Wednesday, 9 December 2015

BARE ESSENTIALS - CHRISTMAS EDITION 15 - 18 DEC!



London's best reviewed new writing night returns...with a seasonal twist! An acclaimed series of events featuring new work from established and emerging international theatremakers, BARE ESSENTIALS showcases theatre at its most elemental - all for less than a tenner! Performing everything from gripping drama and laugh-out-loud comedies, join Encompass Productions for a night that celebrates the best and worst parts of the festive season!

PERFORMANCES:
TUES 15 - WEDS 16 - THURS 17 - FRI 18 DECEMBER, 7.30PM TAKE COURAGE THEATRE @ THE AMERSHAM ARMS

388 NEW CROSS ROAD, LONDON SE14 6TY (MAP>>)

Nearest Overground: New Cross (2min walk) & New Cross Gate (5min walk)

TICKETS:
Tickets are £9.50 and are available online and on the door. Book via Eventbrite, turn up by 7.15pm and get the best seats! Please note: priority seats will be released at 7.20pm if not claimed. 

#BareEssentialsLDN @EncompassOnline

www.encompassproductions.co.uk/BareEssentials 

PRESS FOR BARE ESSENTIALS:
'Encompass Productions should be applauded...a talented pool of writers, directors and actors.' ★★★★★ LondonTheatre1 

'Sheer creativity throughout. Gives new ideas a voice.' ★★★★ Everything Theatre 

‘High quality acting and equally impressive directing. A breath of fresh air.’ ★★★★ Theatre Bubble 

'Astonishing.Utterly thrilling...unmissable theatre.' ★★★★ Grumpy Gay Critic 

'One of the most exciting new writing nights in London. Repeat audiences and newcomers alike are hooked.' ★★★★ Female Arts

Monday, 25 May 2015

BARE ESSENTIALS RETURNS! - NEW SCRIPTS SPOTLIGHT PODCAST - ENCOMPASS TURNS 5!



After their sell out run of Stasis at the White Bear Theatre, Encompass Productions present the summer edition of BARE ESSENTIALS - London's best reviewed new writing night! An acclaimed series of events featuring new work from established and emerging international theatremakers, Bare Essentials showcases fantastic theatre at its most elemental - all for less than a tenner! The diverse range of short plays include everything from gripping drama to laugh-out-loud comedies. Bare bones performance can be gripping - all you need is a room and an audience!

PLAYS TO BE ANNOUNCED!

PERFORMANCES
TUES 30 JUNE - WEDS 01 - THURS 02 - FRI 03 JULY, 7.30PM
TAKE COURAGE THEATRE @ THE AMERSHAM ARMS

388 NEW CROSS ROAD, LONDON SE14 6TY (MAP>>)

Nearest Overground: New Cross (2min walk) & New Cross Gate (5min walk)

TICKETS
Tickets are £9.50 and are available online and on the door. Book via Eventbrite, turn up by 7.15pm and get the best seats! Please note: online reservations will be released at 7.20pm if not claimed.

#BareEssentialsLDN @EncompassOnline

www.encompassproductions.co.uk/BareEssentials

PRESS FOR BARE ESSENTIALS BY ENCOMPASS PRODUCTIONS:
‘High quality acting and equally impressive directing panache. A breath of fresh air.’
★★★★ Theatre Bubble

'Astonishing...an excellent collective of actors and directors. Utterly thrilling...unmissable theatre.' ★★★★ Grumpy Gay Critic

'Impressed me immensely...Encompass produce theatre of a high-standard with a broad appeal.' ★★★★ Female Arts

'Fantastic. It’s great to see acting being focused on rather than masked by gimmicks. If you like new writing then this is for you!' Everything Theatre

'Minimal staging...maximum polish. A great mix of work, Encompass achieved a very entertaining evening.' London Reviews

'Admirable...a great chance to see a good selection of theatre audiences possibly wouldn’t be exposed to.' Bargain Theatreland

'Raw, edgy, with distinctive eloquent performances. Terrific direction...this is real theatre.' John Foster (BAFTA award-winning writer)



NEW SCRIPTS SPOTLIGHT PODCAST: 'GOING VIRAL' BY BRANDON M. CROSE

Steven Mortimer, Marcella Carelli and Laurie Harrington performing 'Going Viral' at Bare Essentials
Our latest podcast play for Everything Theatre's Scripts Spotlight is 'Going Viral' by American writer Brandon M. Crose. The piece was first performed at Encompass' flagship new writing event Bare Essentials.

