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Women Centre Stage 2, 2016

Hampstead Theatre

Women Centre Stage 2016 was a one-day festival at Hampstead Theatre. 25 plays were commissioned and produced for the day, 13 of which were commissioned and produced by by Sphinx Theatre including 4 pieces developed from last year’s festival. 12 were presented by our collaborating partners from across the UK. All the work showcased strong female protagonists and was presented by a wonderfully diverse range of emerging and established national artists. Women made up 91% of the creatives involved. The festival also had a high representation of BME actors, writers, and directors and showcased work from disabled writers, directors and actors including a co-produced presentation of 6 new plays by Graeae’s creative team.

Women Centre Stage 1, 2015

The Actors Centre and The National Theatre Temporary Space March 27th and 28th 2015

Women Centre Stage was a two day festival of workshops, panel discussions and new writing seeing Sphinx working with 71 actors, 24 directors, 26 writers and 24 pieces of theatre with a hugely diverse response to the theme of Heroines and all with a drive to put women centre stage.

Contributors included GRAEAE, KALI, BOLTON OCTAGON, INSPECTOR SANDS, RONA MUNRO, BARNEY NORRIS, TIMBERLAKE WERTENBAKER, RACHEL DELAHEY, ROY WILLIAMS, APRIL DE ANGELIS, GEMMA WHELAN, DAVID MERCATALI, BRIGID LARMOUR, ROSEMARY SQUIRE OBE, TANIKA GUPTA, PENELOPE SKINNER, GEOFF COLEMAN, ANGELA CLERKIN, BEATRIX CAMPBELL OBE, NATALIE WILSON, CAZ MORAN, SUSANNAH TRESILLIAN, ALICE HAMILTON, ANNA LEDWICH, ANYA REISS, LUCY PITMAN WALLACE, LUKE BARNES, CHARLOTTE JOSEPHINE, MATILDA IBINI, SHARMILA CHAUHAN, OLADIPO AGBOLUAJE, ZOE WATERMAN, BRYONY SHANAHAN, HOTTUBS AND TRAMPOLINES, CHARLOTTE CORNWELL,

Reviews
“I sincerely hope we get to enjoy the benefits of a Women Centre Stage festival onan annual basis, as its inaugural year has certainly proved that there’s a greaterappetite for female-centric theatre than there’s ever been before”
Hannah Roe, Female Arts, 31st March 2015
http://www.femalearts.com/node/1638

“It’s great to see not only the issues being raised but action taken to combat themso leading female roles become the norm across the industry”
Official Theatre, 31st March 2015
http://www.officialtheatre.com/fringe/sphinx-theatre-women-centre-stage-heroines-national-theatre/

A Berlin Kabaret

Brighton Fringe Festival 2014

Winner of Best Cabaret at the Brighton Fringe and an Argus Angel for Artistic Excellence. Five star performers sing classic songs of resistance, love and exile in a festive celebration of 20’s Weimar Cabaret and war time propaganda songs from the USA. Featuring long lost musical gems by Irving Berlin, Friedrich Hollander, Mischa Spoliansky, Bertolt Brecht and Hanns Eisler with contemporary arrangements byJoe Atkins, musical director of Cush Jumbo’s Broadway hit ‘Josephine and I”. Witty and rebellious these songs blast down the ages

CAST: Katie Brennan, John Sandeman, Richard Maxted, Sarah Gabriel,
MUSICAL DIRECTOR AND COMPOSER: Joseph Atkins
DIRECTOR: Sue Parrish
WRITER: Peter Cox
COREOGRAPHER: Cressida Carré and Phillip Aiden
DESIGNER: Paul Dart
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR: Helen Barnett

Reviews:
“The four singers/performers were exceptional and each carried the powerful stage presence necessary to make this kind of satire effective…the sell out crowd loved it”
The Argus
http://www.theargus.co.uk/leisure/brightonfestival/brighton_festival_fringe_2014/reviews/11222175.ARGUS_ANGEL_WINNER_Brighton_Fringe__A_Berlin_Kabaret__The_Warren__May_16/?ref=twtrec

“Probably the top anti-fascist show on this years Fringe”
The Latest
http://thelatest.co.uk/brighton/2014/05/15/a-berlin-kabaret/

A Berlin Kabaret and The Question

Soho Theatre, 2013

CAST: Katie Brennan, Philippa Buxton, Gregory Gudgeon, Jonathan Oliver, John Sandeman
MUSICAL DIRECTOR AND COMPOSER: Joseph Atkins
DIRECTOR: Sue Parrish
WRITER: Peter Cox
COREOGRAPHER: Cressida Carre
DESIGNER: Paul Dart
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR: Helen Barnett
STAGE MANAGER: Ashleigh German

Vamps Vixens and Feminists 2012

The West Yorkshire Playhouse, 2012

Vamps in the North was a lively and practical exploration into women’s place in the performing arts. Sphinx brought together emerging talents with established trailblazers in the field to examine how women can participate more fully in the performing arts. How can we support female writers and directors? How can we develop female characters for stage and screen? As a woman, how can we get ahead in this industry? How can we create female-driven action on stage / screen?
Speakers Included: BIDISHA, IAN BROWN, BEATRIX CAMPBELL OBE, CHRIS CAMPBELL, CAROLINE CATZ, HENRIETTA DUCKWORTH, PENELOPE SKINNER, SALLY WAINWRIGHT, DAWN WALTON, ERICA WHYMAN

