The Playground Theatre, which opens on November 1st, has a mission to work with both established and emerging artists in the UK and Internationally. The ethos is one of crossfertilization between different forms and different cultures with the aim of creating work that is bold and imaginative, whilst fully engaging the rich diversity of the community of which it is part.
It’s first production, Picasso, written by Terry D’Alfonso and directed by Michael Hunt, will star Peter Tate as the eponymous Spanish artist. We spoke to Peter and Co-Artistic Director Anthony Biggs to find out more.
The Playground Theatre opens on 1st November with Picasso, tell us about the new theatre?
We are a new 150 seat neighbourhood theatre devoted to creating bold new work through exciting collaborations, with a distinctly international flavour.
Where did the theatre’s ethos come from?
The Playground has always been a place for artists to stretch themselves and we wanted to bring the excitement of the rehearsal room direct to our audiences. We are based in one of the most richly diverse areas of London and for us that’s a great opportunity to engage with people of different cultures and backgrounds.
Why did Picasso seem right for the first production?
It came out of the same ethos that has been in play for a long time at The Playground. It was collaborative, developed over a long period and was a cross fertilisation between two forms – film and live theatre
How does it feel starring in the first production of the theatre you have founded?
One of the reasons for doing it was to honour the creator of the piece Terry D’Alfonso who died last year so helping her realise her vision is one of the main driving forces for doing it.
Tell us about your relationship with the local community?
Grenfell Tower has highlighted the social divisions in our area, but it has also shown how much love and generosity there is. At The Playground we spent two weeks partnering with the wonderful charity Grief Encounter to support those affected by the fire, with workshops, counselling and activities for families. This Christmas we are planning more activities including a Christmas Grotto.
What are your plans for the theatre going forward?
We’ve got some really exciting projects in development including a controversial play about the former head of Westminster Council Dame Shirley Porter. Many claim that it was her policy of gerrymandering that indirectly led us to the underfunding and mismanagement that caused the fire at Grenfell. We haven’t forgotten our roots as a developmental space and we have the wonderful Complicite returning to create a new work with Enda Walsh. And we are collaborating with an immersive company on a new show for the summer. But before all of that we have an amazing Christmas production – a new adaptation of the children’s classic The Little Prince.
Picasso is at The Playground Theatre until November 25th
Views expressed are those of the interviewee.
