Sell A Door Theatre Company
Encyclopedia
Sell a Door Theatre Company was originally based out of Liverpool, UK, formed by actors, writers, directors, managers and technicians of The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts.
Following its constitution in 2009 the company refigured and located in Greenwich, London from 2009.
Following on from its success at the Fringe the company restructured itself with a board of directors consisting of Richard Adams, Alison Carter, Robert Gilbert, David Hutchinson and Phillip Rowntree. David Hutchinson was appointed Artistic Director of the company during the restructuring.
In 2009 Scott Weston joined the company as Casting Director, and Carl Vorwerk as communications director and then in 2010 Matthew Grace replaced Felicity Jackson (temporary Marketing Director) as the full time Marketing Director.
Starting out as a Liverpool based theatre company, Sell a Door still produces in the North West of England. However since becoming a national touring company in 2009, Sell a Door now has offices in Scotland and Greenwich and frequently produces tours with a Scottish emphasis, as well as their rolling season of productions at the Greenwich Playhouse in south east London.
Reviews include "... (The Stage) ***** (Remotegoat)
The piece was met with great reviews which described Sell a Door as "... an undiscovered gem..." (Remotegoat) and the piece as "honest" (Three Weeks) in reference to the UK's dysfunctional prison system.
Planning Permission was met with critical praise including: "a very strong production...These bitter-sweet monologues are the highlights of the play and where Hutchinson has allowed his imagination to flesh out his creations." (Liverpool Daily Post)
The piece was met with great reviews: "Six Ways will touch your heart in a number of ways"..." (Broadway Baby) "I struggle to find the words for how much I love this"...(Curtain Up) and was voted number 1 musical to watch at the 2009 Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Following the successful run of Six Ways in Edinburgh, it transferred to the Jermyn Street Theatre in London with Take Note Theatre Company under the direction of David Hutchinson, founding member of Sell a Door Theatre Company. It performed for three dates in September 2009, with Emily Barlow joining the cast in the place of Terri O'Ryan.
The piece received five stars from the Scotsman along with positive reviews: "The cast are confident and talented, filling every crevice of the george 2 hut with sound"...(Broadway Baby) "sheer brilliance" (Broadwayworld)
novel and was penned by Scottish playwright Liz Lochhead
. The production opened at the Palace Theatre (Kilmarnock)
in October 2010 and went on to tour to a further eleven Scottish venues including Theatre Royal, Dumfries
, Albert Halls, Stirling and Arts Guild Theatre (Greenock)
. Dracula then transferred to the Greenwich Playhouse
in London where it played for a month to sell out audiences. The production was directed by Artistic Director David Hutchinson, choreographed by Carl Vorwerk with an original score composed by David Ben Shannon. Cast included Laura Black, Daisy Burns, Alex Prtichett, Louis J. Parker, Louise Munro, Ellis J Wells, Sophie Holland, Matthew Grace and Kieran Hennigan.
Following its constitution in 2009 the company refigured and located in Greenwich, London from 2009.
History
Sell a Door was formed in 2008 by Alison Carter, Robert Gilbert, David Hutchinson, Aysha Powell and Phillip Rowntree who were all students at The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts. Its primary focus was to harbour and encourage new writing. The company's début production of The Secrets Inside was written by David Hutchinson and directed by Richard Adams, this was presented at the 2008 Edinburgh Fringe Festival.Following on from its success at the Fringe the company restructured itself with a board of directors consisting of Richard Adams, Alison Carter, Robert Gilbert, David Hutchinson and Phillip Rowntree. David Hutchinson was appointed Artistic Director of the company during the restructuring.
In 2009 Scott Weston joined the company as Casting Director, and Carl Vorwerk as communications director and then in 2010 Matthew Grace replaced Felicity Jackson (temporary Marketing Director) as the full time Marketing Director.
