Latest News & Opportunities
Call for Amateur Performers for the Trials of Democracy play!
We are seeking communtiy actors from Coleridge, Market, & Petersfield wards to be part of our upcoming play (rehearsed September, performed October 4th/5th).
If you are interested, please read the full information pack! Casting workshop is on Saturday 23rd August, 2:30-4:30pm at Cambridge Junction.
Menagerie Young Writer Alumnus, Daisy Miles, wins a Bruntwood Prize!
Daisy was awarded the North West Original New Voice for her first ever full length play, R Lady’s. For this, she was awarded a £10,000 prize, along with an additional £10,000 fund dedicated to her professional development at the Royal Exchange Theatre during a 12-month residency.
A massive congratulations to Daisy, who is Menagerie’s second Young Writer alumnus to win a Bruntwood Prize (following Martha Loader winning the Judges Award in 2022 for her play Bindweed). Find out more about Daisy’s play, R Lady’s, and the rest of the shortlisted plays, on the Bruntwood website.
Daisy, pictured second from the right, holding her award.
American Candy By Tom Murray - Touring this autumn
Tom Murray, will be touring his newest play American Candy across England this autumn. Tom has had his original plays at the last two Hotbed festivals and has been supported by Menagerie throughout this time. You can see American Candy first at Omnibus Theatre, Clapham from 8-10th September.
The Beautiful Future is Coming By Flora Wilson Brown at The Traverse Theatre
Flora’s original play, The Beautiful Future is Coming, will be on from 29th July - 24th August at the Traverse Theatre as part of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2025! Flora was part of one of our first Young Writer’s Workshops back in 2014 and has since gone on to have work produced nationally. The Beautiful Future is Coming is a Bristol Old Vic production and was first performed at the venue earlier this year.
Penned Up By Danusia Iwasko - Touring nationally from September
Danusia has both written and acted for Menagerie on multiple occasions (Oran’s Message, Stand By Your Van) and is a long time Menagerie friend and associate writer. Penned Up is a new piece of work from Danusia which will be touring nationally this autumn.
Penned Up will be at The Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds on September 10th & 11th. You can buy tickets for these performances on their website.
An Update: Hotbed 2025 will not be going ahead
We regret to announce that we have made the tough decision to not produce Hotbed in 2025.
It’s a difficult funding landscape at the moment and this year, unfortunately, we can’t produce the scope and depth of new writing work to the outstanding quality our audiences have grown to expect.
We realise this will be hard news for our artists and you – our supporters – but Hotbed will be back in 2026!
Menagerie needs YOU! Be part of our Archive Project.
2025 officially marks 25 years of Menagerie theatre and we want you to help us celebrate this very special birthday!
We have worked with and supported thousands of creatives over our 25 years and we want to hear from you - what memories do you have of working with us? What is your favourite Menagerie show you’ve seen? When did you first work with us? We want to hear all of your memories as we gear up for this once in a lifetime event!
Share your #MenagerieMemories by filling out our short Google Form, or emailing Sarah at sarah@menagerie.uk.com
Albatross by Martha Loader: Touring Spring/Summer 2026
Following the success of it’s preview performance at Hotbed 2024, Albatross is planning to tour next year, both regionally and in London.
Albatross is Martha’s latest work, commissioned by and developed alongside Menagerie Theatre. Martha has also seen great success with her play Bindweed, which toured to The Mercury Theatre, The New Wolsey, and The Arcola. Read the five star review for Bindweed here.
For more information about how to book Albatross, please contact patrick@menagerie.uk.com
Menagerie Supporters Scheme is having a refresh
We launched Menagerie Supporters in November 2021 and have been so grateful for the support we have recieved over that time! However, we felt that there was something missing from the scheme, so we are busy working with our trustee, Kay Blaney, to be able to offer our Supporters more in return for their contribution.
You can find out more about becoming a Menagerie Supporter on our Supporters page.
Toy Stories by Chris Dobrowolski on tour
Toy Stories, written and performed by Chris Dobrowolski will be going on tour following it’s stay the Pleasance Attic for Edinbrugh Fringe 2024!
Part stand-up comedy, part performance lecture, Toy Stories takes the audience on an irreverent, powerful and hilarious storytelling adventure through art, contemporary politics, twentieth-century history and ...scalextric! It got a wonderful review from Brighton Fringe. In the meantime, here’s a trailer for the piece!
For more information, and to book the show, contact chrisdobo@gmail.com
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Funding also provided by: The Barbara Whatmore Charitable Trust