Hackney’s newest theatre space aims to provide alternative routes for playwrights to break into the industry.
Playhouse East in Haggerston is the passion project of actors and married couple James Alexandrou and Avital Lvova, who started the project after noticing a lack of theatre spaces supporting unfunded playwrights to produce their work.
The pair first rented the basement of the building and built their community by offering a pay-what-you-can-afford rental model for aspiring actors and playwrights to use the space, creating a grass-roots community spirit that has carried forward and led to them acquiring the whole building last year.
Alexandrou said: “[We are] a launching pad for great new work to go elsewhere.
“What we think about is, how do we enable really great artists to get through the door and lower the friction for them to get their work made?
“There are not many places springing up like this anymore. Hackney used to be full of places like this when I was younger – artist-led places with creativity at the front.”
Alexandrou and Lvova stressed the importance of being involved in the creative process of devising a new production from early on to allow productions to evolve through collaboration and experimentation, creating an environment where actors can follow their instincts to create.
The building is also home to Actors East, Alexandrou’s independent acting studio and creative hub which provides actor, writer and director workshop sessions.
In 2022, Actors East was funded by the Arts Council England (ACE) to launch Writers East, an intensive writing course for first-time working-class playwrights to develop and stage their work.
Its second iteration is currently underway.
The building comprises a 100-seat theatre and a complex of rental studio spaces designed for creative production companies, as well as The Downstairs, a cafe and small events space.
Edinburgh Previews, showcasing new work going to Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August, is on at Playhouse East from 7-24 July.
Feature image: Playhouse East
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