The Bread & Roses Theatre is thrilled to announce Velenzia Spearpoint as their new Artistic Director. As of April 2018 she will take over from Tessa Hart, who is moving on to work for the Astrid-Lindgren-Bühne in Berlin whilst also staying involved as a Co-Executive Director of The Bread & Roses Theatre. Velenzia will be working alongside current Managing Director Rebecca Pryle.

Formerly already the Associate Producer of the The Bread & Roses Theatre since 2016, Velenzia will be programming the theatre’s main seasons from December 2018 on. A director, producer and actor, she has over ten years experience both on and off stage and is also a co-founder of all-female theatre company Get Over It Productions. Notable work includes ‘The Balcony’ (The Bread & Roses Theatre), ‘Britain’s Got Fashion’ (The Cockpit), ‘Us’ (SLAM Kings Cross), ‘dirty butterfly’ (The Bread & Roses Theatre) and Macbeth (The Roundhouse).

Furthermore, the theatre has also appointed two new part-time staff members: Artistic Associate Roman Berry is being promoted to Marketing & Production Manager whilst Ella Gamble is joining the theatre as their new Associate Producer. Sassy Clyde is also joining the team as a theatre Artistic Associate.

The Bread & Roses Theatre is a 40- to 60-seat innovative fringe venue developed since 2012 and officially launched in November 2014 by Rebecca Pryle and Tessa Hart, located above The Bread & Roses Pub in Clapham. Artistic quality, equality and diversity are at the forefront of the theatre's programming, which features visiting companies as well as in-house productions, with a focus on new writing, underrepresented voices and distinctive work. Having seen over 35,000 audience members through its doors to date, the theatre has worked with award-winning ensembles with decades of experience but also frequently welcomes emerging companies taking their first steps and supports theatre-makers by providing box office split deals with no hidden fees. In every full year of its existence the theatre has been a recipient of the ICWP 50/50 Applause Award for Theatre Gender Parity and the press has described it as 'one of the most exciting ones amongst the London pub theatres’ (RemoteGoat), 'an extremely ethical organisation' (London Pub Theatres Magazine), and 'a new wave of venues (....) – all on the sort of sweetheart deals of old.’ (The Guardian).

London Live television recently featured actor Natali Servat and director Roman Berry speaking about our latest in-house production ‘Little Did I Know’ by Doc Andersen-Bloomfield! The powerful one-woman-show is told from Yarl’s Wood Detention and Removal Centre (for Women Asylum Seekers) in England. Aaneseh recounts her horrendous and sometimes amusing journey as a teen refugee, pretending to be a boy, and all those she meets along her journey from Syria to England. The play came top 3 in The Bread & Roses Playwriting Award 2016/2017 and runs from 6th to 10th February 2018. Book Now!

With only a week of performances to go, make sure you don't miss the winner of The Bread & Roses Playwriting Award, The Black Eye Club by Phil Charles, which is also getting great reviews!

"Funny, moving, powerful new play" ★★★★★ - Remotegoat
 
"Full of mellow humour and tasty conflict of character"
★★★★ & Top Pick of the Month - LPT Magazine

“thought provoking, enraging, sad, happy and funny all at the same time” - The View from the Circle​

"I had tears in my eyes, and I’m not sure if they were from the emotion or the laughter. It’s high quality work from a theatre worth supporting." - Theatre Box

"unravels in an entertainingly earthy and realistic way (...) a fun evening on a dark subject" - Traffic Light Theatre

“Touchingly portrayed (...) Charles' script combines alarming brutality and endearing bravery” - Gizzle

"a cracking set of characters and a clear message" - The Play's the Thing

The Bread & Roses Theatre is turning three years old this November and we are throwing a quick look back on what we have been up to, as well as plans for the future:

