Past Shows
Past Shows
In our first year we produced over 20 short plays by women writers, and every year we tell even more previously unheard stories. Our writers have explored a range of themes such as the side effects of the contraceptive pill, the experiences of a Tawaif during the Indian War of Independence and female body image. We've been featured in The Stage, on BBC Radio London and DIVA Magazine said you should *probably* spend your International Women's Day with us. Most recently we played at VAULT Festival 2023, take a look at some of our past shows...
Women's Writes Fest at VAULT
27th Jan 10.30pm & 3rd Feb 10.30pm
THOSE THAT ARE SPECIAL by Emma Zadow
A Drag King and a displaced teen find unlikely friendship in an interval that will forever change them...
Emma Zadow's plays have been performed at the Arcola, the Old Red Lion Theatre, Camden Fringe Festival, Norwich Arts Centre and Pleasance Theatre. Emma is an alumni playwright from the Soho Theatre Writers Lab, and was shortlisted for the ETPEP Award, Tony Craze Award and is a 2023 Mercury Playwright. Her BBC New Creative short Jigging is on BBC iPlayer and recently won and has been selected for many international film festivals.
Director; Zyrenka Cox (A Thousand Eggs, Arcola Theatre)
Starring Alexandra Ricou (His Terectomy) and Natasha Patel (The Witcher: Blood Origin (Netflix), Luther (Netflix) and Vera (ITV)
THE ENVELOPE PLAY by Beth May
What if science could tell you if your relationship was doomed to fail or fated to succeed? A young couple gets the chance to sneak a peek at their future, but should they take a look?
Beth is a poet, playwright and actor from Los Angeles, listed as one of Phoenix New Times' Top 100 creatives in 2015 and a finalist for its Big Brain Award for her play Earthlings. She also hosts and co-stars in podcast 'Dungeons and Daddies' which won the AudioVerse Award for New Improvised Production.
Director; Melissa-Kelly Franklin (We'll Dance on the Ash of the Apocalypse, Park Theatre)
Starring Luke Pierre (Bridgerton (Netflix) & Midsomer Murders (ITV)) and Sophie McQuillan (The Labyrinth Diet, Arcola Theatre)
ALL THAT GLITTERS by Alex Critoph
Jessie's got everything sorted. So when her friends hear that the Fab 5 are coming to London they lie about her perfect life in order to get her a spot on her favourite show. However, as she starts to dismantle everything it unravels in a way she never imagined....
Director; Jess Millward (Fritz & Matlock, Edinburgh Festival Fringe, The Pleasance Courtyard and London (OFFIE nominated), I Can’t Hear you, Theatre 503)
Starring Ella Hunter Clark (Casualty and BODIES (Netflix))
Today I'm Wiser at Arcola Outside 2021
The Short Plays
A Thousand Eggs
by Farah Najib
Directed by Zyrenka Cox
Starring Ella Hunter-Clark and Emma Zaddow
Everything
by Alex Critoph
Directed by Beth Wilson
Starring Byrony Miller
Reclaim The Night
Written and directed by Melissa-Kelly Franklin
Starring Leah Harvey and Danny Horn
Sound and lighting design by Jonny Ryan
International Women's Day at The Arcola Theatre 2020
The Short Plays
Law Makers
by Danielle Wirsansky
Directed by Amy Marchant
Starring Connie Hyde & Polly Kemp
Firewatcher
by Helen Pain
Directed by Zyrenka Cox
Starring Katharine Orchard, Isabella Vericco & Lizzie Muncey
And So The Rabbit Died
by Emily Layton
Directed by Alex Critoph
Starring Sophie McQuillan
Gunn Woman
by Aine King
Directed by Leah Fogo
Starring Leigh Quinn
Tawaif
by Srabani Sen
Directed by Nieta Irons
Starring Srabani Sen
GIRL by Alex Critoph
Directed by Charlotte Ive
Starring Celeste Dodwell & Daniel Abbott
Casting by Laura Dickens (CDG)
Produced by Alex Critoph and Laura Dickens
VAULT Festival 2020
The short plays
Neighbourhood Watch
by Chloe Ellen Weare
Directed by Melissa-Kelly Franklin
Starring Bianca Beckles-Rose and Gabrielle Nellis-Pain
How to Make it to your 30th Birthday by Avoiding any and All Danger
by Morgan Drew Glasgow
Directed by Leah Fogo
Starring Amy Vicary-Smith
Guide to NOT being a shit feminist
by Gaby Foley and Poppy Sutch
Directed by Alexandra Boyd
Starring Marie Lawrence and Yolanda Ovide
Casting by Laura Dickens (CDG)
Produced by Alex Critoph and Laura Dickens
Arcola Theatre 2019
The Short plays
Dutty Wine
by Nicole Latchana
Directed by Leah Fogo
Starring Bianca Beckles-Rose and Oyinka Yusuff
Pink Eye
by Trudy Hodgson
Directed by Alexandra Boyd
Starring Jane Nash and Sanda Maitland
What the Dolls Saw
by Nic Lamont
Directed by Leah Fogo
Starring Ellen Verenieks, Laura Hyde, Samantha Giffard and Christina Meehan
Chimera
Written and performed Farah Najib
Directed by Becky Harrison
Madison High
by Alex Critoph
Directed by Laura Jayne Bateman
Starring Sara Stewart and Celeste Dodwell
The Labyrinth Diet
by Laura Horton
Directed by Alex Critoph
Starring Sophie McQuillan
Trapped in Colour
by Rasheka Christie
Directed by Nkechyere Nwobani-Akanwo
Starring Hannah Sinclair Robinson, Christine Gomes & David Leopold
Algorithm
by Catherine Kolubayev
Directed by Zyrenka Cox
Starring Chloe Tannenbaum & Amy Marchant
Produced by Alex Critoph and Laura Dickens
The London Theatre Podcast
The Short Plays
Gunn Woman
by Aine King
Directed by Leah Fogo
Starring Leigh Quinn
How to Make it to your 30th Birthday by Avoiding any and All Danger
by Morgan Drew Glasgow
Directed by Leah Fogo
Starring Amy Vicary Smith
The Sound of their Despair
by Farah Najib
Directed by Zyrenka Cox
Starring Oyinka Yusuff
The Robin
by Sophie McQuillan
Directed by Zyrenka Cox
Starring Simon Robinson
Tawaif
written and performed by Srabani Sen
Directed by Nieta Irons
The Labyrinth Diet
by Laura Horton
Directed by Alex Critoph
Starring Sophie McQuillan
And So The Rabbit Died
by Emily Layton
Directed by Alex Critoph
Starring Sophie McQuillan
Everything
by Alex Critoph
Directed by Laura Jayne Bateman
Starring Celeste Dodwell
Disney Pyjamas and Mini Eggs
written and performed by Liane Grant
Directed by Laura Jayne Bateman
Produced by Alex Critoph and Tom Hartwell