The King’s Head Theatre announces Playmill; a curated three-week festival of new work from emerging companies, committed to paying actors. 35 brand new shows from the UK’s most exciting emerging companies are set to hit the stage at the King’s Head Theatre this July. Playmill is a three-week, curated season featuring drama, comedy, storytelling and musical theatre.
Featuring world premieres alongside transfers from the UK’s biggest arts festivals, Playmill will build upon the success of last year’s festival of new work which featured 20 companies and was attended by over 2,000 people across 13 days.
Highlights from this year’s festival include Life by the Throat by Eve Steele, a witty, touching and remarkable one-woman show depicting the life of Jamie Joseph Patrick Keogh, inspired by interviews with men who have been through the criminal justice system. Plus recent graduates from the King’s Head Theatre’s Trainee Resident Director’s scheme; Siobhan James-Elliott directs Mermaids, a dark comedy about Lia, a working class trans woman; and Catherine Expósito writes and directs Immaculate Correction, a brand new piece exploring sex education in working class Catholic Scotland.
Artistic Director of the King’s Head Theatre, Adam Spreadbury-Maher, says: “Playmill is a vital part of our programme, which reflects and embodies our commitment to championing new writing. We believe passionately in the importance of providing a platform for artists to cut their teeth and perform within a professional context. I can’t wait for audiences to see the unapologetic collision of genres in our biggest and best festival yet.”
