Blog - Arcola Theatre

An Open Letter to the Culture Secretary from Black, Asian and ethnically diverse Theatre Artistic Directors and cultural leaders on the importance of protecting representation in the sector

28 May 2020

The Rt Hon Olivier Dowden CBESecretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport100 Parliament StreetLondonSW1 2BQ Dear Oliver Dowden, Secretary of State for Culture, Throughout the last decade, British theatre has led the world with regard to the Black, Asian and ethnic diversity on our stages. Many of those actors are now international names: …

An Open Letter to the Culture Secretary from Black, Asian and ethnically diverse Theatre Artistic Directors and cultural leaders on the importance of protecting representation in the sector Read More »

Information for ticket holders

31 March 2020

We still plan to stage all of the productions in our 20th anniversary season. However, due to the impact of COVID-19 (coronavirus), it may be necessary to postpone some productions. We will contact you if you have tickets for a production that is postponed, and once we can confirm new dates we will offer an …

Information for ticket holders Read More »

Watch Mark Thomas’ OUR NHS @ 70 and support food banks during COVID-19 outbreak

27 March 2020

Mark Thomas performed his critically-acclaimed show, Check-Up: Our NHS @ 70, at Arcola Theatre in October 2018. Until Thursday 26 March 2020, you can watch it from your own home and support foodbanks. It’s pay what you can, with all proceeds going to the Trussell Trust. ★★★★ “A devastatingly thorough portrait of a system in crisis, shot through with unlikely humour” …

Watch Mark Thomas’ OUR NHS @ 70 and support food banks during COVID-19 outbreak Read More »

Arcola‘s co-founders win Off West End Special Achievement Award

9 March 2020

The co-founders of Arcola Theatre have received the Off West End Special Achievement Award for their work staging outstanding theatre in the heart of Hackney over 20 years. Mehmet Ergen (Artistic Director) and Leyla Nazli (Executive Producer) received the award at the Off West End Awards ceremony at Battersea Arts Centre on Sunday 8 March …

Arcola‘s co-founders win Off West End Special Achievement Award Read More »

Cast announced for PIPELINE

23 March 2020

The full casting has been announced today for the European première of Dominique Morisseau’s Pipeline, directed by Jack Gamble, which opens at Arcola Theatre on 31 March, with previews from 26 March.  Pipeline is a powerful and compassionate drama about parental duty and the state of education. Dominique Morisseau (Sunset Baby, Gate Theatre) is a …

Cast announced for PIPELINE Read More »

Cast announced for GENTLEMEN

28 February 2020

The full casting has been announced today for the world première of Matt Parvin’s new drama Gentlemen, directed by Richard Speir, which opens at Arcola Theatre on 24 March, with previews from 18 March.  Testing the limits of retribution and the power of social status at university, Gentlemen examines what happens when culture turns toxic, …

Cast announced for GENTLEMEN Read More »

Cast announced for THE CUTTING EDGE

23 March 2020

Arcola Theatre today announces the full cast for the world premiere of The Cutting Edge, a tragicomedy about life, money and art written and directed by Jack Shepherd.  The play stars James Clyde (Peter), Michael Feast (Zak), Jasmine Hyde (Anna), Maggie Steed (Elvira) and David Sturzaker (Chris). The creative team includes Louie Whitemore (Designer), Richard …

Cast announced for THE CUTTING EDGE Read More »

Arcola Theatre announces 20th anniversary season

20 December 2019

New, year-long season celebrates 20 years of Arcola 11 world premieres – from artists who helped shape Arcola’s first two decades, including Jack Shepherd, Barney Norris, Rebecca Lenkiewicz, Leyla Nazli, David Farr and Tena Štivičić, and from a new generation European premiere of Dominique Morisseau’s Pipeline, a new staging of Death In Venice starring Greg …

Arcola Theatre announces 20th anniversary season Read More »

Arcola Theatre to showcase Hackney’s creativity with festival of community and youth shows

28 November 2019

Hackney’s diverse community will take centre stage at Arcola Theatre in February and March 2020. The Creative Disruption Festival will feature ten productions performed by members of the theatre’s award-winning youth, schools and community programme. Arcola Participation creates over 13,000 opportunities a year for local people and young artists to get involved in the performing …

Arcola Theatre to showcase Hackney’s creativity with festival of community and youth shows Read More »

Cast announced for #WeAreArrested

9 October 2019

Arcola Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company today announce the full cast for the London première of Pippa Hill and Sophie Ivatts’ adaptation of #WeAreArrested by Can Dündar, a vital story about the cost of reporting the truth in the age of fake news. Ivatts directs Jamie Cameron (Son), Peter Hamilton Dyer (Can) and Indra …

Cast announced for #WeAreArrested Read More »

Cast announced for HUNGER

8 October 2019

Arcola Theatre and Jump Spark today announce the full cast for Amanda Lomas‘ bold new imagining of Hunger, adapted from the ground-breaking psychological novel by Knut Hamsun. Fay Lomas directs Archie Backhouse (Hans), Katie Eldred (Ylayali), Kwami Odoom (The Young Man) and Jessica Tomlinson (Landlady). The production opens on 25 November, with previews from 20 …

Cast announced for HUNGER Read More »

Grimeborn 2019 is most successful ever

18 October 2019

The thirteenth edition of Arcola’s Grimeborn Opera Festival was the most successful of all time, attracting more than 6,500 people and over a thousand first-time visitors. There were £12 tickets for all 16 operas, and a record number of sold-out performances. Two productions – Arcola Theatre’s Das Rheingold and Arcola Participation Queer Collective’s Don Jo …

Grimeborn 2019 is most successful ever Read More »

Arcola wins Fringe First and Stage Edinburgh Award for UNTIL THE FLOOD

22 August 2019

Arcola Theatre’s production of Until The Flood, Dael Orlandersmith’s powerful one-woman play about the Ferguson community in the aftermath of the shooting of Michael Brown in 2014, has been awarded a Scotsman Fringe First Award and a Stage Edinburgh Award. Fringe Firsts are awarded by The Scotsman newspaper, in partnership with the University of Edinburgh, for …

Arcola wins Fringe First and Stage Edinburgh Award for UNTIL THE FLOOD Read More »

Cast announced for ANNA BELLA EEMA

15 July 2019

Arcola Theatre, Atticist and Ellie Keel Productions today announce full cast for the UK première of Anna Bella Eema by Pulitzer Prize finalist Lisa D’Amour. Jessica Lazar directs the ensemble Natasha Cottriall, Gabrielle Brooks and Beverley Rudd. The new production opens at Arcola Theatre on 16 September, with previews from 11 September, and runs until …

Cast announced for ANNA BELLA EEMA Read More »

A statement about Knut Hamsun

18 November 2019

HUNGER is a story about a young man on the poverty line, struggling to make his way in an unfeeling city. It was first published as a novel in 1890, and had a notable influence on psychological literature. The author of the novel, Knut Hamsun, held racist views and was sympathetic to fascist regimes. He made a …

A statement about Knut Hamsun Read More »

Arcola announces 2019 Grimeborn Opera Festival

25 May 2019

Arcola Theatre has announced the 16 productions that make up the 2019 Grimeborn Opera Festival. The festival, which is returning for its thirteenth successive year, features bold new versions of classic operas, rarely-seen and long-forgotten works, and brand new pieces from some of the most exciting up-and-coming opera artists. £12 tickets are available for every …

Arcola announces 2019 Grimeborn Opera Festival Read More »


Keep in touch

Complete the information below to receive news updates from Arcola.