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Vision

Create theatre that frees the imagination to challenge the status quo.

Mission

We aim to create theatre, film, debates, forums and web-based events that challenge social injustice and promote human rights. We aim to create work that is original, daring, provocative and inspiring, for audiences who question the changing world.

We aim to forge alliances with artists, activists, writers, social commentators and organisations to campaign for equal rights and a better understanding of our stake in contemporary society. We believe that it is not only governments and the powerful that should have a say, but ordinary people. Through our work we hope to give voice to those under represented in society in a form that is accessible in style and challenging in content.

The Red Room believes that theatre should be a genuinely public art form.

Past work

The Red Room has created award winning work including Bogus Women and Animal by Kay Adshed, and Stitching by Anthony Nelson. In 2006 Lisa Goldman also created the highly acclaimed walkabout production Hoxton Story as part of its 10th Anniversary.

Its most recent production Unstated was described as “a morality play of our times. Go to be challenged. You may be uncomfortable but you may experience theatre as a potentially life changing experience.”

Ongoing work

Apart from its high quality, innovative productions, the Red Room also involves itself in debates and activism around culture and politics. In March 2003 Lisa Goldman curated Going Public, a free and public performed debate at the Tricycle Theatre about theatre as a public form. The debate involved provocations from over 20 companies the range of which included the RSC, Soho, Cardboard Citizens and Shunt. Free writing workshops were also on offer and videos of public theatre work in the cinema.

The Red Room Platforms have been running for two years. They are an experiment in bringing artists activists and the general public together to share their ideas and work and to empower.

Company history

The Red Room was created in 1995 by Lisa Goldman and Emma Schad converting a derelict room above the (then) derelict Lion and Unicorn pub in Kentish Town. In our first extraordinary year we premiered 12 new plays by new and more established writers. The Red Room appointed Topher Campbell as artistic director in 2007. The current team also includes Bryan Savery: Producer, Shabnam Shabazzi: Associate Artist and Tanya Campbell: Administrator.

The Red Room Platforms have been running for two years. They are an experiment in bringing artists activists and the general public together to share their ideas and work and to empower.

PAST PLATFORMS

Military Families Against the War
Looking at the human cost of war for British Families

Injustice
Uncovering the disproportionate deaths of Black men in custody

Why Are We Afraid of Our Young
Discussing the mythology of youth crime. Masculinity and fear

Loving Big Brother
Questioning how new laws and technology are affecting our privacy

THE @WORK NETWORK

The Red Room is part of a network of theatre companies committed to social justice. The companies are based in Finland, Sweden, Germany, Greece, Norway, and Denmark. It is a pan-European network of research, discussion and creative exchange between artists, workers, scientists, trade unions and policy makers. The @Work Network was formed in 2004 by independent performing art professionals to create alternative ways of exchanging ideas, methods and disciplines in a transnational forum. In its first year the network focused on the issues of work in European society.

This resulted in a production called Journeys to Work about migration and immigration. It was performed at a Festival in Denmark in 2007 alongside performances by the other member companies.

PUBLISHED PLAYTEXTS

  • The Shorewatcher’s House Sunspots, People on the River and Stealing Souls by Judy Upton, Methuen
  • The Night Before Christmas, The Censor by Anthony Neilson, Methuen Anthology
  • The Bogus Woman by Kay Adshead, Oberon Playtext
  • Made in England by Parv Bancil, Black and Asian Plays Anthology, Aurora Metro
  • Animal by Kay Adshead, Oberon Playtext
  • Stitching by Anthony Neilson, Methuen