LISTEN TO 'GOING VIRAL' BY BRANDON M. CROSE >>

SCRIPTS SPOTLIGHT PODCAST CATALOGUE >>


ENCOMPASS TURNS 5!



And lastly Encompass Productions recently turned 5 years old on the last night of our sci fi smash hit Stasis by Emily Holyoake. It was very fitting for this great play to see us into the next phase of the company, and the high praise from critics and sell out shows was a nice bonus!

If you've been to any of our productions, seen any of our films, listened to our podcasts, been to our events or have worked with us - THANK YOU! It is your continued support that drives us forward. Encompass stands for ambition, inclusion and accomplishment - but none of that would be possible without you. Here's to the next 5 years!

Tuesday, 21 April 2015

RAVE REVIEWS FOR STASIS AT THE WHITE BEAR THEATRE!



**** LondonTheatre1 **** The Upcoming **** Female Arts 
**** Grumpy Gay Critic **** I Am Boards

UNTIL 25 APRIL 2015
WHITE BEAR THEATRE, KENNINGTON, LONDON

Entering their fifth anniversary year Encompass Productions present the world premiere of Stasis at the White Bear Theatre, Kennington for two weeks from 14 April 2015.

How far are you willing to go to say you’re sorry? 

Stowaway Ren is on a Union spacecraft. Mission uncertain. What is for sure, is that she shouldn’t be there. With the whole crew in stasis and only a hologram and the ship’s computer for company, Ren must cope with isolation and depleting oxygen whilst trying to find her way home.

 An intimate and bold new vision from Emily Holyoake and Encompass Productions, Stasis is a thrilling science fiction drama with a ‘spellbinding narrative saturated with imagination, sincerity, and humour’ (Impact – preview).

Reviews and press for Stasis at the White Bear Theatre:

‘Incredible. Will strike a chord with any viewer. ’ **** LondonTheatre1
'Takes theatre to a place it has not yet been.' **** The Upcoming
‘Superb...evocative. More like this for theatre please.’ **** Female Arts
'Incredibly impressive. Astonishing new writing.' **** Grumpy Gay Critic
'A  classic piece of sci fi. Wonderful.' **** I Am Boards 
'I was totally invested. An excellent script and talented actors. Marvellous.' A Younger Theatre 
'Utterly credible. You really should see Stasis.' Glass Magazine

Naomi Stafford as 'Ren' in Stasis
Encompass are a London-based theatre and production company that have been making bold and visually arresting new work since 2010. They explore the psychological and emotional, drawing from cinematic influences to tell stories through heightened reality. Their mission: to challenge, move and entertain.

Directed by Liam Fleming
Produced by Jonathan Woodhouse & Liam Fleming
Written by Emily Holyoake
Designed by Sarah Buller
Music and sound by Alex Burnett
Lighting by Owen Pritchard Smith
Associate Producer: Rachael Owens


Press releases/touring/feature requests: press@encompassproductions.co.uk

CAST BIOGRAPHIES

Naomi Stafford – Ren
Naomi trained as an actor and graduated from the Poor School in 2012. She also gained a first class degree in Maths from the University of Leeds. She tours regularly with the award-winning Bootworks Theatre Company with A Little Box of Horrors and La Boite Noire. She has also appeared in more classical theatre; as Dunyasha in The Cherry Orchard and Olga in The Parasite, an adaptation of Turgenev’s A Poor Gentleman. Most recently she had the pleasure of working with Roundhouse Radio, recording two new radio plays; Tiger and The First Day of the Rest of Your Life. Naomi is the co-founder of The Watermark Collective; a company of actors who provide a bespoke script reading service for new writing of screen, stage and radio.

