Sam Hodges, Lilli Geissendorfer and Moss Barclay, stage the first HighTide Festival as a festival of play readings at The Cut in Halesworth. Writers include the comedian Tom Basden.
Steven Atkinson joins HighTide, becoming Co-Artistic Director with Sam Hodges. The second HighTide Festival takes place, this time they include full productions including Adam Brace’s Stovepipe. HighTide also begins its long term relationship with corporate partner Lansons, through the support of Clare Parsons, who provide HighTide with in-kind office space and support.
Stovepipe transfers to London as a co-production with The National Theatre and the Bush Theatre. It is named by the Sunday Times as one of the 10 Best Productions of the decade.
The third HighTide Festival takes place at The Cut.
HighTide Festivals continue annually in Halesworth until 2015 producing the world premieres of productions including Boys by Ella Hickson, Bottleneck by Luke Barnes, Incognito by Nick Payne, Mudlarks by Vickie Donoghue, Ditch by Beth Steel, Neighbors by Branden Jacob-Jenkins, Lidless by Frances Ya-Chu Cowhig, Alexander Masters’ Stuart: A Life Backwards by Jack Thorne and peddling by Harry Melling. Fringe First Winning Lidless (2010) saw the start of HighTide regularly producing plays at the Edinburgh Fringe. Then in 2014 peddling transferred to New York as part of 59E59’s Brits of Broadway season. In 2012, HighTide becomes an Arts Council England National Portfolio organisation, receiving funding from the East of England office.
Suba Das becomes HighTide’s new Artistic Director
HighTide responds quickly the global pandemic with the Lighthouse Programme, digitally supporting over 400 artists during the lockdowns with digital resources and support.
HighTide returns to live performance with the Inventing The Future Festival, a presentation of play readings including Kabul Goes Pop by Waleed Akhtar.
HighTide took offices at the New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich, creating a regular base in Suffolk.
HighTide presents its first full tour since the pandemic began, with When The Long Trick’s Over by Olivier award winner Morgan Lloyd Malcolm. A co-production with the New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich, it opens there before touring across the East of England to venues including the Jubilee Hall, Aldeburgh and The Cut Halesworth, where HighTide started its life 12 years before.
Kabul Goes Pop receives a full production and tour by Brixton House in association with HighTide and the Mercury Colchester.
Clare Slater becomes HighTide’s new Artistic Director.
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For more detailed information, you can read our Annual Reports here:
Annual Report 20/21 Annual Report 19/20 Annual Report 18/19