Starting out as a Liverpool based theatre company, Sell a Door still produces in the North West of England. However since becoming a national touring company in 2009, Sell a Door now has offices in Scotland and Greenwich and frequently produces tours with a Scottish emphasis, as well as their rolling season of productions at the Greenwich Playhouse in south east London.
Spring Awakening UK Tour
Spring Awakening was toured across the UK by Sell a Door for the first time in 2011. Directed by Pete Gallagher, choreographer by Cressida Carre and musically directed by Michael Bradley - the tour visited venues in Exeter, Stirling, Edinburgh, Manchester, London and Norwich. The production featured a cast of 11 and was produced on behalf of Sell a Door by David Hutchinson and Phillip Rowntree.Reviews include "... (The Stage) ***** (Remotegoat)
The Secrets Inside
The Secrets Inside was Sell a Door's début production it follows the imprisonment of Darren Tunstall, a 23 year old businessman who is sentenced to 8 months in Perth prison, Scotland for possessing indecent images of children. The play follows the rocky relationship between the protagonist and his cellmate, Brian, a volatile inmate who prays on Darren's mind. The plot thickens when Megan, the prison psychologist, discovers that Darren is not all he says he is, and that he might have been wrongly imprisoned. The play is a race against time as both Megan and Brian fight their own battles to get into Darrens mind before it is too late.The piece was met with great reviews which described Sell a Door as "... an undiscovered gem..." (Remotegoat) and the piece as "honest" (Three Weeks) in reference to the UK's dysfunctional prison system.
Planning Permission
Planning Permission was Sell a Door's second new writing project, and premièred in their base Liverpool at the Unity Theatre, Liverpool. The one act farce, written by David Hutchinson, explores modern stereotypes and how they bleed into even the most innocent parties, in this case a community council meeting of elected representatives. The production marked the beginning of a relationship between Sell a Door and the Unity Theatre, which has since yielded numerous projects.Planning Permission was met with critical praise including: "a very strong production...These bitter-sweet monologues are the highlights of the play and where Hutchinson has allowed his imagination to flesh out his creations." (Liverpool Daily Post)
Six Ways - a new musical
Six Ways was Sell a Door's first new musical, written by David Hutchinson, Paddy Clarke and Michael Bradley. The musical explored three relationships as they struggle with ambition, adultery and addiction - trying to establish the perfect relationship status. The original cast featured Victoria Hardy, Sam Thackray, Katie Bernstein, Paddy Clarke, Terri O'Ryan and Adam Search. It premiered at George Square as part of their Edinburgh 2009 season. The original direction was by Gillian Lemon, with original design by David Woodhead and original lighting and sound by James Haining.The piece was met with great reviews: "Six Ways will touch your heart in a number of ways"..." (Broadway Baby) "I struggle to find the words for how much I love this"...(Curtain Up) and was voted number 1 musical to watch at the 2009 Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Following the successful run of Six Ways in Edinburgh, it transferred to the Jermyn Street Theatre in London with Take Note Theatre Company under the direction of David Hutchinson, founding member of Sell a Door Theatre Company. It performed for three dates in September 2009, with Emily Barlow joining the cast in the place of Terri O'Ryan.
Falsettoland
Falsettoland written by William Finn and James Lapine performed in the UK for only the second time as part of Sell a Door Theatre Company's 2009 Edinburgh Fringe Season. Performing in rep with Six Ways - a new musical, Falsettoland performed at George Square venue in August 2009. The cast included Victoria Hardy, Sam Thackray, Phillip Rowntree, Scott Weston, Paddy Clarke, Katie Bernstein and Terri O'Ryan.The piece received five stars from the Scotsman along with positive reviews: "The cast are confident and talented, filling every crevice of the george 2 hut with sound"...(Broadway Baby) "sheer brilliance" (Broadwayworld)
Dracula UK Tour
Dracula was revived by Sell a Door Theatre Company in 2010 to mark the adaptations 25th anniversary. The adaptation was based on the Bram StokerBram Stoker
Abraham "Bram" Stoker was an Irish novelist and short story writer, best known today for his 1897 Gothic novel Dracula...
novel and was penned by Scottish playwright Liz Lochhead
Liz Lochhead
Liz Lochhead is a Scottish poet and dramatist, originally from Newarthill in North Lanarkshire.-Background:After attending Glasgow School of Art, Lochhead lectured in fine art for eight years before becoming a professional writer....
