TRANSATLANTIC COLLABORATIONS
Vision
We strive to create a thriving transatlantic partnership between PCTC and our transatlantic collaborators, producing impactful works that resonate with audiences both at home and abroad. By delving into universal themes from diverse vantage points, we seek to reveal the common threads that bind us, transcending geographical boundaries and fostering a deeper appreciation for our shared humanity. This programming focuses on cultivating connection and spurring conversation, encouraging our dynamic communities to engage with pressing socio-political issues through the transformative medium of theater. Together, we aspire to become a catalyst for change, celebrating inclusivity, dialogue, and artistic innovation while uniting diverse voices in our shared pursuit of empathy and progress.
“I’d like people to come away with the sense that the arts matter; that they have a place beyond entertainment, and can empower change. Even if the change is small, even if it is inside — even if it’s not a public change — it still fulfills a civic function.” – Anthony Biggs, Well Played
UK Partners
ANTHONY BIGGS
Anthony trained as an actor, working in regional theatre and the West End, before completing the MFA Theatre Directing Course at Birkbeck, University of London. After roles with Watford Palace Theatre, The Globe, and Theatre503, he became associate director of Jermyn Street Theatre in 2010, directing a string of high profile critically-acclaimed revivals including Little Eyolf with Imogen Stubbs, Charles Morgan’s The River Line with Lydia Rose Bewley, the UK premiere of Ibsen’s St John’s Night with Olivier winning actress Sarah Crowe, and was associate director to Trevor Nunn on the first UK stage production of Beckett’s All That Fall with Michael Gambon and Eileen Atkins which transferred to the West End and Broadway.
In 2013 Anthony took the reins as Artistic Director of JST. Highlights under his helm were the first revival in 75 years of John Van Druten’s World War 1 classic Flowers of The Forest starring Sophie Ward, Lillian Hellman’s The Autumn Garden and the UK Premiere of Lee Tannen’s I Loved Lucy starring Sandra Dickinson (transferring to West End and New York). In 2017 Anthony became Co-Artistic Director of The Playground Theatre, a former bus garage converted into a unique performance space, forging a reputation for bold and innovative practice. Focusing on development and inter-disciplinary collaborations, allied with a passionate belief in the civic role of theatre, it has become home for artists such as Steven Berkoff, Rosy Chan, Brian Cox and Sophie Ward. Anthony’s notable projects include Shirleymander – new comedy about 1980s political intrigue starring Jessica Martin and Omar Baroud played in traverse on a playground of different levels, Damage Control – an immersive audio experience amongst Josie Spencer’s life-sized bronze sculptures, exploring the language of emergency, The Great Bear – a new ‘wrap-round’ ballet-theatre hybrid created by contemporary artist Olly Williams in collaboration with Louisville Ballet choreographer Andrea Schermoly, Still Avoiding Tomorrow – sound designer Gareth Fry and writer Charlotte MacLeod’s binaural sound event with multiple narrative pathways, created with indie band Bastille, The Paradise Circus – UK premiere of James Purdy’s classic American gothic tale staged in a circus-tent format, and Soldier on – Jonny Lewis’s acclaimed play about PTSD performed by a diverse cast of veterans and professional actors. Alongside productions Anthony has created a comprehensive outreach programme, supporting the local community of North Kensington, including award-winning mental health project Well Read – created in partnership with St Charles Hospital mental health unit, and Valued – an education project with local schools supporting Nicolas Kent’s acclaimed verbatim production of Grenfell: Value Engineering.
PAUL O’MAHONY
Paul’s work as an actor has included stints with companies such as The Orange Tree Theatre, The Royal Shakespeare Company, and English Touring Opera, among many others. He has toured extensively in the United States with leading roles in Much Ado About Nothing, Richard III and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Actors From The London Stage). He is an Associate Director of Actors From The London Stage and was associate producer at Jermyn Street Theatre where his credits included All That Fall (starring Michael Gambon and Eileen Atkins), St John’s Night and Mother Adam.
In 2011, Paul adapted three Greek tragedies to create The House of Atreus, which was produced at the Barbican in London. With Rob Castell, he recently completed his first full-length musical, Delphi, based (once again!) on Greek mythology. In 2015, he directed Much Ado About Nothing in his role as Eminent Artist-in-residence at the University of Wyoming. Paul studied Classics at Oxford University where he twice won the Cawkwell Prize for Classics and was awarded an ancient history scholarship. He is Director of Outreach at Kallos Gallery in London.
WELL PLAYED
WELLY PLAYED provides inclusive arts workshops for any age group to increase wellbeing and develop participation, access, or craft. We use arts-based activity to bring people together. We have exciting connections with local and national institutions, including: The National theatre, Saatchi Gallery, Flourish and Playhouse Creatures New York, as well as good working relationships with local providers like Volunteer Centre and ADKC.
Workshops we’ve been involved with have been poetry, sculpture, music, film, or fine art. If you have a need, or a story to develop, we can help. We’re interested in producing new theatre work if it includes community at its’ centre and can demonstrably improve wellbeing and decrease isolation.
QUESTORS THEATRE
The Questors is one of the largest community theatres in Europe, with a membership of around 1,500, of whom around 600 are actively involved in productions.
Situated in Ealing, West London, they offer their members a wide range of activities and social events, in addition to a season of around twenty shows a year, a variety of courses and workshops, and a regular programme of visiting companies across multiple performance venues including the Studio and the Playhouse. The season covers a wide range of theatre, including comedies, classics, modern drama and a family Christmas show.
Questors also has a very lively social club in The Grapevine Bar. Members can get involved in all aspects of production, as well as participate in the running of events, marketing, front-of-house, and other activities.
Since its foundation in 1929, The Questors has had a reputation for achieving the highest standards, both in the quality and the professionalism of its productions. With its own theatre complex (the flexible Playhouse seats around 340 people and the Studio caters for more intimate audiences of around 90), rehearsal space, workshop and professional-standard technical facilities, they offer opportunities for excellence in all areas of theatre production and design.
As well as exploring the mainstream of modern and classical world drama, The Questors has always been respected for championing new or rarely performed plays, and for encouraging experimentation.
Currently, Questors boasts almost 1,400 members with about 600 of these actively involved in various capacities. They also have one of the largest youth theatres in the country, consisting of about 500 members.
PAST ENGAGEMENTS
¡SPANISH NUTS! by Angela J. Davis: a reading
April 25, 2024 | Questors Theatre | Resource Guide
EXECUTION OF JUSTICE by Emily Mann: a community reading
March 11-15, 2024 | Chelsea Theatre | Resource Guide