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“A launchpad for top quality

new talent”

British Theatre Guide

AB

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S Box of Tricks is a new writing theatre

company committed to developing and

producing the best new work around;

discovering, nurturing and promoting the next

generation of playwrights. We are drawn to

plays that have an immediacy and relevance

today: the stories that need to be told, the

voices that need to be heard.

We have produced critically-acclaimed work on

the London stage and are establishing a regional

presence in the UK, exposing new writing to the

widest possible audience.

Over the last three years, our work to date

comprises various critically-acclaimed London

productions, including: Letting in Air (�����

WhatsOnStage), Streetlights and Shadows

(���� Time Out Critics’ Choice: Show of the

Week), Whispering Happiness (“intensely de-

lightful” – Telegraph ���) and Word:Play 2

(����� Remote Goat).

In 2009, we took new work to the Hotbed

Festival in Cambridge (“an essential on the new

writing calendar” – Lyn Gardner, Guardian) and

Latitude Festival in Suffolk.

AB

OU

T U

S We continue to forge relationships with

emerging talent and to develop the plays of

the future through our New Tricks readings

and our unique Word:Play initiative (“one word,

six new plays”).

Playwrights we’ve worked with to date include:

Ali Taylor (Overspill – winner of Metamorphosis

08 – at Soho; Cotton Wool at Theatre503),

Kenneth Emson (Old Vic New Voices’ 24 Hour

Plays 08 and US/UK Exchange 09; winner of the

Arundel Festival’s Joy Goun Award), Becky

Prestwich (nominated and shortlisted for

Pearson Playwright Scheme 2009; developing

work with the Manchester Library Theatre),

Jacqueline McCarrick (Mushroom Pickers at

Southwark Playhouse and in New York) and Leo

Richardson (Sh*tmix at the Trafalgar Studios in

the West End).

We have an active and complementary

education programme delivering workshops

that inspire future generations to engage with

theatre hands-on, and to use it as a vehicle of

self- expression and exploration.

As a company, we are continually looking

forward, seeking new challenges and scaling

new heights; bringing the next generation of

new writing to the stage today.

JOINT ARTISTIC DIRECTORS:

Adam Quayle

Hannah Tyrrell-Pinder

ASSOCIATE ARTISTS:

Kenneth Emson

Chris James

Robin Guiver

PR

OD

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TIO

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09

Reviews

"Powerful production"

Whats On Stage �����

"This is a wonderful small play… A highly

rewarding exploration of the emotional cost of

censoring family secrets" The Spectator

"This really is a fantastic production with a

strong cast... I left the theatre moved and inter-

ested to learn more about Becky Prestwich's

work" Evening Standard Lowdown - "Hot Ticket"

"A thing of rare beauty, this high quality

production deserves a wide viewing. ... A very

satisfying night at the theatre and highly

recommended" Camden New Journal

"The superb cast portray Prestwich’s characters

in all of their tortured glory under the subtle

direction of Adam Quayle... A fantastic piece of

new writing which reminds you just how

excellent fringe theatre can be"

British Theatre Guide "Fantastic, gripping, funny and heartfelt

play... The cast is superb... exquisite moments throughout, both very funny and very sad... Just go and see it, please, it’s a

wonderful play." Extra!Extra!

Old Red Lion Theatre

10th-28th November 09

Director: Adam Quayle

Designer: Charlie Cridlan

Lighting: Steven Moseley

Sound: Natalie Walker

Stage Manager: Louisa Davis

Cast: Rebecca Elliot, Ryan

Hawley, Edmund Kente,

Tessa Mabbitt

World première of

Letting in Air by Becky Prestwich

Nominated and Shortlisted for the Pearson

Playwright Scheme 2009

"You shouldn't keep secrets. Secrets keep you

up at night. They stop you sleeping."

Adam and his father have never been close. For

Adam, Manchester is the sprung dancefloor at

the Ritz and cider on the 42; for Frank, gaslights

and cobbled streets.

In the wake of his mother’s death, Adam returns

to Manchester with his girlfriend, promising a

fresh start. But when Amy, a teenage girl with a

troubled past, strikes up an unlikely friendship

with his father, unspoken tensions

reemerge. Family bonds are tested and secrets

refuse to remain hidden as Manchester

becomes a whole new city.

Following the success of Streetlights and

Shadows, Becky Prestwich's Letting in Air is a

lyrical family drama about the ones we love and

the secrets we keep.

PR

OD

UC

TIO

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09

Reviews

"Polished, gutsy production from director

Hannah Tyrrell-Pinder. Against the wonderful

darkening sky of Georgia Lowe's gangland-

estate set, a dilapidated tramp and two bicker-

ing teens hunt for happiness... Beautifully abra-

sive, visceral production... Stupendous cast."

Time Out

"Kenneth Emson’s latest offering, Whispering

Happiness is a lyrical tale sheathed in modern

urban destruction… Lovely moments... Thought-

provoking." Telegraph ���

“Beautifully performed by a cast of five, unified

by a brave and visionary script... Lyrical, soulful

and acutely relevant to our lives today... So

step a little closer and experience the innovative

Box of Tricks.” West End Extra

“Whispering Happiness has some enthralling

moments that will hit theatrical nerve-endings.”