Ceridwen Smith – The Hologram
Ceridwen trained at Drama Centre London, which included work at Shakespeare’s Globe, London and the Vakhtangov Institute, Moscow.  Since graduating, her work has included Venice Preserv'd (Spectators' Guild); The Wind in the Willows (Lord Chamberlain's Men); The Girl With No Heart (National tour with Sparkle and Dark); Audience with the Ghostfinder (Etcetera); Olga’s Room (Arcola); Rhinegold (The Yard);  Mervyn Peake’s Noah’s Ark (Blue Elephant); The Clockmaster (National tour with Sparkle and Dark) and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Cochrane). 

Scarlet Sweeney – The Computer (voice)
Theatre credits: As Ye Sow (Pleasance, Edinburgh – Nominated Best Actress by The Stage at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival Awards for Acting Excellence), The Ruth Ellis Show (George Wood Theatre), Blood Wedding (Waterloo East Theatre), Potholes (Theatre 503), Love Vs Hate; Wounds (Tristan Bates Theatre), St George’s Day (New Diorama Theatre), 7 Year Itch (Barbican), Le Justes (Cockpit Theatre – in French/co-directed), Grand Guignol (Etcetera Theatre), Revenge of the Grand Guignol (Courtyard Theatre), We Are Scorned (Bloomsbury Theatre), The Censor (BAC), Mariana Pineda (Arcola Theatre), All Together Now (Barbican), In Camera (Rosemary Branch), Jocasta (Chelsea Arts Theatre), Coffee Cigarettes & Paranoia (King’s Head Theatre). Film: Mother (Contra Image), Keith and Val (Beckton Alp Cinema).

Tuesday, 7 April 2015

STASIS AT THE WHITE BEAR THEATRE 14 - 25 APRIL




14 - 25 APRIL 2015
 WHITE BEAR THEATRE, KENNINGTON, LONDON

Entering their fifth anniversary year Encompass Productions present the world premiere of Stasis at the White Bear TheatreKennington for two weeks from 14 April 2015.

How far are you willing to go to say you’re sorry?

Stowaway Ren is on a Union spacecraft. Mission uncertain. What is for sure, is that she shouldn’t be there. With the whole crew in stasis and only a hologram and the ship’s computer for company, Ren must cope with isolation and depleting oxygen whilst trying to find her way home.

An intimate and bold new vision from Emily Holyoake and Encompass Productions, Stasis is a thrilling science fiction drama with a ‘spellbinding narrative saturated with imagination, sincerity, and humour’ (Impact – preview).

Reviews and press for Encompass Productions:

‘Guaranteed to strike a chord. Impressive...original.’ The Stage
‘Pitch-perfect. Intelligent, stimulating and heartfelt. The sheer beauty blew me away.’ ★★★★EdFringe Review
‘Accomplishes something original...see this show.’ ★★★★ LondonTheatre1

‘A highly dramatic show with big ideas. Encompass are ones to watch.’
Everything Theatre

‘Visually stunning...genuinely moving and thought provoking.’
A Younger Theatre

‘High quality acting and equally impressive directing panache. A breath of fresh air.’
Theatre Bubble

‘Raw, edgy, with distinctive eloquent performances. Terrific direction...this is real theatre.’ John Foster (BAFTA award-winning writer)

Encompass are a London-based theatre and production company that have been making bold and visually arresting new work since 2010. They explore the psychological and emotional, drawing from cinematic influences to tell stories through heightened reality. Their mission: to challenge, move and entertain.

Directed by Liam Fleming                    
Produced by Jonathan Woodhouse & Liam Fleming
Written by Emily Holyoake
Designed by Sarah Buller
Music and sound by Alex Burnett
Lighting by Owen Pritchard Smith
Associate Producer: Rachael Owens

CAST BIOGRAPHIES

Naomi Stafford – Ren
Naomi trained as an actor and graduated from the Poor School in 2012. She also gained a first class degree in Maths from the University of Leeds. She tours regularly with the award-winning Bootworks Theatre Company with A Little Box of Horrors and La Boite Noire. She has also appeared in more classical theatre; as Dunyasha in The Cherry Orchard and Olga in The Parasite, an adaptation of Turgenev’s A Poor Gentleman. Most recently she had the pleasure of working with Roundhouse Radio, recording two new radio plays; Tiger and The First Day of the Rest of Your Life. Naomi is the co-founder of The Watermark Collective; a company of actors who provide a bespoke script reading service for new writing of screen, stage and radio.

