Product Code Database
Paines Plough is a British touring theatre company founded in 1974, currently led by artistic directors Charlotte Bennett and Katie Posner.
The company commissions, develops and produces new plays for touring, and helps playwrights develop their craft. Since its foundation, it has commissioned the early works of hundreds of writers, including James Graham, Sarah Kane, Dennis Kelly, Miriam Battye, Nick Payne, Abi Morgan, Duncan Macmillan, Mike Bartlett, Anna Jordan, Sam Steiner, Vinay Patel, Zia Ahmed and Kae Tempest.
Over the past five decades, Paines Plough has produced work by a wide range of playwrights across the UK and abroad. Collaboration with other theatre organisations is a feature of the company’s work; since 2010 the company has co-produced every show it has worked on with either a venue or a touring partner.
In 2019, the joint artistic directors Katie Posner and Charlotte Bennett were approached by producer Ellie Keel to co-found an award for female and non-binary playwrights. They launched the Women's Prize for Playwriting together at the end of that year and have continued their support for the prize since then, co-producing the 2021 winners Reasons You Should(n't) Love Me by Amy Trigg and You Bury Me by Ahlam, and the 2022 winner Consumed by Karis Kelly which will tour in 2025.
| John Adams | 1974–1982 |
| John Chapman | 1982–1985 |
| Pip Broughton | 1985–1990 |
| Anna Furse | 1990–1994 |
| Penny Ciniewicz | 1994–1997 |
| Vicky Featherstone | 1997–2005 |
| Roxana Silbert | 2005–2010 |
| James Grieve George Perrin | 2010–2019 |
| Katie Posner Charlotte Bennett | 2019–present |
In 2010, Roundabout was commissioned, with a prototype built in 2011 with Sheffield Theatres. The opening season of Roundabout consisted of three new plays performed in repertory One Day When We Were Young by Nick Payne, Lungs by Duncan Macmillan and The Sound of Heavy Rain by Penelope Skinner.
In 2014, Roundabout was re-imagined to allow for touring. As part of Paines Plough's 40th anniversary celebrations a new season was commissioned for Roundabout. The plays debuted at Edinburgh Festival Fringe at Summerhall: Our Teacher's A Troll by Dennis Kelly, The Initiate by Alexandra Wood and Lungs and Every Brilliant Thing by Duncan Macmillan. After the run in Edinburgh, Roundabout toured nationally to: Corn Exchange, Margate Theatre Royal, Hackney Showroom and The Civic in Barnsley.
Roundabout won the Theatre Building of the Year award at The Stage Awards in 2015.
|
|
