Arcola Theatre

PlayWROUGHT #4

This is the future of theatre.

PlayWROUGHT is the Arcola’s week-long festival of new writing. For this, its fourth edition, over two hundred new plays were submitted and considered. Now experience twelve of the most exciting new works in live, one-off rehearsed readings.

Featuring established writers alongside riveting new voices, and talented actors and directors from across the Arcola community, this year’s PlayWROUGHT promises to be an unforgettable celebration of daring, ambitious new work.

For full programme including writer biographies and extended synopses- click here.


Part of the What Makes An Artist? season.


12 writers. 12 plays. 12 world premieres.

Monday 22 February

7pm – ARKANSAS by Duncan Gates, directed by David Mercatali
9pm – REAP by John Webber, directed by Eduard Lewis

Tuesday 23 February

7pm – EMPOWERED by Kyo Choi, directed by Lisa Goldman
9pm – IT ALWAYS MATTERS by Benjamin Kuffuor, directed by Tristan Fynn-Aiduenu

Wednesday 24 February

7pm – CHAIR by Yves Baigneres, directed by Richard Speir
9pm – BETWEEN THE RIOT AND THE RAINBOW by Doug Crossley, directed by Phil Bartlett

Thursday 25 February

7pm – IN LIPSTICK by Annie Jenkins, directed by Alice Malin
9pm – TORTOISE by Naomi Westerman, directed by Ellen McDougall

Friday 26 February

7pm – BIRTHRIGHT by Laura Poliakoff, directed by Bethany Pitts
9pm – DREAMLAND by Paul Minx, directed by Yael Shavit

Saturday 27 February

7pm – EVERYTHING’S FINE. ASK ANOTHER QUESTION by Jane Pessoa Q, directed by Josie Underwood
9pm – GIVING by Hannah Patterson, directed by Matthew Dunster