Ceridwen Smith – The Hologram
Ceridwen trained at Drama Centre London, which included work at Shakespeare’s Globe, London and the Vakhtangov Institute, Moscow.  Since graduating, her work has included Venice Preserv'd (Spectators' Guild); The Wind in the Willows (Lord Chamberlain's Men); The Girl With No Heart (National tour with Sparkle and Dark); Audience with the Ghostfinder (Etcetera); Olga’s Room (Arcola); Rhinegold (The Yard);  Mervyn Peake’s Noah’s Ark (Blue Elephant); The Clockmaster (National tour with Sparkle and Dark) and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Cochrane). 

Scarlet Sweeney – The Computer (voice)
Theatre credits: As Ye Sow (Pleasance, Edinburgh – Nominated Best Actress by The Stage at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival Awards for Acting Excellence), The Ruth Ellis Show (George Wood Theatre), Blood Wedding (Waterloo East Theatre), Potholes (Theatre 503), Love Vs Hate; Wounds (Tristan Bates Theatre), St George’s Day (New Diorama Theatre), 7 Year Itch (Barbican), Le Justes (Cockpit Theatre – in French/co-directed), Grand Guignol (Etcetera Theatre), Revenge of the Grand Guignol (Courtyard Theatre), We Are Scorned (Bloomsbury Theatre), The Censor (BAC), Mariana Pineda (Arcola Theatre), All Together Now (Barbican), In Camera (Rosemary Branch), Jocasta (Chelsea Arts Theatre), Coffee Cigarettes & Paranoia (King’s Head Theatre). Film: Mother (Contra Image), Keith and Val (Beckton Alp Cinema).

Friday, 13 March 2015

STASIS TICKETS NOW ON SALE! - BARE ESSENTIALS REVIEW ROUNDUP



14 - 25 APRIL 2015
 WHITE BEAR THEATRE, KENNINGTON, LONDON

Entering their fifth anniversary year Encompass Productions present the world premiere of Stasis at the White Bear Theatre, Kennington for two weeks from 14 April 2015.

How far are you willing to go to say you’re sorry?

Stowaway Ren is on a Union spacecraft. Mission uncertain. What is for sure, is that she shouldn’t be there. With the whole crew in stasis and only a hologram and the ship’s computer for company, Ren must cope with isolation and depleting oxygen whilst trying to find her way home.

An intimate and bold new vision from Emily Holyoake and Encompass Productions, Stasis is a thrilling science fiction drama with a ‘spellbinding narrative saturated with imagination, sincerity, and humour’ (Impact – preview).

Reviews and press for Encompass Productions:

‘Guaranteed to strike a chord. Impressive...original.’ The Stage
‘Pitch-perfect. Intelligent, stimulating and heartfelt. The sheer beauty blew me away.’ ★★★★★EdFringe Review
‘Accomplishes something original...see this show.’ ★★★★ LondonTheatre1

‘A highly dramatic show with big ideas. Encompass are ones to watch.’
Everything Theatre

‘Visually stunning...genuinely moving and thought provoking.’
A Younger Theatre

‘High quality acting and equally impressive directing panache. A breath of fresh air.’
Theatre Bubble

‘Raw, edgy, with distinctive eloquent performances. Terrific direction...this is real theatre.’ John Foster (BAFTA award-winning writer)

Encompass are a London-based theatre and production company that have been making bold and visually arresting new work since 2010. They explore the psychological and emotional, drawing from cinematic influences to tell stories through heightened reality. Their mission: to challenge, move and entertain.

