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Making the good popular and the popular good
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The Company Ethos
TWO
HATS THEATRE COMPANY was formed by James Claridge and Andy Cresswell in 1999 with the aim of providing professional work and practice for Midlands based actors. Productions took place with professional artists and crew and included an exciting co-production with the University of Warwick and the Birmingham School of Acting. We were fortunate enough to receive funding from Jeremy Irons and Peugeot for one of our productions.
Two
Hats was re-launched in 2004 and now has three directors,
James Claridge (Artistic Director), Roger Harding, an actor, writer
and multi media specialist and Darren Scott, a composer, director
and sound designer. The combined skills of these three have helped
develop Two Hats' style and approach to work while still keeping their base firmly in the Midlands.
Our
Style
Two
Hats uses drama, dance, original music, multi media and new writing where possible. Our relationship with the audience is of primary importance and we have tried to develop this.
Experience has taught us that audiences like to build a relationship with performers - they enjoy seeing actors they recognise from previous productions - so we have tried to establish a company of actors and other creative specialists who will work on several productions. It evokes a sense of ensemble and continuity and enables the audience to recognise that it is a Two
Hats production. It also allows us to develop the quality of our work by building on known strengths.
The new-look Two Hats toured for the national rural touring schemes early in 2006 before finding a more permanent home in Stratford-upon-Avon at the Waterside Theatre (also known as the Shakesperience). We are also looking at other venues for a potential expansion into local touring.
There is a lot the company can offer. We are developing a solid ensemble of local artists and our professional creative consultants are both local and international.
The choice of work the company produces is largely based on two things:
(1) a creative desire to stage the work and
(2) audience appeal.
Quite often the two don't walk hand in hand but we endeavour to keep the balance.
Two Hats' aims to keep expanding as a professional theatre company and to keep showcasing the wealth of talent in the Midlands area to a wider audience. It should be an exciting journey.
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