• In-house, co- and associate productions: We have staged three full scale 5-star-reviewed in-house productions to date. And our fourth one is our current anniversary production and the winner of our playwriting award 2017, The Black Eye Club (1-18 Nov, www.blackeyeclub.co.uk). Furthermore, we have staged scratch nights and showcase productions and since this year also associate and co-produce with visiting companies.
• Publishing:  Something brand new is, we have set ourselves up as an independent publisher and in 2018 we will begin publishing selected plays that premiere at the theatre!
• Festivals: We have launched the in-house Clapham Fringe Festival which has been growing successfully for three years and have also hosted further festivals, such as the groundbreaking UNHEARD and One Billion Rising Festivals. We are also expanding our outreach to festivals and in 2018 will be welcoming the Breaking Loose Festival, the Talos Sci-Fi Theatre Festival and the Pub Theatre Festival.
• New tech equipment & layout: Having started out with 8 lights on two stands three years ago, much has changed since. We now have permanent scaffolding lighting rig, double the amount of lights as well as a full lighting desk and a new stage entrance. As we constantly work on further improving the space we have more exciting upgrades planned, first up getting some new speakers fitted as well as installing a projector and screen, so we will also be able to host film screenings in the future. (Plus the pub downstairs also had an amazing refurb.)
• Awards: We have been named a recipient of the ICWP 50/50 Applause Award three years in a row and are the only London venue to have been so, as well as receiving it every year we’ve actually existed. We have awarded Emerging Companies and Playwrights through our own award and support schemes with free space, money, productions, development and more.
• Networking & development: We are running a free monthly playwrights circle, a free quarterly networking event and a biannual scratch night to offer networking and development opportunities to theatre-makers. We also consistently support visiting theatre companies by offering straight-forward box office splits.
• Emerging theatre-maker schemes: We have launched an Emerging Director Scheme supporting one emerging theatre director every year and are looking into expanding our support for individual artists in the future as well.

 
Over 300 productions have been performed at the venue.
​Over 1,000 performances have taken place at the theatre.
Over 35,000 audience members have passed through our doors and left us with an average audience rating of 4.9 stars!
 
Thanks to everyone who has supported the theatre on its journey so far and on to the future!
 
Join us for official celebrations at The Black Eye Club on Friday 3rd November (followed by reception and drinks for audience & team)!

P.S. Below is the documentary Godiva Films made for the 2nd anniversary of our theatre!

​ The Bread & Roses Theatre announces The Black Eye Club by Phil Charles as the winner of their first Playwriting Award. The winning play will receive its premiere production at the South London based theatre this November, directed by Artistic Director Tessa Hart.
 
Grown out of their Playwriting Competition first run in 2015, the award was open for submissions last summer/autumn and called for full length plays with at least 50% material that are female, non-binary or gender neutral roles, from UK based playwrights. Over 450 submissions were judged anonymously throughout three readings rounds.
 
Runner-ups of the award are Little Did I Know by Doc Andersen-Bloomfield which will receive a showcase production in February 2018, directed by the theatre’s artistic associate Roman Berry, and The Buzz by Lydia Rynne which will be further workshopped this December, with the aim of a production in May 2018.
 
Further details on the productions will be announced in due course. The Bread & Roses Theatre would also like to thank their numerous readers for their dedication and feedback, as well as Lazy Bee Scripts for their support of the award. Submissions for the next Bread & Roses Playwriting Award will open in 2018. Details on the upcoming productions and the award can be found at www.breadandrosestheatre.co.uk .
 
‘We were impressed with the submissions received for our first playwriting award and are taking more plays forward into production and development than originally planned as a result. We are gearing up for our third anniversary this November and are looking forward to continue expanding our work on new plays and in-house productions.’ – Tessa Hart (Artistic Director)
 
The Black Eye Club by Phil Charles, directed by Tessa Hart
Tue to Sat at. 7.30pm, 1st to 18th November 2017
When a gay man fleeing an abusive partner is turned away from a women-only refuge, one of the residents sneaks him into her room. But will they be able to keep him hidden from the eagle-eyed security guard? And will they be able to instill enough confidence in each other to be given the strength to leave their violent partners for good? A black comedy. www.breadandrosestheatre.co.uk/black-eye-club
 
Little Did I Know by Doc Andersen-Bloomfield, directed by Roman Berry
Tue 6th to Sat 10th February 2018 at 7.30pm
Told from Yarl’s Wood Detention and Removal Centre (for Women Asylum Seekers) in England, Aaneseh recounts her horrendous and sometimes amusing journey as a teen refugee, pretending to be a boy, and all those she meets along her journey from Syria to England. Her wise old grandmother’s Syrian folktales and insights have set Aaneseh on this challenging road to possible freedom, independence from male ownership, eventual safety- although the road she travels is anything but safe - and, ultimately, to a proud womanhood. Performed by a solo actress.
 
