New London riverside theatre Shipwright has unveiled a debut spring season which includes a return visit for the sold-out Christmas musical The Pied Piper.
Written by Eleanor Colville and Shipwright’s artistic director Joseph Winters, the musical comedy which received its premiere at the new Thameside venue in Deptford as part of the autumn 2021 season will return for two live performances on 27 March and will be available to stream from April.
Unveiling details of the new season which also features four semi-staged readings featuring stage and screen talent including Omari Douglas, Alex Lawler, Ellie Kendrick, Guy Gunaratne, Shanaya Rafaat, Daniel Raggett and Hugh Wyld, Winters said: “This is an exciting and unusual season: not quite rehearsed-readings, not quite staged productions, these new performances exist somewhere in between, where the boundaries separating creatives, actors and audiences start to come down. For guests that means an experience like no other: come and join these extraordinary artists up close as they explore the stories that matter to them most.
“It is always a joy to welcome audiences into the unique setting that is the Master Shipwright’s House, and it feels particularly fitting for these readings: these are intimate and extraordinary works in an intimate and extraordinary space. At their heart these are all writers dreaming of freedom. By visiting them afresh, we are asking in different ways, and from different perspectives, what does it take to be free today?
“Alongside all this new work, we’re delighted to be bringing back our raucous new musical, The Pied Piper, originally our pantomime but coming back just as funny and just as relevant in March! After sold-out performances last year this is a great opportunity to share it with a wider audience, both in person, and then online from April.”
Winters also unveiled a new initiative to offer audiences the chance to get closer to the work at the Shipwright and to support those creating it. For £60 a year (£35 for 35s and under), participants in the Friends scheme will be the first hear about events and will be offered priority booking access. ‘Friends’ will also receive invitations to special events, food and drink evenings and a limited edition Shipwright tote bag.
The income received from the membership fees will support Shipwright’s Open Doors policy which provides free tickets to local people and will help the venue continue to support early and mid-career artists.
Commenting on the schemes, Winters added: “And as ever, we want Shipwright to be a theatre for the people who live with and around us, so our Open Doors scheme continues to give away free tickets to our neighbours, made possible, in part, by the launch of our new Friends scheme.”
Located in the Master Shipwright’s House in Deptford, Shipwright launched last summer with an eclectic outdoor festival of music, literature, comedy and cabaret. The autumn season 2021 culminated with the premiere of The Pied Piper.
Angela Thomas
SHARE THIS POST:
Comments are closed.