The Orange Tree aims to challenge, move and amaze with a bold and continually evolving mix of new and re-discovered plays in our unique in-the-round space. We’d like to change lives by telling remarkable stories from a wide variety of times and places, filtered through the singular imagination of our writers and the remarkable close-up presence of our actors.
We have presented new plays by writers in formative moments of their careers, and new plays by Isley Lynn, Zoe Cooper, Alistair McDowall and Branden Jacobs-Jenkins have sat alongside plays by Somerset Maugham, Bernard Shaw, Caryl Churchill, and Arinze Kene, amongst many others.
We are committed to discovering and nurturing the next generation of theatre artists through the OT Artists Network, the OT Writers Collective, and by attending shows, readings, or sharing new work.
OT Writers' Collective
The Collective is an opportunity for a group of writers to share skills, techniques and obsessions, and to fire up conversations and collaborations. It is run by the Orange Tree’s Associate Directors. In the past the programme has included masterclasses from practitioners including Paulette Randall, Martin Crimp and Ned Bennett.
The writers in our current Writers Collective are: Hassan Abdulrazzak, Azan Ahmed, Martha Watson Allpress, Catherine Dyson, Ben Weatherill, and for the first time, the Collective includes a translator, Lucy Phelps, in association with British Centre for Literary Translation.
OT Artists' Network
The Orange Tree is delighted to be starting OT Artists’ Network for professional artists. As part of the network there will be monthly talks and events.
Who is it for?
Those who work professionally as part of creative teams – for example writers, directors, producers, designers, dramaturgs. These particular events are not aimed at performers.
How to join the network
If you would like to join the network, please fill out the form on this page.
Anyone meeting these criteria will be added to the network and receive updates about events. Once added, you can book our OT Artists’ Network Nights here.
Channel 4 Playwrights
We have been proud to host a number of attachments for writers under the Channel 4 Playwrights Scheme.
Previous Channel 4 Playwrights at the Orange Tree:
- 2020: Ross Willis
- 2018: Sonali Bhattacharyya (winner of the Sonia Friedman Productions Award for her play Chasing Hares)
- 2016: Melissa Bubnic (joint winner of the Sonia Friedman Productions Award for her play Monkey Work Baboon Chop)
Script Submissions and Invitations
We love to hear what theatre artists are up to, at whatever stage in their career. We are a small team, and as a result we are not in a position to accept unsolicited submissions of work, but we do engage with as much work through readings and performances as we can.
If you would like to invite us to see your show, or a reading or sharing of your work, please email admin@orangetreetheatre.co.uk to send us the details of the show.
Your invitation will be read and discussed by the Orange Tree team, but we will only be in touch if we are able to attend.
Opportunities