ARTISTIC ROUND UP NEWSLETTER JULY 2026

The Gulf wind stirred across the Mississippi bringing our production of Summer and Smoke for 10 ‘Glorious Hill’ days and then drifted away like a fading smoke curl.  

I was thrilled to direct this production, which had captivated me from the moment it came to my attention.  A lesser-known Tennessee Williams, but one which was astonishing; a revelation.  I had a strong vision for it and it was special to spend time designing the look, sounds, every note of music, costuming, beautiful lighting and haze effects with such a creative team.  The cast were so talented and brought every moment richly to life.  A brilliant company who loved working together and shone as the bright stars they are. The audience loved it, the critics hailed it a triumph and as one audience member said to me “This is theatre of the highest quality”. 

Another audience member on the opening night stopped me as I left the auditorium and said how much they loved the plays at the Loft as it gave them the chance to see different theatre they didn’t know, without going to London.  So brilliant to hear. 

We were all so sad to leave this production behind, but have lasting memories which will linger with us all for many years to come.  

Next up is the promise of bucket loads of laughter with Craig Shelton in the director’s chair bringing us his vision for One Man, Two Guvnors, Richard Bean’s contemporary version of Goldini’s The Servant of Two Masters, which the Loft staged in 1936. It was the first production performed in the room above the stable in Bedford Street, which was nicknamed ‘The Loft’ – a name which stuck!

This English version comes highly acclaimed, much garlanded, including Olivier and Tony awards and will be a wonderful summer treat. Loft actors were lining up to get into the cast.  It is packed to bursting with sharp one-liners and brilliant physical comedy as it follows the fortunes of Francis Henshall, an unemployed musician in 1960s Brighton.   Francis ends up minding a small-time criminal and also a second guv’nor, who has an equally shady past and present.   The result is a chaotic, exhausting, relentless paced, high theatrical comedy.   This is the perfect opportunity to escape into a fabulously funny theatrical world.  You might even have a handle on the plot by the time you leave the theatre.   Book early; it’s going to be popular!

As soon as the curtain metaphorically falls on this production, an army of contractors are going to descend on the Loft for our next rather different production, which will be the commencement of our major capital project. You will all know from our website and social media announcements that this is the largest capital project the Loft has embarked on since the current building was designed and built after the Loft’s second fire in the 60s.  We are due to re-roof the whole theatre building and replace the heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems.  The total cost is over £500,000.  Jaw-droppingly huge.  If you have enjoyed productions at the Loft and feel able to support this sum, we should be enormously grateful for anything you feel able to donate.  Please just head to the Loft Home page and follow the links.  

The Loft is the only independent theatre in Leamington and is 104 years old.  Since its foundation it has never received any external funding, but lived on its wits and good judgement to continue to bring almost 10 productions a year to its audiences.  

If you browse the archive on the Loft website which, thanks to Phil Reynolds, is one of the most comprehensive archives that I have seen of any theatre, professional or non professional, you cannot fail to be impressed at the body of work.   Adrian Noble, an ex Artistic Director of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, who ran several workshops at the Loft for our actors during his time in Stratford, commented that our repertoire reads like a potted history of a century of drama and as such can be described as a true chronicle of our times.  

Thinking of the current intensive focus on football he went on to comment that if there was a premier league of non-professional theatres, then the Loft would be consistently nudging the very top and would undoubtedly have a Cup Final or two to its credit. 

Please, please support us if you can.  You would be giving us a fighting chance of keeping this theatre thriving into the future.  A great legacy you could be part of.  

In other news, 2027 is shaping up and we have begun to announce the programme, so keep your eyes on our socials and the website for news.  

Theatre at its best is life enhancing for all of us.  Thank you to all our volunteers working within the Loft and thank you to our audience who sponsor the outcomes of that work.  Whatever way you choose to contribute to life at the Loft, you are highly valued and an important part of shaping our history.  We will always strive to work to professional standards.  Always. Great performances of any kind in any organisation do not happen by accident, they happen by detailed design from a creative team who work intensely together, where every piece of the jigsaw is critical.  Every production takes months of work to produce the standard we are seeking. We relish working towards an opening night and subsequent production run with a shared vision that can powerfully impact all who have the chance to see it.  

We hope to see you this month and, more importantly, to hear you laughing helplessly at the hapless goings on in the life of Francis Henshall.  To warm to my summer sporting theme…….it will be ‘ace’.

SUE MOORE : ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
JULY 2026