Latest News & Opportunities

Menagerie Young Writer Alumnus, Daisy Miles, Shortlisted for the Bruntwood Prize 2025

Daisy’s first ever full length play, R Lady’s, is one of 15 plays to be shortlisted for this years Bruntwood Prize. The winners of each category will be announced on 21st July during the Bruntwood Prize’s 20th anniversary ceremony, at the Royal Exchange. For the first time, this event is open to the public - tickets on the Royal Exchange website.

A massive congratulations to Daisy who is Menagerie’s second Young Writer alumnus to be shortlisted for the 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.

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.

Call for Community Actors for 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! Deadline 5pm August 8th.

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