. The production opened at the Palace Theatre (Kilmarnock)
Palace Theatre (Kilmarnock)
The Palace Theatre in Kilmarnock was originally opened as a corn exchange in 1863 and converted to a theatre in 1903. The red-sandstone Italianate tower, by James Ingram, dominates the cross at London Road and Green Street....
in October 2010 and went on to tour to a further eleven Scottish venues including Theatre Royal, Dumfries
Theatre Royal, Dumfries
The Theatre Royal in Dumfries, Scotland is a the oldest working theatre in Scotland. The Theatre is owned by the Guild of Players who bought it in 1959, thereby saving it from demolition. The Guild's aim is to promote the tradition of live theatre in Dumfries. It is the venue for the Guild of...
, Albert Halls, Stirling and Arts Guild Theatre (Greenock)
Arts Guild Theatre (Greenock)
The Arts Guild Theatre is located in Greenock, Scotland. The idea for the theatre was conceived by a group of local drama enthusiasts in 1946. The building contains two theatres, the Wallace Bennett Theatre and the Main Auditorium, and was previously a disused Victorian swimming pool...
. Dracula then transferred to the Greenwich Playhouse
Greenwich Playhouse
The Greenwich Playhouse in the central Greenwich district of the London Borough of Greenwich is an eighty-four seat studio theatre which opened in 1990. It is situated above and has its entrance within, the St. Christopher’s Inn Pub...
in London where it played for a month to sell out audiences. The production was directed by Artistic Director David Hutchinson, choreographed by Carl Vorwerk with an original score composed by David Ben Shannon. Cast included Laura Black, Daisy Burns, Alex Prtichett, Louis J. Parker, Louise Munro, Ellis J Wells, Sophie Holland, Matthew Grace and Kieran Hennigan.
Past Productions
- 2011 A Christmas Carol Adapted by David Hutchinson & Anna Schneider
- 2011 Lord of the Flies Adapted by Nigel Williams
- 2011 Spring Awakening by Steven Sater and Duncan Sheik
- 2011 Proof by David Auburn
- 2011 A Taste of Honey by Shelagh Delaney
- 2011 The Comedy of Errors by William Shakespeare
- 2010 Dracula by Liz Lochhead
- 2010 Ms Minelli and the Daring Do by Sam Thackray
- 2010 The Railway Children by Dave Simpson
- 2010 Stitching by Anthony Neilson
- 2010 The House of Mirrors and Hearts by Eamonn O'Dwyer and Robert Gilbert
- 2010 Next Thing You Know by Joshua Salzman and Ryan Cunningham
- 2010 Scaredy Cat Prince by David Hutchinson
- 2010 The Philanderer by George Bernard Shaw
- 2010 Where the Solitary Eagle Flies by David Hutchinson
- 2010 Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare
- 2009 Blue/Orange by Joe Penhall
- 2009 Six Ways by David Hutchinson, Paddy Clarke and Michael Bradley
- 2009 Falsettoland by William Finn and James Lapine
- 2009 By Order of Ignorance by Robert Gilbert
- 2009 Planning Permission by David Hutchinson
- 2009 The Jason Robert Brown Song Cycle created by Michael Bradley
- 2008 The Ugly One by Marius von Mayenburg
- 2008 The Night Before Christmas by Anthony Neilson
- 2008 The Sugar Syndrome by Lucy Prebble
- 2008 So Much to Say for Myself by Robert Gilbert
- 2008 Heart and Music by David Hutchinson
- 2008 Treats by Christopher Hampton
- 2008 The Secrets Inside by David Hutchinson
- 2007 Two by Jim Cartwright