (RWR) is Theatre503's short play initiative for early-career writers and directors. Writers are invited to create a ten-minute short play in response to the current full-length production on stage. Over a three-week period, plays are written, selected, cast, rehearsed and staged, co-ordinated by the theatre's Deputy Artistic Director. Six to seven plays are selected per RWR event, each paired with a director.[8]

The programme has been a significant launching ground for writers and directors. Anna Jordan's Yen subsequently transferred to the Royal Exchange Manchester, the Royal Court Theatre and Broadway. Vinay Patel participated before writing the BAFTA award-winning Murdered by My Father. John Webber's Spiderfly, which began as a Rapid Write Response, was developed into a full-length play and programmed in Theatre503's 2019 Autumn Season. Yasmin Joseph met director Rebekah Murrell through a Rapid Write Response; the two went on to form production company Bad Breed and stage Joseph's play J'Ouvert at Theatre503 in 2019 and at the Harold Pinter Theatre in the West End in 2021.[9]

History of Rapid Write Response productions

edit

The following table lists Rapid Write Response productions with their contributing writers and directors where records are available.

DateIn response toWriter(s)Director(s)Notes
Mar 2019There is a Field (Martin Askew)Martin Edwards, Brian Eley, Ross Forder, James Gourlay, Leila Nashef, Sarah Teale, Lydia ThomsonDanielle Baker, Tian Brown-Sampson, Olivia Darnley, Mumba Dodwell, Cory Haas, Jack Nurse, Frances Anne Rafferty[10]
Apr 2019Wolfie (Ross Willis)Marcus Bernard, Grace Carroll, Emma Griffiths, Rebecca Jean-Carroll, Audrey Lang, Tim McNiven, Tom Mellors[11]
Jun 2019J'Ouvert (Yasmin Joseph)Yasmine Lever, Hassan Govia, James Reynolds, Martin Edwards, Nicola Latchana, Adanna Oji, Ekene Okobi[12]
Nov 2019Spiderfly (John Webber)Spiderfly itself began as a Rapid Write Response[13]
Dec 2019The Fairytale Revolution (Panto, curated by Jon Brittain)Conor Powell, Kelly Jones, Katie Redford, Vicky Richards, Rosie Bilton, Isabelle Kassam, Momo Hansch[14]
Mar 2020MEAT (Gillian Greer)Natalie Mackinnon (Claws), Dan Sareen (Reunion), Isabelle Kassam (Bones), Geraldine Lang (Roadkill), Anna Clart (The Basics), Gemma Lawrence (Straight Vodka), Callan Rose McCarthy (So I Bled)Laura Clifford, Helena Snider, Will Jackson, Jessica Mensah, Gavin Joseph, Gemma Lawrence, Yusuf NiaziCurator: Darren Sinnott[15]
Apr 2020Paper Cut (Andrew Rosendorf)Held digitally via Zoom due to COVID-19[16]
Oct 2021Foxes (Dexter Flanders)Shanika Warren-Markland (Sparkle Eyes), Rosalind Adler (The Living Garment of God), Frances Eva Lea (Cake), Glenda Cooper (Father's Day), Hannah Shury-Smith (Rock, Paper, Scissors), Victoria Barber (Anticlimax)Curator: Jade Lewis[17]
Nov 2021Out of Sorts (Danusia Samal)Ali Ackland-Snow (Crossing Wires), Lydia Sabatini (Mouthful), Anna Pellegrini (Goldfish), Roli Okorodudu (Blend. Share. Mix), Ruth D'Silva (Caught), Adenike Ojo (Soupcase), Chloe Yates (Change The World)Ajjaz Awad Ibrahim, Henry C Kremples, Janisè Sadik, Garen Abel Unokan, Robyn Hoedemaker, Anne-Christelle Zanzen, Yusuf Niazi[18]
Jan 2023The Boy at the Back of the Class (TBAK)Pooja Sivaraman (Lady Lessons), Ramsey Hassan (Man on Bike Made by God), Olivia Gibbs-Fairley (Shed), Misha Graham Patel (Tammy and Erica), Jack Albert Cook (Expecting Promotion), Joey EllisAriella Stoian, Raimu Iftum, Klara Kaliger, Beth Drury, Rebeka Dio, Rasheka ChristieCurated by Julian Bruton[19]
Mar 2023Stray Dogs[20]
Jul 2023Agatha (Florence Howard)[21]
Mar 2024Bungalow[22]
Dec 2024by their fruits (dkfash)Tom Draper (and), Juliana Lisk (choices), Rachel Oyawale (church girl), Remi Shorunke-Samuel (firewater), Alice Onwordi (swedish meatballs), Iman Boujelouah (their threads)Jordi M. Carter, Dubheasa Lanipekun, Llyrio Boateng, Christine Ubochi, Elena Yianni, Eileen GbagboCurated by Rochelle Wilson[23]

