interview: A Hop Throughout The River To Penge

Inventive Administrators Luke Adamson and Joseph Lindoe on three years at Bridge Home Theatre

Who would consider that it has solely been three years since Inventive Administrators Luke Adamson and Joseph Lindoe relaunched The Bridge Home Theatre in Penge? Inside that point they’ve had an incredible impression on London’s fringe, creating a definite geographical presence and being nominated for a number of awards.  We had been delighted to get an opportunity to talk with Luke and Joe and ask them about their time at this recreation altering fringe theatre. 

Hi there each! Effectively we have now to say, your work’s been seen… Everybody appears to be speaking in regards to the nice job you’ve accomplished bringing fringe theatre south of the river! Are you able to inform us about how you bought collectively at Bridge Home Theatre and began on this wonderful journey?

Luke: Effectively Joe and I’ve identified one another for what looks like a lifetime now, we met at drama college in 2008 and have been making work collectively as JLA Productions for years. After I began working with Matthew Parker at The Hope Theatre in 2015, studying the commerce of the Pub Theatre Inventive Director, I knew that in the future I needed to run my very own theatre. I stay a couple of 20 minute stroll from the Bridge Home so after I found the earlier theatre administration staff had been transferring on I organized to satisfy with the homeowners of the pub and pitched them our plans for the area, they had been excited by our daring imaginative and prescient and it began there!

Joe: Luke and I’ve been working collectively for years, we’ve been finest associates for over a decade now and know we work properly collectively so it was a no brainer to “make it official”. We each have years of expertise producing, directing and doing the technical facet of issues along with our coaching and work as actors so we knew we may belief one another to deal with a few of the elements of the job that different individuals who haven’t received as broad a spectrum of expertise would possibly wrestle with.

You will have a singular ethos underlying your selection of programming. Are you able to speak a bit about who and what you attempt to signify?

Luke: We provide a protected and low threat area for artists to inform tales that won’t get a glance in elsewhere, reveals from and that includes demographics which have been traditionally ignored or underrepresented within the theatre. This consists of, however isn’t restricted to, Working class artists, Artists from the International Majority, Non binary or gender fluid artists, LGBTQ+ Artists and the Neuro-divergent neighborhood. These needn’t be performs particularly in regards to the explicit demographic, however does it supply alternatives to individuals from these demographics to take part? Not each present is an ‘difficulty play’ however each present options creatives, actors or writers from these, and different underrepresented demographics.

Joe: Our programming ethos is the work must be socially aware AND entertaining. That’s a tough factor to get proper however it’s very doable, you may’t have comedy with out fact, you may’t have darkish with out mild and vice versa. Typically individuals sneer on the prospect of a present simply sounding like ‘woe is me’ however every part we placed on is excess of that and it’s undoubtedly starting to be recognised.

What are you able to inform us in regards to the theatre area and the venue itself?

Luke: I can inform you, and I’m clearly being goal and by no means biased right here, that it’s bloody attractive. We’re a black field, 50 seat studio with viewers on three sides of our 3.5m x 4.5m thrust stage. It’s intimate, but not small. The seating is snug, flip down chairs so no numb bums right here! We have now a 5m x 5m inexperienced room for the performing firm that comprises a settee, arm chair, espresso desk, altering and make up areas and likewise homes our tech retailer. We’re additionally extremely fortunate to be above a stunning, pleasant, award successful pub and located proper subsequent to Penge West Overground station that makes getting right here a doddle!

Joe: The commonest response we get when somebody is available in to examine the area out for the primary time is “oh I really like this!” In some ways it’s not that completely different to plenty of pub theatres, it’s all black partitions, it’s 50 seat capability, it’s above a pub. However I feel it’s the little issues that make it really feel particular, the actual fact the seats are extra snug than plenty of areas however nonetheless in an intimate structure, the tech field being at the least barely separated from the viewers the place many have it proper there with them. You may inform we’ve actually considered it once we had been designing the area.

Have your audiences modified a lot over the past three years?

Luke: Sure, in the most effective of the way – they’ve received greater. In our first few months it wasn’t uncommon for reveals to play to audiences within the single figures. This barely occurs now. We’re additionally delighted to see that persons are returning to see reveals time and again. Our local people are invested within the area and we now know a lot of our ‘regulars’ by title and very often sit and have a drink with them within the pub after the reveals! We even have a wonderful mixture of demographics that assist the work right here and are aware of that in the case of programming, providing a wide range of work that appeals to completely different areas of society.

Joe: Sure and no, as Luke says they’ve gotten greater and extra constant, however we’re nonetheless seeing the identical core group of individuals which have been coming since we opened however that local people continues to be spreading. Phrase is getting round additional as properly, individuals who maybe simply got here to assist a buddy in a single present or had been in a single present are making it again time and time once more.

The final time we spoke you had been on the Offies Awards celebrating not one however two nominations for That Woman versus the World.  How does it really feel being so prominently recognised to your work, notably at a time when theatre typically is struggling?

Luke: It’s concurrently immensely gratifying and humbling. To know that the blood, sweat, tears and cash that we’ve poured into this venture over the previous three years has been value it. The Off West Finish award nominations are so thrilling, particularly when contemplating the venues we’re up in opposition to; we had been finalists this yr within the Sound Design class that was received by a present at Soho Theatre! To have been a finalist at successive London Pub Theatre Awards can be fantastic, and the ceremonies are an awesome probability to get collectively to have a good time the brilliance of pub theatre.

Joe: It’s actually beautiful to be recognised as a part of that neighborhood getting the chance to see the trade come collectively. Seeing individuals and firms we all know, love and have typically labored with ourselves or welcomed to the area additionally getting nominated or successful is equally gratifying. It makes you’re feeling such as you’re doing one thing proper whenever you’re up there in opposition to fairly massive theatres like Soho and the businesses you worth are getting that assist as properly.

You’re planning a celebration of three years of success. Who shall be coming alongside and what can they anticipate to see?

Luke: We’ve received an exquisite combine of individuals coming collectively to have a good time with us; varied press, forged and creatives from earlier and upcoming reveals, our sponsors, supporters and members in addition to anybody else that desires to affix us! The night shall be a glance again at our journey up to now and a glimpse into what the longer term holds. It’s going to characteristic snippets of efficiency from our award nominated reveals in addition to previews of reveals which are developing. There may even be a free drinkie on arrival for all ticket holders.

Joe: In brief drama, drinks and dancing! (N.B dancing not assured – it relies upon what number of drinks Luke has)

What in regards to the new season developing – are you able to inform us what’s on the programme?

Luke: We’ve received a massively assorted programme that includes daring new performs, model new authentic musicals, native firm British Touring Shakespeare return for his or her third run with us following massively profitable productions of Dracula and The Hound Of The Baskervilles, this yr it’s Jekyll & Hyde. There’s one other in-house manufacturing within the works, and our award successful panto shall be again within the type of Sleeping Magnificence at Christmas.

Joe: Yeah, what he mentioned!

It’s been nice speaking with Luke and Joe about their celebrations, and we want them much more success for the approaching years. The Bridge Home Theatre is unquestionably a venue to be careful for! You may see what’s developing on their web site right here.