Recent from talks
Theatre503
Knowledge base stats:
Talk channels stats:
Members stats:
Theatre503
Theatre503 is a theatre based at 503 Battersea Park Road in Battersea in the London Borough of Wandsworth, above The Latchmere pub. The venue is known for promoting the work of new writers and is one of the most important new writing theatres in the United Kingdom.
The theatre was founded in 1982 as the Latchmere Theatre (the name taken from that of the pub downstairs), an offshoot of the Gate Theatre, Notting Hill Gate. It is a studio theatre. The opening production was an adaptation of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, which proved so successful that the production transferred to the West End.
In 2004, the theatre was renamed as Theatre503. Under that name, the venue saw the premiere of works by writers including Duncan Macmillan, Tom Morton-Smith, Anna Jordan, Alice Birch, Charlene James, Katori Hall, Jon Brittain, and Phoebe Eclair-Powell. It has won the Peter Brook Empty Space Award and two Olivier Awards: in 2010 for its production of Katori Hall's The Mountaintop and in 2017 for Rotterdam by Jon Brittain.
Over 120 debut and emerging writers are staged each year in more than 70 productions, ranging from one-night series of short plays to full-length four-week runs. In a two-year cycle, the theatre reads and receives over 4,000 scripts, including through their biennial International Playwriting Award, the 503Five writers-in-residence scheme, unsolicited submissions, and their Rapid Write Response programme.
Theatre503's Writers' Programme supports emerging playwrights at all stages of their careers through a range of courses, masterclasses, intensives and development schemes. It is facilitated by industry leaders including Theatre503 alumni and team members, and offers a mix of in-person and online sessions.
The 503Five is an 18-month writers-in-residence scheme, supported by Philip Carne MBE and Christine Carne and the Orseis Trust. It offers writers a seed commission of £2,000, masterclass workshops, peer-to-peer support, industry connections, dramaturgical support, and opportunities for research and development and rehearsed readings. The scheme is designed for UK-based writers who have developed their craft to a high standard but are not yet professionally produced.
503Five alumni include Jon Brittain (Rotterdam, Olivier Award winner), Charlene James (George Devine Award winner for Cuttin' It), Vinay Patel (BAFTA-winning writer of Murdered by My Father), Yasmin Joseph (James Tait Black Prize winner, J'Ouvert), Benedict Lombe (Susan Smith Blackburn Prize winner, Lava), Ross Willis (Writers' Guild Award winner, Wolfie), Tyrell Williams (George Devine Award winner, Red Pitch), Asa Haynes, Rex Obano, Brad Birch, Beth Steel, Joel Tan, and Mahad Ali, among others.
Rapid Write Response (RWR) is Theatre503's short play initiative for early-career writers and directors. Writers are invited to create a ten-minute short play in response to the current full-length production on stage. Over a three-week period, plays are written, selected, cast, rehearsed and staged, co-ordinated by the theatre's Deputy Artistic Director. Six to seven plays are selected per RWR event, each paired with a director.
Hub AI
Theatre503 AI simulator
(@Theatre503_simulator)
Theatre503
Theatre503 is a theatre based at 503 Battersea Park Road in Battersea in the London Borough of Wandsworth, above The Latchmere pub. The venue is known for promoting the work of new writers and is one of the most important new writing theatres in the United Kingdom.
The theatre was founded in 1982 as the Latchmere Theatre (the name taken from that of the pub downstairs), an offshoot of the Gate Theatre, Notting Hill Gate. It is a studio theatre. The opening production was an adaptation of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, which proved so successful that the production transferred to the West End.
In 2004, the theatre was renamed as Theatre503. Under that name, the venue saw the premiere of works by writers including Duncan Macmillan, Tom Morton-Smith, Anna Jordan, Alice Birch, Charlene James, Katori Hall, Jon Brittain, and Phoebe Eclair-Powell. It has won the Peter Brook Empty Space Award and two Olivier Awards: in 2010 for its production of Katori Hall's The Mountaintop and in 2017 for Rotterdam by Jon Brittain.
Over 120 debut and emerging writers are staged each year in more than 70 productions, ranging from one-night series of short plays to full-length four-week runs. In a two-year cycle, the theatre reads and receives over 4,000 scripts, including through their biennial International Playwriting Award, the 503Five writers-in-residence scheme, unsolicited submissions, and their Rapid Write Response programme.
Theatre503's Writers' Programme supports emerging playwrights at all stages of their careers through a range of courses, masterclasses, intensives and development schemes. It is facilitated by industry leaders including Theatre503 alumni and team members, and offers a mix of in-person and online sessions.
The 503Five is an 18-month writers-in-residence scheme, supported by Philip Carne MBE and Christine Carne and the Orseis Trust. It offers writers a seed commission of £2,000, masterclass workshops, peer-to-peer support, industry connections, dramaturgical support, and opportunities for research and development and rehearsed readings. The scheme is designed for UK-based writers who have developed their craft to a high standard but are not yet professionally produced.
503Five alumni include Jon Brittain (Rotterdam, Olivier Award winner), Charlene James (George Devine Award winner for Cuttin' It), Vinay Patel (BAFTA-winning writer of Murdered by My Father), Yasmin Joseph (James Tait Black Prize winner, J'Ouvert), Benedict Lombe (Susan Smith Blackburn Prize winner, Lava), Ross Willis (Writers' Guild Award winner, Wolfie), Tyrell Williams (George Devine Award winner, Red Pitch), Asa Haynes, Rex Obano, Brad Birch, Beth Steel, Joel Tan, and Mahad Ali, among others.
Rapid Write Response (RWR) is Theatre503's short play initiative for early-career writers and directors. Writers are invited to create a ten-minute short play in response to the current full-length production on stage. Over a three-week period, plays are written, selected, cast, rehearsed and staged, co-ordinated by the theatre's Deputy Artistic Director. Six to seven plays are selected per RWR event, each paired with a director.
Recent media