Vamps Vixens and Feminists 2011

WOW Festival, Southbank Centre, 2011

As part of the celebration for the hundredth anniversary of International Women’s Day Sphinx Theatre presented a series of feminist readings and a panel discussion entitled ‘Whatever Happened to Cunning Stunts?
CAST: Nichola McAuliffe, Mary McCusker, Ann Mitchell, Tanya Moodie, Kylie Bates, Ebony Buckle, Carly Marie Owen, Jill Patterson, Suzi Power, Emily-Louise Tomlins, Julia Pascal, Kathryn Pogson, Diana Quick.

SPEAKERS:Lily Susan Todd, Michele Frankel, Mary McCusker, Susan McGoun, Eileen Pollock

Vamps Vixens and Feminists 2010

The Young Vic, October 2010
As the coalition government proposed the most radical reconstruction, or rather deconstruction of the relationship between women, culture, civil society and the state, Sphinx hosted a morning’s discussion of how to confront women’s equality in the performing arts and beyond, in a world where 70% of the cost of the budget cuts were borne by women.
Speakers Included: BIDISHA, SUSANNAH CLAPP, JULIA PASCAL, GUY HIBBERT, JOY WILKINSON, GLEN WALFORD, GEOFF COLMAN, ANN MITCHELL, MAGGIE STEED, KATE KINNINMONT, SARAH RUSHTON-READ, RACHEL MILLWARD, ESME PEACH, SARAH MAPLE

Reviews
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/news/all-the-globes-a-stage-ndash-even-for-women-writers-2070827.html

Vamps Vixens and Feminists 2009

The National Theatre, Olivier
Sphinx Theatre Company convened a professional forum on the issues around women’s employment and representation in theatre, film and TV. The Writers’ Guild, with Equity and the Directors Guild of Great Britain, Women in Film and TV, and the Arts Council collaborated in presenting this conference providing an opportunity to examine these issues in some depth with contributions from a range of professionals on the platform and from the audience.
Speakers Included: BARONESS PROSSER, OONA KING, KATE BUFFERY, HILARY SALMON, LAURA MACKIE, GILES CROFT, DAVID EDGAR, TANIKA GUPTA, COLIN TEEVAN, TRACY BRABIN, GURINDER CHADHA, LUCY PITMAL WALLACE, DAME JANET SUZMAN, BEATRIX CAMPBELL OBE, PROF VIVIEN GARDNER, KATHERINE RAKE, JEANE ROGERS.
Reviews:
http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2009/jun/16/women-arts-film-television-stage

Blame

TOUR – York Theatre Royal, Northern Stage, The Arcola 2007

WRITER: Beatrix Campbell and Judith Jones
DIRECTOR: Deborah Bruce
DESIGNER: Patrick Connellan
LIGHTING: Jo Dawson
CAST: Lindsey Coulson, Katie Wimpenny, Nicholas Beveney, Andrew Paul, Sandra Yaw, Callie Ward

Reviews:
“The writers and the actors capture with real brilliance the diverse voices of the estate… Gripping, heart-ripping social comment… SENSATIONAL” – TIME OUT
“Blame is hard-hitting. It makes no concessions to theatrical niceties. Only the stone hearted could remain unaffected” – THE STAGE
“Utterly gripping… politicised theatre at its best. The cast are uniformly superb. Lindsey Coulson is heartbreaking” – METRO

Yellow

People Show Studios, 2006

WRITER: Rachel Barnet
DIRECTOR: Geraldine Pilgrim
CAST: Kathryn Pogson, Christopher Palant, Emma Dunlop

The Little Mermaid

TOUR – Greenwich Theatre, The Dene, Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds, New Theatre Royal Portsmouth, Jersey Opera House,2004

WRITER: Pam Gems
DIRECTOR: Sue Parrish
DESIGNER: Liz Cooke
MUSIC: Howard Davidson
LIGHTING: Chris Davey
CHOREOGRAPHER: Dominic LeClerc
CAST: Lydia Fox, Jami Quarrell, Philip Cumbus, Susan Bruce, Michaela O’Conner, Cassandra Friend

As You Like It

TOUR – The Bridewell, Lawrence Batley Theatre, The Lighthouse, Forum 28, Chipping Norton Theatre, De La Warr Paviliion, 2003

WRITER: William Shakespeare
DIRECTOR: Sue Parrish
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR: Claire Russ
DESIGNER: Gemma Fripp
MUSIC: Hattie Malcolmson
LIGHTING: Neil Austin
FIGHT DIRECTOR: Terry King
CAST: Jane Cameron, Danielle King, Jules Melvin, Jonathon Oliver, David Rolston, Adrian Ross-Magenty, Rachel Smith, Richard Youman

