About Us
'In just five years, new writing theatre company HighTide Festival Theatre has built illustrious connections and an entrepreneurial spirit.' The Guardian, April 2011
'This festival takes itself with theatrical seriousness' The Times, May 2011
HighTide Festival Theatre was founded in 2007 to discover, produce and champion emerging playwrights. This remains our core vision, and informs all of the company's work and future ambitions. We receive over 900 unsolicited script submissions annually. Every script is read.
Under Artistic Director Steven Atkinson, the annual HighTide Festival in rural Suffolk has become one of the UK's leading theatre events. HighTide's productions then transfer nationally and internationally in partnerships that have included: the Bush Theatre (2008), National Theatre (2009), Old Vic Theatre (2010), Ambassador Theatre Group / West End (2011), to the Edinburgh Festival (2008/10/11) and internationally to the Australian National Play Festival (2010).
HighTide Festival Theatre is a National Portfolio Organisation of Arts Council England.
A Brief History
The fifth HighTide Festival in 2011 premiered four plays written by Stephen Belber, Adam Brace, and Andrew Motion, and the fourth, a musical, book and lyrics by Richard Marsh and music by Natalia Sheppard (aka Rogue Nouveau).
Andrew Motion's Incoming transferred to Latitude Festival 2011, the 23rd Aldeburgh Poetry Festival, and by special invitation to the House of Commons.
Stephen Belber's Dusk Rings A Bell transferred to the 2011 Edinburgh Festival before transferring to Watford Palace Theatre.
Adam Brace's Midnight Your Time transferred to the 2011 Edinburgh Festival.
The fourth HighTide Festival in 2010 premiered three plays written by Serge Cartwright, Frances Ya-Chu Cowhig and Beth Steel. Serge Cartwright's Moscow Live was shortlisted for the 2010 John Whiting Award.
Beth Steel's Ditch transferred to The Old Vic Tunnels in London, in a co-production with The Old Vic, in May 2010. Ditch was shortlisted for the 2010 John Whiting Award.
Frances Ya-Chu Cowhig's Lidless transferred to the 2010 Edinburgh Festival, where it won a Fringe First Award before transferring to the Trafalgar Studios, London in March 2011.
Dominic Mitchell's The Theatre EP, conceived by Natalie Ibu, premiered at Latitude Festival 2010, Suffolk.
The third HighTide Festival in 2009 premiered three plays written by Lydia Adetunji, Lucy Caldwell and Jesse Weaver.
Lydia Adetunji's Fixer and Adam Brace's Stovepipe transferred to the National Play Festival in Brisbane, Australia, in January 2010.
Fixer was shortlisted for the Meyer Whitworth Award. It was revived in a production at Oval House Theatre in June 2011.
The second HighTide Festival in 2008 premiered four plays written by Adam Brace, Joel Horwood, Nick Payne and the fourth devised by You Need Me.
Joel Horwood's I Caught Crabs in Walberswick transferred to the 2008 Edinburgh Festival, a UK tour, and the Bush Theatre, in a co-production with Eastern Angles.
Adam Brace's Stovepipe transferred to the West 12 Centre in London as a found-space production in collaboration with the National Theatre and Bush Theatre in March 2009. The Sunday Times listed this as one of The Ten Best Theatre Productions of the Decade.
Nick Payne's The Pitch premiered at Latitude Festival 2008, Suffolk.
The first HighTide Festival in 2007 premiered eight short plays written by Tom Basden, Steven Bloomer, Sarah Cuddon, Sam Holcroft, Matthew Morrison, Pericles Snowdon, Megan Walsh and Iain Weatherby.
Tom Basden's Assembly then transferred to Hay-on-Wye Festival 2008. It was expanded into a full length play retitled Party, which premiered at Edinburgh Festival 2009 where it won a Fringe First, transfered to the Arts Theatre, London, and was adapted for Radio 4.
The HighTide Warehouse is our research and development wing which supports the creation and production of new writing theatre in the broadest sense. The HighTide Academy is our annual summer-school, working with young people in the East of England to discover new artists and new audiences.
Lansons Communications host the company's administrative offices within their Clerkenwell headquarters, saving the charity all expenditure on overheads. This partnership won two Corporate Engagement Awards 2011, and was nominated for an Arts & Business 2010 award. The 02 Centre Finchley Road, managed by Land Securities, host the Genesis Laboratory, providing rehearsal space for research and development work.