A season of plays to celebrate the first anniversary of Arcola Theatre.

Introduction:
“Mehmet Ergen is a real young Turk. It’s not quite a year since he turned a disused clothing factory in Dalston into the Arcola Theatre. But he could already give master classes in ambitious programming and inventive use of theatrical space. Capable Michael Attenborough, newly anointed artistic director of the Almeida down the road from Dalston, might take a look. The RSC should certainly ponder the audience ‘access’ that can be achieved on a shoestring.”
– – Susannah Clap in The Observer, 20th January 2002. .

“The theatre … that is fast proving itself one of London’s most essential venues.” – The Guardian

14 months ago, I invited every actor and director I knew to a paint party: we decorated, stripped away the sewing machines and thousands of coat hangers…two months later, from the chrysalis of a disused clothing factory, Arcola Theatre emerged.

Arcola Theatre has gone from strength to strength. Last month it was awarded a Peter Brook special commendation for innovation; four of our productions have been Time Out critic’s choices; some of the UK’s most exciting new writers and directors (John Retallack, Bonnie Greer, David Farr to name but a few) have injected their considerable time and energies into productions here; and every show has maintained consistently high standards – of artistic quality, of social accessibility and of gritty, political relevance.

Thank you once again for supporting Arcola Theatre.