WhatsOnStage ���

“Kenneth Emson and Hannah Tyrrell-Pinder

make a good team. His ping-ponging dialogue

provides ample fuel for her energetic directorial

style, resulting in a show that stimulates both

the eye and the ear.” British Theatre Guide

Tristan Bates Theatre

9th June - 4th July 09

Director: Hannah Tyrrell-Pinder

Designer: Georgia Lowe

Lighting: Steven Moseley

Sound: Chris James

Stage Manager: Louisa Davis

Cast: Abigail Hood, Richard

James-Neale, Jim Sturgeon,

Henry Maynard and Jamie

Maclachlan

World première of

Whispering Happiness by Kenneth Emson

"Come closer. Some things should only be

whispered..."

Two teenagers sit in a desolate playground as

the city tears itself apart. An old tramp waits in

an empty church, while the gangs stalk the

streets for their next fix.

Into this wasteland of crumbling tower blocks, a

shadowy figure appears, promising

happiness. But at what price?

A political play of personal journeys, Whispering

Happiness is a lyrical and provocative urban

fairytale that explores the choices we face when

society is in freefall.

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9

World première of

Captain of the School Football Team by Kenneth Emson

"The universe stops for everyone. Everyone except

one."

Amid the prefect badges, school blazers and empty

B&H packets, a secret lurks that will send shivers

down the spine of a small community. Kev goes out

with Lisa, Lisa lives down the same road as Jack, Jack

hangs out with Ben.

But on a warm sunny day, when they should have

been at school, events take a darker turn and it’s no

longer just a laugh. A dark, lyrical tale of teenage

tragedy, The Captain of the School Football Team is

a dizzying journey through the irrevocable events of

one summer’s day.

Hotbed Festival, Cambridge 1st July 09

Latitude Festival 16th-19th July 09

World première of

On a starless night by Daniel Kanaber

"Starless night. / All washed away by street-

light. / Interference."

When Josh volunteers for the Samaritans, he

wants to make a difference. Lost in the swell of

the city, he breaks the monotony of his day-to-

day, listening silently to the confessions of

strangers. Until one day, one call shatters his

peace. He finds himself once more on the edge,

staring at dark waters.

Accidental Festival

Camden Roundhouse 22nd May 09

World première of

Tomorrow/Seppuku by Kenneth Emson

"And we'll be safe in this home. Safe away

from all of that outside. Because there's noth-

ing out there for us anyway."

Dan and Violet sit in a room telling each other

stories, hiding from the world outside.

London Literature Festival

Southbank Centre 12th July 09

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nabokov presents

Present : Tense / Thirteen

The toughest creative challenge in town is back at

Southwark Playhouse.

Present:Tense challenges groups of cross-

disciplinary artists to collaborate on a brand new

piece of work created in response to the hottest

topic of the moment - in just seven days.

World première of

Swabs

by Kenneth Emson

Box of Tricks was invited to take part in Present :

Tense / Thirteen.

We decided to fuse text and movement - uniting

playwright Kenny Emson and movement

director Robin Guiver - to respond to the news

story: "DNA of innocent still to be retained for six

years".

Southwark Playhouse 22nd November 09

nabokov

PR

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06

-09

“Sheer theatricality”

Resonance FM

“Gripping play”

Time Out ���

“Pinteresque menace”

Time Out ���

“A bold piece of work”

Time Out ����

Critics’ Choice:

Show of the Week

“Slick and impressive

work” The Stage

“Original and

ambitious new

writing”

British Theatre

Guide

“Magnificence”

�����

Remote Goat

“Beautifully

abrasive, visceral

production”

Time Out

“Powerful production”

�����

WhatsOnStage

Box of Tricks believes in theatre as education.

We have an active and complementary

education programme delivering workshops

that inspire future generations to engage with

theatre hands-on, and to use it as a vehicle of

self- expression and exploration.

When working with young people, we believe in

fostering Interest and excitement in drama and

in giving them a unique insight into the magic of

theatre.

Our burgeoning education programme

encompasses a broad spectrum of workshops

and projects for all ages and abilities. Our

workshop leaders are theatre professionals as

well as drama facilitators, bringing a fresh

approach to the world of drama education.

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School Travel Plan

2008-2010

After another successful grant application to

Transport for London, Box of Tricks Theatre - in

conjunction with Hounslow School Travel Plan

Team - is delivering its third year of workshops to

develop bespoke performances conveying the

message of the School Travel Plan.

Whispering Happiness:

Freedom of Choice

Running in conjunction with our production of

Kenneth Emson’s Whispering Happiness, Box of

Tricks offered free education workshops to London

schools, colleges and universities.

Taking Whispering Happiness as a launchpad for

this innovative education project, Box of Tricks used

drama to explore young people’s choices and

freedoms.

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