Waterloo East Theatre Announces First Season

The new Waterloo East Theatre, which we reported on last month (See News, 22 Jun 2010), has announced its inaugural season.

The venue is a non-for-profit receiving house that will also stage its own community and educational theatre projects. It features a 150-seat auditorium with an adjoining bar and box office, and is situated on Brad Street, below Waterloo East station.

It will officially open from 2 to 4 September with three exclusive performances of Aidan Dooley’s award winning solo show Tom Crean – Antarctic Explorer, which tells the story of the Irish “unsung hero” who served in expeditions with both Scott and Shackleton.

This will be followed by the “outrageous musical comedy” Sunset Bitch starring Jessica Martin (8 to 26 September); the London premiere of Edinburgh Fringe musical Departure Lounge (27 September to 31 October); and Being Sellers – Carl Caulfield’s one-man tribute to comedian Peter Sellers, which plays for three weeks (2-19 November) prior to a New York transfer.

Gerald Armin, artistic director of Waterloo East Theatre, said: “I’m delighted that we’re now up-and-running, and can’t wait to welcome audiences through the doors. Over the past few months we have received tremendous support from the local community and I hope that, as the newest addition to the incredibly rich cultural landscape of SE1, we will be able to widen the net of choice available to people looking for a brilliant night out.

“I aim to programme unexpected, exciting and entertaining fare. The only thing I want to be predictable about Waterloo East Theatre is the cost of tickets – always affordable – starting from £10 and we’ll have a ‘pay what you can’ night within the run of every show.”