Curated two-week festival of new work from emerging companies committed to paying actors.
20 brand new shows from some of the UK’s most exciting emerging production companies are set to hit the stage at the King’s Head Theatre this July. Festival 47 is a two-week, curated season featuring drama, comedy, musical theatre and storytelling. Featuring world premieres alongside transfers from the UK’s biggest arts festivals, Festival 47 will build upon the success of 2015 and 2016’s festivals of new work at the North London venue.
Highlights from this year’s festival include Britney In: John, a funny, nostalgic and irreverent road trip comedy from the creative team behind the critically-acclaimed, sell-out Edinburgh Fringe show, Britney. Moreover, Deadly Dialogues, a verse drama based on research by the centre-left think tank, Quilliam, will explore the layered processes of radicalisation and extremism in the twenty-first century. The festival will also include the return of Thelma Ruby for a reading of Momma Golda, which was co-adapted from William Gibson’s play, Golda, and performed all over the world during the 1980’s. The funds raised from this one-off event will be donated to the King’s Head Theatre, as will Ms. Ruby’s fee.
Artistic Director of the King’s Head Theatre, Adam Spreadbury-Maher, says “Festival 47 is a vital part of our programme, which reflects and embodies our commitment to championing new writing. We believe passionately in the importance of providing a platform for emerging artists to develop their craft and perform within a professional context. I can’t wait for audiences to see the sheer range of brilliant shows we’ve selected this year. The King’s Head Theatre was established in 1970. The most ethically and socially responsible fringe theatre in the UK, we are known for our challenging work and support of young artists. Last year 87,031 audience members saw a show of ours: 43,857 at our 110 seater home on Upper Street and 43,174 on tour. At our home in Islington we had 861 performances last year of 84 different shows. We are committed to fighting prejudism through the work we stage, the artists and staff we work with and by producing work for minority audience groups. We believe in fair pay for all on the fringe and create accessible routes for early career artists to stage their work; work we are passionate about.”
See King’s Head Theatre to see what’s on during Festival 47.
