Friday, 11 March, 2016

Annabel has produced The Late Henry Moss, Upper Cut and As You Like It (Southwark Playhouse) and Beyond Caring (The Yard).  As Production Associate, The Act (Trafalgar Studios) and In the Next Room or the Vibrator Play (St. James) and as Assistant Producer, Lizzie Siddal (Arcola) and Farragut North (Southwark Playhouse). Annabel is a qualified solicitor who has worked with Paines Plough, The Gate Theatre and Fuel. In 2014 she was awarded the Stage One Bursary to enable her to become a full time producer and to support a new piece of writing by Juliet Gilkes Romero (winner of the Writers Guild Award in 2009 for Best Play with At The Gates of Gaza).

At the moment you are...
Co-producing The Brink, a dark funny new play by Brad Birch, with the Orange Tree Theatre, directed by Mel Hillyard the recipient of the J. P. Morgan / National Theatre studio emerging director award.  We go into rehearsals in March and the show is running from the 7th-30th April; so it's full steam ahead at the moment.  I've also got a number of things in the pipeline which I am excited about: A revival of a one man show about an iconic historical figure; a stage adaptation of a children's book and a potential verbatim piece exploring the concept of freedom of speech.

What does Stage One mean to you?
Stage One means so much to me. I was at the very beginning of my theatre journey unsure of how or when I would be able to start producing. I was then fortunate enough to get a place on the Stage One New Producers' Workshop which gave me the confidence to start producing.  I feel incredibly fortunate to have found  an amazing support network and some incredible friends along the way.

Last show you saw and loved?
Violence and Son at the Royal Court last summer blew me away. Brilliant writing and incredible performances. More recently Queen Anne by Helen Edmundson and The Rolling Stone by Chris Urch.

What do you think, is the best thing about the Theatre Industry?
The people. I am continually impressed by how generous people are with their time and knowledge. No matter how busy they are, there seems to be an infinite capacity to make the time to have a coffee or a chat. 

What's the best piece of advice you've been given?
Treat everyone as you would like to be treated. Oh and bring cake to tech, amazing how cake can brighten up even the longest tech day!

To find out more details on the Stage One New Producers' Workshop click HERE
To find out more details on The Brink at The Orange Tree Theatre, click HERE