The Buzz by Lydia Rynne
Rehearsed reading Saturday 16th December 2017, production in May 2018
Kyla was once a TV personality. Now she is the dress hanging on the arm of her celebrity popstar boyfriend. But when her anti-establishment, squatter brother pays her a surprise visit on the night of the biggest music award ceremony of the year, she is forced to question the life, and lie, she's been living. The Buzz is about the seduction of fame, overnight celebrity culture and the injustices we disregard in favour of one's own success.

Our latest in-house production, a revival of 'dirty butterfly' by Olivier-Award-winning playwright and BAFTA-Award-winning screenwriter debbie tucker green, has been getting rave reviews in its opening week. There are 10 performances left to catch it, so make sure to book your tickets asap.
​Tue-Sat until 13th May!
 
Listening through their thin walls, Amelia and Jason are drawn into the dark and compelling world of their mutual neighbour, Jo. Something very nasty is going on next door. Jason and Amelia know it, but do nothing...
 
"a memorable and stunning theatre event" ★★★★★ - Remotegoat
"terrific performances" and "sharp direction" ★★★★½ - Arthur's Seat
"The intimate Bread and Roses Theatre is perfect for such challenging in-yer-face theatre" - The Stage
"a moving and unnerving piece" ★★★★ - ActDrop
 Top Pick of the Month: "political and deeply human" ★★★★ - London Pub Theatres Magazine
"a strong production" - British Theatre Guide
"doesn’t let the tension dissipate for a moment" ★★★★ - Breaking The Fourth Wall
"I did enjoy Dirty Butterfly and will definitely think again" ★★★★ - LondonTheatre1
"fantastic production that is wonderfully entertaining and thought provoking" - Fairy Powered Productions

BOOK NOW!

Following 5 star reviewed productions of 'Miss Julie' in 2015 and 'Low Level Panic' in 2016, this year The Bread & Roses Theatre is putting on a revival of the debut play of Olivier-Award-winning playwright and BAFTA-Award-winning screenwriter debbie tucker green, dirty butterfly.

We are largely funding the projects ourselves but need to raise some additional funds. We are therefore holding a fundraiser and running a crowdfunding campaign!

Fundraiser
An exciting one-night-only fundraising event. We will have a quiz, raffle, auction and plenty of entertainment with exciting prizes to win! Arrive from 7pm - kicking off at 7:30pm.
Location: The Garden Room @ The Bread & Roses Pub, 68 Clapham Manor Street, Clapham SW4 6DZ

Crowdfunding Campaign
Give a little or a lot and/or just help us by spreading the word and sharing the link!

Thank you!

To mark our second year anniversary Godiva Films have released a short documentary about The Bread & Roses Theatre's journey and work so far. The documentary was first shown at our official celebration, following a sold-out anniversary edition of new writing night The Platform on 1st November 2016. You can watch it below and feel free to like and share it as well! 

Today marks the 2nd year anniversary of the launch of The Bread & Roses Theatre and you are invited to come celebrate it with us!

1st to 3rd November at 7pm we present a special anniversary edition of our in-house new writing night, The Platform. Come and enjoy a fabulous night of new short plays whilst celebrating the successful  first two years of The Bread & Roses Theatre.

On 1st November at 8.30pm there will be an official ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION downstairs in The Conservatory after the show as well, featuring the premier of a new mini-documentary about the theatre.

Highlights of the theatre's journey so far include receiving a 2015 & 2016 ICWP 50/50 Applause Award, launching the Clapham Fringe Festival as well as launching the Playwriting and Emerging Companies Awards; all whilst having supported over 130 theatre companies by providing a venue on a pure box-office split basis, and establishing a place for the venue on the London fringe theatre scene and expanding our technical equipment! Furthermore, the venue's in-house theatre company has also grown, having presented 5 star reviewed productions of Miss Julie in 2015 as well as Low Level Panic in 2016.