Brand-new theatre company represent., is today announced with a mission to increase access to the industry for those from lower socio-economic backgrounds. Inspired by the repertory model, represent. will offer six 18–30 year olds an acting apprenticeship where they can develop their craft on the job, earning a London living wage.
represent.’s inaugural season includes the European première of Stephen Jeffreys’ Interruptions adapted and directed by Guy Woolf with movement direction from Complicité’s Kasia Zaremba-Byrne and Annabel Arden, HMP Macbeth written by Darren Raymond after William Shakespeare and directed by Karen Tomlin, and Albatross written by Isley Lynn and directed by Jess Edwards. In connection with Albatross, Abigail Sewell will present Repfest; a festival of post-show work including poetry, live music and new writing from emerging artists with further details to be announced.
Creative Director of Represent Guy Woolf said today, “Represent is a new repertory company dedicated to redressing the socioeconomic imbalance in the industry. For our very first season we are so excited to present a diverse programme of 3 plays in a diverse set of venues , performed back to back, that will greatly challenge our cast of 6, who appear in each play while they rehearse the next one during the day! We are working with an extraordinary creative team, presenting two professional premières by Darren Raymond and Isley Lynn and a European première of a play by Stephen Jeffreys. We are also presenting repfest., programmed by Abigail Sewell, a festival of work by emerging artists to celebrate the launch of our bold initiative. Timely, disruptive and powerful: welcome to represent theatre!”
represent. is also working alongside Mousetrap Theatre projects to provide open rehearsals and workshops for schools, as well as releasing a limited amount of £5 tickets for under 25s for each show.