Directed by Liam Fleming                    
Produced by Jonathan Woodhouse & Liam Fleming
Written by Emily Holyoake
Designed by Sarah Buller
Music and sound by Alex Burnett
Lighting by Owen Pritchard Smith
Associate Producer: Rachael Owens

CAST BIOGRAPHIES

Naomi Stafford – Ren
Naomi trained as an actor and graduated from the Poor School in 2012. She also gained a first class degree in Maths from the University of Leeds. She tours regularly with the award-winning Bootworks Theatre Company with A Little Box of Horrors and La Boite Noire. She has also appeared in more classical theatre; as Dunyasha in The Cherry Orchard and Olga in The Parasite, an adaptation of Turgenev’s A Poor Gentleman. Most recently she had the pleasure of working with Roundhouse Radio, recording two new radio plays; Tiger and The First Day of the Rest of Your Life. Naomi is the co-founder of The Watermark Collective; a company of actors who provide a bespoke script reading service for new writing of screen, stage and radio.

Ceridwen Smith – The Hologram
Ceridwen trained at Drama Centre London, which included work at Shakespeare’s Globe, London and the Vakhtangov Institute, Moscow.  Since graduating, her work has included Venice Preserv'd (Spectators' Guild); The Wind in the Willows (Lord Chamberlain's Men); The Girl With No Heart (National tour with Sparkle and Dark); Audience with the Ghostfinder (Etcetera); Olga’s Room (Arcola); Rhinegold (The Yard);  Mervyn Peake’s Noah’s Ark (Blue Elephant); The Clockmaster (National tour with Sparkle and Dark) and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Cochrane). 
Scarlet Sweeney – The Computer (voice)

Theatre credits: As Ye Sow (Pleasance, Edinburgh – Nominated Best Actress by The Stage at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival Awards for Acting Excellence), The Ruth Ellis Show (George Wood Theatre), Blood Wedding (Waterloo East Theatre), Potholes (Theatre 503), Love Vs Hate; Wounds (Tristan Bates Theatre), St George’s Day (New Diorama Theatre), 7 Year Itch (Barbican), Le Justes (Cockpit Theatre – in French/co-directed), Grand Guignol (Etcetera Theatre), Revenge of the Grand Guignol (Courtyard Theatre), We Are Scorned (Bloomsbury Theatre), The Censor (BAC), Mariana Pineda (Arcola Theatre), All Together Now (Barbican), In Camera (Rosemary Branch), Jocasta (Chelsea Arts Theatre), Coffee Cigarettes & Paranoia (King’s Head Theatre). Film: Mother (Contra Image), Keith and Val (Beckton Alp Cinema).

BARE ESSENTIALS - REVIEWS AND PHOTOS


Bare Essentials recently had its most successful run to date with four performances at the Take Courage Theatre at the legendary Amersham Arms, New Cross. On the last night we moved downstairs to the main space which completely filled up with a sell-out audience! Our regular series of new writing events received a number of excellent reviews, see some choice quotes below alongside production photos:


'Build A Wall' by Cary Pepper
'Letting Go' by Rhea MacCallum
'High quality acting and equally impressive directing panache. A breath of fresh air on the fringe circuit.' ★★★★ Theatre Bubble

Read full review >>

'I'll Take a Dozen Accountants...with Sprinkles' by Matt Hanf

'Friend Roulette' by Adam Lowe
'Theatre at its most nude and impactful. Another astonishing achievement. Miss the next Bare Essentials at your peril.' ★★★★ Grumpy Gay Critic

Read full review >>

'The Maltese Walter' by John Minigan

'Little Boy' by John Foster
'Encompass Productions has proved again that all one needs for interesting theatre is a great script, a room and actors that are willing to give it their all.' ★★★★ Female Arts


BAFTA-winning writer John Foster - whose work 'Little Boy' was met with unanimous praise - also shared his thoughts on the night as well as his experience of working with Encompass for a second time on Bare Essentials:

'A very rigorous and creative process which makes Bare Essentials very different from the average scratch night...[it] is sustained at another level and provides a proper professional production of a very high standard.' 


We'd like to thank everyone who made this the biggest and best Bare Essentials yet - look out for the next event in June, and see you at Stasis at the White Bear Theatre in next month!

Team Encompass for Bare Essentials February 2015!

