Southwark Playhouse will be welcoming its first audience to its new theatre in Elephant & Castle on Thursday 19 January 2023. The new theatre, which will be called Southwark Playhouse Elephant, on Dante Place SE11, houses two spaces: a reconfigurable auditorium that seats up to 310 people; and a youth and community space, exclusively for the use of Southwark Playhouse’s extensive community and participation work. The new theatre will run concurrently with its existing venue, renamed Southwark Playhouse Borough, on Newington Causeway SE1.
Putting its community engagement work front and centre, the first productions in the new theatre will be Alan Bennett’s adaptation of The Wind in the Willows presented by the Southwark Playhouse Elders Company (19-21 January 2023); followed by a newly devised production by People’s Company entitled Bermondsey Revolution directed by John Whelan about the lives of local social reformers Ada and Alfred Salter (26-28 January 2023) presented through an immersive Brechtian experience.
Following this will be its first major production, a revival of Enda Walsh’s The Walworth Farce (17 February – 18 March 2023). A hilarious, shocking, and prescient play of how history is moulded and twisted to entrench those in power. In line with the theatre’s ethos, the play will be brought together by an exciting team of emerging theatre practitioners including director, Nicky Allpress, and designer, Anisha Field.
Founded almost 30 years ago, Southwark Playhouse has firmly established itself as a community-focused venue showcasing the work of the best up-and-coming theatre companies and practitioners. Over the course of its history, Southwark Playhouse has occupied three temporary buildings, and this new theatre will provide the organisation, finally, with much sought-after security, with a 125-year lease at a sustainable rent.
Chris Smyrnios, Artistic Director, and CEO says, “Conceived in 2006, this theatre has been a long time in the making, having survived multiple developers, the 2008 credit crunch and a pandemic. Finally, we’ll be able to firmly plant our roots in this amazing and vibrant borough that we call home; we’ll be able to showcase even more work by the best new and emerging theatre artists and practitioners; and offer further opportunities for local people to discover and participate in theatre and the arts. And we are so pleased to be opening our new building with two brilliant productions by our community companies.”
Further productions in Southwark Playhouse Elephant’s opening season will be announced shortly.
On Southwark Playhouse Elders Company
Southwark Playhouse’s Elders Company is a drama and social groups open to all over the age of 65. It provides a year-round programme of activities, workshops and rehearsal culminating in public performances. It is offered entirely free for participants.
On People’s Company
People’s Company is an inclusive theatre company based at Southwark Playhouse, Elephant and Castle. Founded in 2014, People’s Company offers locals the chance to explore acting, designing, directing, lighting, sound, marketing, writing, and much more; drawing inspiration from the wealth of history and talent Southwark has to offer.
On our Capital Funders
The new theatre was funded by the following supporters:
The Mayor’s Good Growth Fund, The Biffa Award, The Foyle Foundation, The Linbury Trust, The Backstage Trust, The Cockayne Trust, The UK Fidelity Trust, The Garfield Weston Foundation, The Bernard Sunley Charitable Foundation, Southwark Council, as well as many individual supporters.
On our Future Plans
Southwark Playhouse will continue to operate its current temporary venue on Newington Causeway SE1 (to be renamed Southwark Playhouse Borough) for at least until 2026, while it awaits completion of a second purpose-built theatre at London Bridge. The planned theatre, Southwark Playhouse London Bridge, which is located at the site of Colechurch House, was given planning permission in September this year, and will incorporate two flexible theatre spaces.
Southwark Playhouse Elephant
Dante Place, 80 Newington Butts
London SE11 4FL
Tickets are now on General Sale at www.southwarkplayhouse.co.uk
