Hello!

Welcome to the Soho Poly Festival blog, part of the celebrations to mark 40 years since the Soho Poly Theatre moved into its famous basement at 16 Riding House Street. I’m Lydia, and as well as helping to organise some of the exciting events over the week of June 18^th, I’ll be looking after this blog. 

I’m involved in all of this because I am currently studying English Literature and Creative Writing at the University of Westminster, which continues to own the Riding House Street space.  Matt Morrison, the curator of the festival, asked me if I would like to be the Festival Administrator and as an aspiring playwright with a great passion for all things theatre, I leaped at the chance.  It has only been a little over a week so far, but I am already feeling inspired.  The way I view this festival is that it is giving a new lease of life to a moment in the history of theatre worth nodding to with the highest respect. The Soho Poly pioneered the concept of ‘lunchtime theatre’ - short plays performed over a lunch time slot - which was an ideal outlet for new writers experimenting with and showcasing their work.  It stood for innovation and freedom in theatre, and it is this element that has most attracted me to the project. 

There's something so visceral and raw about working in theatre.  No matter how professional the company or how amateur its cast, the feel of pulling ideas together to create something for an audience to appreciate is always natural and always the same.   My best memories of studying performing arts at college come from standing with scripts in a rehearsal room and painting the set, turning text on paper and sheets of MDF into scenes from Titus Andronicus, The House of Banarda Alba or Joseph and the Technicolour Dreamcoat.  I remember the director crying and pulling her hair out but, through the love of the process, we always achieved something beautiful.  In any show, when the opening night arrives it is as if a layer of dust from the rehearsal room floor is swept onto the stage of the theatre where it is given its pride, presence and sense of purpose.  Unfortunately, the dust on the Soho Poly Theatre’s stage is no longer the sort that’s been transferred there by actors’ feet - and before the festivities begin we have to clear out and repaint the room.

40 years ago the Soho Poly resonated with the words of writers such as David Edgar and Robert Holman.  In light of this, in the week beginning 18^th June we will be reading plays by both those writers, as well as hearing critics and reviewers discuss the theatre’s history and inviting contemporary theatre companies to produce new work.  We’ll be announcing the full line up in the next few days, so watch this space!

What’s more, this blog will enjoy a few words from other members of the team such as Matt Morrison, co-organiser and playwright Ben Musgrave, and many others who are helping us out along the way.

Personally, I cannot wait, so do check back at this blog for updates on our progress and photos of what we discover when we turn the old basement back into a theatre once again…

You can also follow us on Twitter @sohopolyfest

More to follow soon!

Lydia.

Festival Administrator.