Cherished Disappointments in Love

Soho Theatre, 2001

ADAPTER: Bryony Lavery
WRITERS: Jouko and Juha Turkka
DIRECTOR: Sue Parrish
CAST: Nicky Ladanowski, Les Dennis, Esa-Matti Polho, Janet Suzman

A Wedding Story

Birmingham Rep Theatre and Soho Theatre , 2000

WRITER: Bryony Lavery
DIRECTOR: Annie Castledine
DESIGNER: Ruari Murchison
LIGHTING: Nick Beadle
MUSIC: Tim Sutton
CAST: Jackie Clune, Andrew Hawkins, Aicha Kossoko, Kika Markham, Brendan O’Hea

Sweet Dreams

Chelsea Theatre, 1999, Sweet Dreams was subsequently performed on a National Tour in 2000. In 2001, 2002 and 2004 it had education tours and it was performed at the Charleston Festival in 2006.

WRITER: Diane Esguerra
DIRECTOR: Sue Parrish
DESIGNER: Annabel Lee
LIGHTING: Natasha Chivers
SOUND: Alistair Viles
CHOREOGRAPHER: Claire Russ
CAST: Sam Cox, Gabrielle Jourdan, Jane Robbins, Kim Romer, Anne White

Vita & Virginia

Warwick Arts Centre, 1999 and a subsequent tour.

WRITER: Eileen Atkins
DIRECTOR: Maria Aitken
DESIGN: Paul Edwards
MUSIC: Howard Davidson
LIGHTING: Nick Beadle
CAST: Marty Cruickshank, Cathryn Harrison

The Snow Palace

The Tricycle, 1998 and a subsequent tour including a British Council to Warsaw.

WRITER: Pam Gems
DIRECTOR: Janet Suzman
DESIGNER: Bruce Macadie
SOUND: John A Leonard
LIGHTING: Ian Scott
CAST: Justin Avoth, Kristin Milward, Kathryn Pogson, Kenn Sabberton, Jemma Shaw, Robert Wilcox

Goliath

The Bush Theatre and National Tour 1997

WRITER: Bryony Lavery inspired by Beatrix Campbell’s novel
DIRECTOR: Annie Castledine
DESIGNER: Kendra Ullyart
CAST: Nicola McAuliffe

Voyage In the Dark

Young Vic Studios and UK tour, 1996

WRITER: Jean Rhys
ADAPTER: Joan Wiles
DIRECTOR: Sue Parrish
MUSIC: Clare Van Kampen
DESIGNER: Franziska Wilcken,
LIGHTING: Jenny Kagan
CHOREGRAPHER: Clare Russ
CAST: Hazel Holder, Ian Kirkby, Katrina Syram, Michael Vaughn, Ann White

Hanjo by Seami

The Studio Theatre and a UK Tour, 1995

WRITER: Yukio Mishima
ADAPTER: Diane Esguerra
TRANSLATOR: Donald Keene
DIRECTOR: Sue Parrish
DESIGNER: Hiroko Imada
MOVEMENT: Ilan Reichel
MUSIC: Clare Van Kampen
CAST: Nell Murphy, Susan Duerden, John Herbert,

Black Sail White Sail

The Gate Theatre and UK tour, 1994

WRITER: Helene Cixous
TRANSLATOR: Donald Watson
DIRECTOR: Sue Parrish
MUSIC: Clare Van Kampen
DESIGNER: Iona McLeish
LIGHTING: Julia Henderson
SOUND: John Leonard
CAST: Kika Markham, Michele Wade, Mia Soteriou, Tamara Hinchco, Lesia Melnyq

Chandralekha

Old Bull Arts Centre, 1994

WRITER: Amrit Wilson
DIRECTOR: Sue Parrish
DESIGNER: Idit Nathan
LIGHTING: Jenny Kagan
MUSIC: Clare Van Kampen
SOUND: Gary Giles
CAST: Siddiqua Akhtar, Mina Anwar, Kate Lansbury, Nirjay Mahindru, Nayesh Radia, David Redgrave

Playhouse Creatures

Haymarket Theatre, 1993

WRITER: April de Angelis
DIRECTOR: Sue Parrish
DESIGNER: Annabel Lee
MUSIC: Clare Van Kampen
LIGHTING: Di Stedman
MOVEMENT: Linda Dobell
CAST: Jean Marlow, Fleur Bennet, Nicola Grier, Frances Cuka, Geraldine Fitzgerald

Every Bit of It

Warwick Arts Centre, 1992

WRITER: Jackie Kay
DIRECTOR: Sue Parrish
DESIGNER: Annabel Lee
MUSIC: Clare Van Kampen
LIGHTING: Di Stedman
CHOREOGRAPHER: Deirdra Lovell

The Roaring Girls Hamlet

Croydon Warehouse, 1992

WRITER: Claire Luckham
DIRECTOR: Sue Parrish
DESIGNER: Anny Evason
MUSIC: Clare Van Kampen
FIGHT DIRECTOR: Philip Croskin
LIGHTING: Douglas Kuhrt
CAST: Greer Gaffney, Sally Greenwood, Beverley Hills, Liz Kettle, Alexandra Mathie, Ruth Mitchell, Alison Rowe, Angela Walsh