Sunday, 1 February 2015

FEB 17 - 20...BARE ESSENTIALS IS BACK! - OUR NEXT SHOW - REVIEW ROUNDUP: THIS IS NOT A CHRISTMAS PLAY



After their hit run of 'This is Not a Christmas Play' in London's West End, Encompass Productions present the first BARE ESSENTIALS of 2015! An acclaimed series of events featuring new work from established and emerging international writers and theatremakers, Bare Essentials showcases theatre at its most elemental. The diverse range of fantastic short plays include everything from moving drama to hilarious comedies, and at the next event are: 

'Build A Wall' by Cary Pepper
'Letting Go' by Rhea MacCallum
'I'll Take a Dozen Accountants...with Sprinkles' by Matt Hanf
'Friend Roulette' by Adam Lowe
'The Maltese Walter' by John Minigan
'Little Boy' by John Foster

Even the most bare bones performance can be gripping - all you need is a room and an audience!

PERFORMANCES
TUES 17 - WEDS 18 - THURS 19 - FRI 20 FEBRUARY, 7.30PM
TAKE COURAGE THEATRE @ THE AMERSHAM ARMS
388 NEW CROSS ROAD, LONDON SE14 6TY (MAP >>)

Nearest Overground: New Cross (2min walk) & New Cross Gate (5min walk)

TICKETS
Tickets are £8 and are available online and on the door. Book via Eventbrite, turn up by 7.15pm and get the best seats! Please note: online reservations will be released at 7.20pm if not claimed. Goldsmiths University students pay £6 on the door with valid NUS ID!

#BareEssentialsLDN @encompassonline

SPECIAL PREVIEW OF OUR NEXT PRODUCTION FRIDAY 20 FEBRUARY!



Bare Essentials is now produced in association with Scripts Spotlight, which features performances of new writing in podcast form. You can listen to podcasts of work previously performed at Bare Essentials by heading to the Everything Theatre website.

SELECTED PRESS FOR BARE ESSENTIALS:
'Astonishing...an excellent collective of actors and directors. Utterly thrilling... unmissable theatre.' ★★★★ Grumpy Gay Critic
'Impressed me immensely...Encompass produce theatre of a high-standard with a broad appeal.'
★★★★ Female Arts
'Fantastic. Acting being focused on rather than masked by gimmicks. If you like new writing then this is for you!' - Everything Theatre
'Minimal staging...maximum polish. A great mix of work, Encompass achieved a very entertaining evening.' - London Reviews
'Admirable...a great chance to see a good selection of theatre audiences possibly wouldn’t be exposed to.' - Bargain Theatreland
'Raw, edgy, with distinctive eloquent performances. Terrific direction...this is real theatre.'
- John Foster (BAFTA award winning writer)


NEW SCRIPTS SPOTLIGHT PODCAST: 'SNIPER' BY JOHN FOSTER

Matthew Leigh, Jordan Kouame and Zara Malik performing 'SNIPER' at Bare Essentials
Our latest production for Everything Theatre's Scripts Spotlight monthly podcast is the brilliant 'SNIPER' by BAFTA-winning writer John Foster. The piece was first performed at Encompass' flagship new writing event Bare Essentials.

A killer recounts his motives and the people he killed in this dark, thrilling piece...




'THIS IS NOT A CHRISTMAS PLAY' - REVIEWS ROUNDUP!

Photo by Sofi Berenger
The dust has settled on This is Not a Christmas Play and the reviews are in! The show also made British Airways' Top 9 London Shows and Vibe Ticket's '5 Christmas Shows to See This Season'. We'd like to thank everyone who saw the show during the festive season and made it such a success - it was quite something to see so many of you! Here's what the critics had to say...

'A British sitcom and a Christmas film rolled into one; humour and a moral message worthy of A Christmas Carol. See this show.' ★★★★ LondonTheatre1

'Neat little production guaranteed to strike a chord...impressive. Funny, original...intriguingly bizarre.' - The Stage

Photo by Sofi Berenger
'Many genuine laugh-out-loud moments...ingenious and often surreal plot twists. Entertaining.'  - Everything Theatre

'An unexpected joy to watch. Excellent...heartwarming.' - Page to Stage

Photo by Sofi Berenger
'Wonderfully comic. A giggly-good evening for all.' - Grumpy Gay Critic

''Dares to be different. A welcome, original addition to Yuletide entertainment in the West End.' - Female Arts

THANKS FOR COMING!



THE CAST AND CREW OF THIS IS NOT A CHRISTMAS PLAY