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ARTISTIC DIRECTOR ROUND UP MAY 2025
SPRING AWAKENING

If anyone was still slumbering after winter moved into spring, we certainly stirred everyone with our own Spring Awakening.

My thanks go to the director Chris Gilbey-Smith and the entire Spring Awakening company for delivering a triumphant production. With his clear vision for this play manifesting itself on stage, with a stellar cast and creative team, we were justly proud of the accolades which flooded into the theatre, in reviews from critics and audience alike and the standing ovations in the auditorium. “A palpable hit” as our most famous playwright would say.   As one audience member said “The West End on our doorstep. Run there, don’t walk”.

 

THE JUST PRICE OF FLOWERS

Hot on the heels of the show closing we reopened the Studio Theatre, which seats 50 people.  This was the first time we had staged a production in this space, which doubles as our rehearsal room, since the pandemic.   It is an immense commitment to stage a production in the main house each month and to add a programme in the Studio too.   The Studio, wall to wall, mirrors the main house stage in size, but with the audience and tech team in place, furniture and props, it becomes a fabulously intimate space for performance.   We were so fortunate to have the approval of Stan’s Cafe to perform The Just Price of Flowers and for their Artistic Director, James Yarker who wrote the play to attend both rehearsal and a performance.   Mark Crossley directed and performed in this piece. His relationship with Stan’s Cafe had enabled this to happen as he and James jointly authored a book about the founding and flourishing of this inventive and creative theatre company.   Pre-show publicity about this sold out the seats super fast. The reviews were terrific and the audience were enthused. Hurrah!   Let’s hope we can continue this relationship with Stan’s Cafe in the future in whatever creative ways our minds can realise.   The Studio is back!

THINGS I KNOW TO BE TRUE

Next up in the main house is Things I Know To Be True by Andrew Bovell under the direction of Lynda Lewis who is making her debut at the Loft as a director.   She has performed at the Loft before and assisted in direction in 2023, is a playwright and has directed at other theatres, so she comes super qualified and we are delighted to give her the warmest of welcomes to the director team.

Things I Know to Be True is a special play, a play which connects deeply with anyone lucky enough to see it. You feel a part of it, it resonates with everyone because it is about families and we are all part of one ourselves. As powerfully moving as it is funny it tells the story of a family and a marriage through the eyes of four adult siblings struggling to pursue their sense of purpose and their futures. Elegantly constructed as   the seasons come and go, each of the offspring are at a turning point in their lives, destabilising the status quo.   Originally created in conjunction with Frantic Assembly, movement will similarly feature in our own production, masterminded by our Movement Director Dan Walsh, whose work you will have witnessed over the last year, particularly in a similar style in Lovesong last summer.   Physical movement is delicately woven within the heart of this rich, warm, bold and tender story. Don’t miss it.

THE YEAR AHEAD

In other news…………casting for the autumn programme is now underway and four productions between the summer and the end of the year will be cast in the coming weeks – three in the main house and a premiere in the Studio.   Details are getting progressively posted on the website.   Take a look and see what tempts you.

THE LAUNCH OF THE LOFT THEATRE YOUTH ENSEMBLE

We are also thrilled to announce that last month we launched our own Loft Youth Theatre for the first time in our history.   For over 50 years we have hosted external youth theatre practitioners and showcased the work of their students in the main house.   Now we have brought the youth theatre in house and Laura Hayward-Smith (who is currently in the Studio production cast) and Dan Walsh our Movement Director have founded this youth ensemble.   Both Masters graduates they have an intimate knowledge of theatre practice and the content of the workshops will be about every dimension of bringing theatre alive.   Many youth theatres concentrate on musical theatre, but this youth theatre’s portfolio will be broader and educate on many levels in a fun and collaborative environment.

Free taster sessions are available in May and June and a Summer School is planned in August, with the first term commencing in line with the academic year in September.   If you have children who love drama and have boundless energy or who could benefit from developing their social confidence and creativity, then please check out the Youth Theatre Ensemble page on our website.   https://lofttheatrecompany.com/get-involved/youth-theatre-ensemble/

In educating the young they are not vessels to be filled, but fires to be lit and we hope to help your child to find their spark.

THE THINGS WE KNOW TO BE TRUE AT THE LOFT

As our theatre garden begins to blossom and the weather warms, we hope to see you populating the river terrace with cool glasses of prosecco.   (I’m creating my own theatre spectacle here!).   Enormous thanks to you all for the wonderful support you have for all our work.   Our team of dedicated volunteers are ready to give you the warmest of welcomes inside to match we hope the rising temperatures outside.   To borrow from our next play, the things we know to be true are that…….

It matters to us to present theatre of the highest quality to you. Every ticket we sell matters to us. The stories we tell in theatre matter. They enrich people’s lives and get them to think about their own lives and the lives of others.   Great writing strengthens and challenges the mind of its audience.   We aim to stage great writing to educate, stimulate and excite an audience, but also work that excites a director, which tempts and stimulates actors and creativity in technicians and everyone volunteering back stage and front of house.   One of the front of house team told me that she goes home so happy when the audience enthuse with her when they exit the theatre.   That is the outcome we are striving for.   We won’t settle for anything less.   These are things we know to be true.

 

SUE MOORE : ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
MAY 2025