Theatre Centre

Theatre Centre
Formation1953
TypeTheatre group
PurposeTouring, Theatre for Young People, New Writing
Location
  • UK
Notable members
Brian Way, Ron Cook, Lisa Evans, Noël Greig, Mike Kenny, Bryony Lavery, Diane Louise Jordan, Brendan Murray, Adrian Noble, Philip Osment, Pam St. Clement, Juliet Stevenson, Manjinder Virk, Roy Williams, Benjamin Zephaniah
Websitetheatre-centre.co.uk

Theatre Centre is a UK-based theatre company touring new plays for young audiences aged 4 to 18.[1] Founded in 1953 by Brian Way, the company has developed plays by writers including Lisa Evans, Noël Greig, Mike Kenny, Bryony Lavery, Leo Butler, Brendan Murray, Philip Osment, Manjinder Virk, Roy Williams and Benjamin Zephaniah.[2] Theatre Centre is a member of Theatre for Young Audiences UK (TYA-UK), a network for makers and promoters of professional theatre for young audiences.[3] Brian Way and Margaret Faulkes founded Theatre Centre in 1953.[4] When they produced a shortened version of Dorothy L. Sayers’ The Man Born To Be King, the production inspired Sayers to donate £200 to help establish the company.[5] The company's "initial aim was to provide a place where unemployed actors might meet and practise their art", Laurence Harbottle (of Harbottle & Lewis) reported in 2006. "What it became was the launch pad for educational theatre in schools – and what Brian became, in the next half century, was the seminal influence on that movement, worldwide."[6] Many of Theatre Centre's early plays were written by Brian Way himself.[7] Way believed plays should be written for a specific age group.,[7] and "argued that the quality of performance deteriorates" when audience numbers increase.[8] Theatre Centre productions were "presented informally on the floor of the school hall, in the round."[6] Today, Theatre Centre shows tour to schools and venues around the country[2] and the company has a focus on writers creating "exciting work for young audiences."[9] Theatre Centre is a registered charity[10] and is an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation.[11]

  1. ^ Harman, Paul, ed. (2009). A Guide to UK Theatre for Young Audiences (PDF). Twickenham: Aurora Metro Press. p. 71. ISBN 9781906582098. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
  2. ^ a b "Theatre Centre: 60 years young". The Stage. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
  3. ^ "TYAUK Members". TYA-UK. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  4. ^ "Playwrights: Brian Way". Doollee. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
  5. ^ "The Dorothy L. Sayers Actors' Award". The Dorothy L. Sayers Society. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
  6. ^ a b Harbottle, Laurence (21 March 2006). "Obituaries: Brian Way". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  7. ^ a b "Youth, education and community". Creating Theatre. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
  8. ^ Webster, Clive (1975). Working With Theatre in Schools. Pitman Publishing. ISBN 027300042X.
  9. ^ "Write Lines". A Younger Theatre. 18 July 2013. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  10. ^ "Charity Commission: Theatre Centre". Charity Commission. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
  11. ^ "National Portfolio Organisations: Theatre Centre". Arts Council England. Retrieved 19 July 2013.