Theatre News

Paul Robinson announces first solo season at Theatre503

28 November 2012

Paul Robinson has announced his first season as sole artistic director of Theatre503 in Battersea.

Opening in January, highlights include the launch of the 503 New Writing Award as well as a major new revival of an “overlooked” play from the 80s and 90s. There will also be a series of rehearsed readings, presented by leading playwrights Caryl Churchill, Howard Brenton, and Timberlake Wertenbaker.

Robinson will direct the debut play by Tom Erhardt Bursary winner Ailis Ni Riain, titled Desolate Heaven,
from 5 February to 2 March 2013. It will be the first of a number of productions of first time plays by new writers.

“The foundation of my new vision is to evolve the company not only as one of London’s hottest new writing venues, but to expand our breadth of writers, to set this in context and to put the art at the heart of the place,” Robinson said. “The aim is to be the home of groundbreaking plays.”

He also announced that playwright Dennis Kelly will take a position on
the board of Theatre503, while Tom Littler, Gemma Fairlie and James
Dacre join Theatre503 as associate directors and James Perkins as
associate designer.

Robinson was also keen to reiterate Theatre503’s open unsolicited scripts policy, saying: “In
a climate of increasingly stringent submission policies, it is vital
that someone reads unsolicited scripts all-year round and engages with
the best of them. We believe that we’re the most suited to do this as
we’re most likely to produce a brand new voice.”