CATCH UP ON ALL THE LATEST ARTISTIC UPDATES IN THE LOFT’S SPRING NEWSLETTER
So Doubt: A Parable is over and as doubt departs we are now left with certainty; certainty that we presented a production of the highest standard. We have this certainty from the accolades which came our way from everyone who saw it. It was one of those occasions where everything came together – the script, the actors, the lighting, staging, music, soundscape, in the hands of the most talented director Chris Gilbey-Smith, who completely understood the text and what it required. The audience felt part of it too in a way that sometimes sublimely happens. They found it a compelling story and there was long debate about a guilty or not guilty verdict.
If ever there was an endorsement of starting with the best possible writing you can, this was it. For me as Artistic Director it endorses the fact that this is our strategy for the theatre we wish to make. We start with the very best writing and the very best directors we can and we trust in the actors being attracted by that and the creative team being excited by the prospect of using their talent fully. We find that in recent years the creative team work together to share their ideas, and start to shape things well before the rehearsals kick off. It benefits us.
Next up is Frozen by Bryony Lavery, considered by the Independent to be one of the best plays every written. It has an intriguing structure, with monologues affording us the chance to hear the characters’ stories before they begin to interact with each other. It has the clearest story telling. The play stems from the disappearance of a young girl on her way to see her grandmother. It looks at the impact of her untimely death from three perspectives across 20 years – the mother, the killer and the doctor who is studying what causes men to commit such crimes. It premiered at the Birmingham Rep and was scooped up by the National shortly afterwards. Its last London production was in 2018 at the Royal Haymarket with Suranne Jones, Nina Sosanya and Jason Watkins in the 3 roles. Productions have appeared on Broadway too and it has been awarded Tonys for the play and for best actor. It is about the human condition and how we cope, process, forgive and thrive.
Dave Crossfield was attracted to this play after his first read and has now become enthralled with it. When a director is captivated in this way it sets up a production for deep understanding. I went into a rehearsal last week to see how things were going and found the whole evening utterly compelling. In rehearsal there was no performance lighting or sound or costume, just a great script in the hands of three great actors. Please do take the chance to see this play. As the Observer critic remarked at the most recent production “A fine play – so concentrated and unflinching that at times it takes your breath away”.
It is a brave choice of theatre. We have a long tradition at the Loft of staging what has been termed ‘brave’ productions. If you browsed our archives you would see headlines over the last 50 years saying ‘Brave Loft’ ‘Courageous Loft’. Please support us and add to your repertoire of plays one you would not normally have the chance to see. All details on the Loft website.
Later in April we are staging a production in our Studio Theatre. This is our rehearsal space, which mirrors the stage in size, and allows us to configure the room in any way we wish to welcome 50 audience. Our last production there was The Just Price of Flowers which Mark Crossley directed and which reopened the Studio for the first time since covid. We are now inviting you to see Pontypool by Tony Burgess and Hannah Brown will be making her directorial debut in this space. A book, a movie and a play, this play commences in the small Canadian town of Pontypool, Ontario where a local radio’s morning broadcast takes the most sinister, unstoppable and horrific turn. The studio is an intimate space and so staging this play accelerates the impact on the audience. We are delighted to tell you that we have the luxury of Canadian actors amongst the cast!
Our May production, to be directed by Lynda Lewis, is Love, Love, Love by Mike Barlett is already in rehearsal. Mike Bartlett is another super talented and prolific writer for stage and screen and will be thrown into the spotlight again as his acclaimed tv drama series of Doctor Foster is about to make an imminent return.
Summer and Smoke by Tennessee Williams will start rehearsals mid April. Having seen such stunning recent productions of both Summer and Smoke and Streetcar Named Desire by the audaciously talented director Rebecca Frecknall, it has inspired me to want to stage this beautifully poetic play to appeal to a contemporary audience.
Casting is complete for our July production of One Man, Two Guvnors by Richard Bean to be directed by Craig Shelton. Moving into the autumn programme and following our September production of Beginning last year, which was so enthusiastically received by critics and audience alike, we are delighted to announce that Viki Betts will return to direct Middle – the second in David Eldridges’ trilogy.
2026 is going to be quite a year and the most enormous capital project is almost upon us. We are having to reroof our theatre and replace all the heating and air conditioning systems. The quotations are eye-watering and we shall be launching an appeal for help to support the financial burden we are to face. I hope that as the most loyal supporters of our work you will join us in keeping the only independent live theatre company in Leamington going as it completes 104 years of making great theatre in this town. If you feel able to help us in any way, please look out for the appeal on our website and social media very soon. We in turn will keep you appropriately dry, warm or cool and above all entertained across the theatre year.
Only Shakespeare could perfectly capture the importance of theatre – both as an art form and a reflection of our lives –
“for anything so overdone is from the purpose of playing, whose end, both at the first and now, was and is, to hold as ‘twere a mirror up to nature”
Hamlet, Act 3 Scene 2.
SUE MOORE: ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
MARCH 2026