International Playwriting Award

edit

Theatre503's International Playwriting Award is held biennially and is open to unproduced writers worldwide. Winners receive a full production at Theatre503.[24]

Winners

edit
  • 2014: Bea Roberts – And Then Come the Nightjars and Paul Murphy – Valhalla
  • 2016: Andrew Thompson – In Event of Moone Disaster
  • 2018: Danusia Samal – Out of Sorts
  • 2020: Pravin Wilkins – Moreno
  • 2023: Roxy Cook – A Woman Walks into a Bank

Awards

edit

2020

edit
  • Writers Guild Award, Best New Play (Ross Willis for Wolfie)

2019

edit
  • Off West End, Best New Play (Ross Willis for Wolfie)

2018

edit
  • Off West End, Best New Play (Tearrance Arvelle Chisholm for Br'er Cotton)
  • Stage Debut Award, Best Writer (Andrew Thompson)

2017

edit

2016

edit
  • Off West End, Best Producer (DEM Productions at Theatre503)

2014

edit
  • Argus Angel for Artistic Excellence (Margaret Thatcher Queen of Soho)
  • Off West End, Best Set Designer (Signe Beckmann for A Handful of Stars)

2011

edit

Off West End Awards:

  • Most Welcoming Theatre
  • Best New Musical (Porn – The Musical)
  • People's Choice Best Female Performance (Jessie Cave for Breed)
  • Off West End Adopt A Playwright Competition – Sarah Grochala

2010

edit

Winner – Olivier Awards, Best New Play, The Mountaintop by Katori Hall

2009

edit
  • Meyer Whitworth Award, Ali Taylor for Cotton Wool

Productions

edit

Landmark productions at Theatre503 include:

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ↑ "About Us". Theatre503. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
  2. ↑ "About Us". Theatre503. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
  3. ↑ "About Us". Theatre503. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
  4. ↑ "Script and Programming Policy". Theatre503. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
  5. ↑ "Theatre503 Writers' Programme". Theatre503. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
  6. ↑ "503Five". Theatre503. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
  7. ↑ "503Five". Theatre503. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
  8. ↑ "Rapid Write Response". Theatre503. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
  9. ↑ "Rapid Write Response". Theatre503. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
  10. ↑ "Rapid Write Response: There is a Field". Theatre503. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
  11. ↑ "Rapid Write Response: Wolfie". Theatre503. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
  12. ↑ "Rapid Write Response: J'Ouvert". Theatre503. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
  13. ↑ "Rapid Write Response: Spiderfly". Theatre503. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
  14. ↑ "Rapid Write Response: The Fairytale Revolution". Theatre503. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
  15. ↑ "Rapid Write Response: MEAT". Theatre503. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
  16. ↑ "Rapid Write Response: Paper Cut". Theatre503. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
  17. ↑ "Rapid Write Response: Foxes". Theatre503. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
  18. ↑ "Rapid Write Response: Out of Sorts". Theatre503. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
  19. ↑ "Rapid Write Response: The Boy at the Back of the Class – Freesheet" (PDF). Theatre503. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
  20. ↑ "Rapid Write Response: Stray Dogs – Freesheet" (PDF). Theatre503. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
  21. ↑ "Rapid Write Response: Agatha". Theatre503. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
  22. ↑ "Rapid Write Response: Bungalow – Freesheet" (PDF). Theatre503. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
  23. ↑ "Rapid Write Response: by their fruits – Freesheet" (PDF). Theatre503. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
  24. ↑ "International Playwriting Award". Theatre503. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
edit
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Theatre503&oldid=1361545311"