Stage One has today announced the three commercial theatre productions which will be produced by Stage One emerging producers at the St. James Theatre this autumn.
In December 2013, Stage One, the charity committed to developing and supporting producers for the commercial theatre industry, invited emerging producers to apply for the opportunity to pitch a commercial production to a panel of industry professionals. This panel selected three that it felt had commercial potential, and would most enhance the future prospects of the producer.
The ONE STAGE season will open on 3 September 2014 with Breeders, a new comedy by Olivier-nominated and BAFTA long-listed writer Ben Ockrent, directed by Tamara Harvey and produced by Vicky Graham for Vicky Graham Productions. Inspired by Ockrent’s real-life experience, this play offers a new perspective on how and why we make babies. It follows the story of Andrea and her wife Caroline in their quest to have a child that shares both of their DNA, with the help of Andrea’s brother.
The ONE STAGE season will open on 3 September 2014 with Breeders, a new comedy by Olivier-nominated and BAFTA long-listed writer Ben Ockrent, directed by Tamara Harvey and produced by Vicky Graham for Vicky Graham Productions. Inspired by Ockrent’s real-life experience, this play offers a new perspective on how and why we make babies. It follows the story of Andrea and her wife Caroline in their quest to have a child that shares both of their DNA, with the help of Andrea’s brother.
From 8 October 2014, Emily Dobbs will produce a new version of Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya by Anya Reiss, directed by Russell Bolam. In 2011 Emily, Anya and Russell came together to work on a series of productions which would reignite Chekhov for a new audience. The first, The Seagull, opened at Southwark Playhouse to rave reviews in 2012 and was followed by Three Sisters at the same venue in 2014. Uncle Vanya, is the third production uniting this creative team and will further the fusion of a classic voice with a contemporary vitality.
For the final production in the season, opening 12 November 2014, producer Nicola Seed will present Accolade by Emlyn Williams, directed by Blanche McIntyre. With support from a Stage One Bursary, Nicola produced a critically acclaimed production of Accolade at the Finborough Theatre in 2011, for which Blanche was awarded Best Newcomer at the Critic’s Circle Awards. As relevant now as when it was first staged in 1950, this contemporary tale of sex, scandal and blackmail was named Off West End Production of the Year 2011 by Time Out, and won three awards at the Off West End Awards in 2012 including Best Production and Best Director.
The ONE STAGE initiative marks the addition of another strand to Stage One's development programme which includes apprenticeships, bursaries, Start-Up awards and workshops.
Stage One will be making a modest financial investment in each production with the majority of the money for each production being raised by the individual producer. Stage One will provide support and advice to the producers throughout the production process, though they will carry the sole responsibility for producing and managing the five-week run of the production.
Stage One has curated the initiative in order that each producer will experience all the challenges and potential risks involved in the theatre producing industry.
The season opens at the St. James Theatre on September 3 September and continues until 13 December.
Stage One will also conduct seminars, workshops and networking events focused on the charity’s core work during the ONE STAGE season.
The St. James Theatre opened its doors in September 2012 on the site of the old Westminster Theatre. The space includes a 312 seat theatre, an intimate studio space, restaurant and bar. Main House productions to date include the acclaimed UK premiere of Urinetown the Musical; the revival of Tell Me on a Sunday, which transferred to the West End and received an Oliver Award nomination; the sell-out production of Sondheim revue show Putting it Together; Sir Trevor Nunn’s production of Ingmar Bergman’s Scenes From a Marriage, starring Olivia Williams and Mark Bazeley, and Sandi Toksvig’s Bully Boy.
