Snapdragon Productions

Snapdragon Productions is a London theatre company run by producer Sarah Loader and director Eleanor Rhode.

In 2018, they opened the UK Touring production '' Teddy'' by Tristan Bernays and Dougal Irvine. It opened at the Watermill Theatre and will finish its run at VAULTS Waterloo.

In April 2016, Snapdragon made their international debut at 59E59 Theaters, New York, with their Off-Broadway transfer of ''Toast'' by Richard Bean. Snapdragon's 2016 world premiere of ''Teddy'' by Tristan Bernays and Dougal Irvine won the 2016 Off West End Award for Best New Musical.

Between 2013 and 2015, Snapdragon presented three plays at The Park Theatre in their 200-seat space including their production of ''Thark'' by Ben Travers. The revival was the first London production in nearly 30 years, and was the world premiere of its new adaptation by actor/writer Clive Francis. They returned to the venue in December 2013 to present the London premiere of '' The Dead Wait'' by Paul Herzberg.

On 27 August, Snapdragon's revival of ''Toast'' by Richard Bean opened at The Park Theatre and received a consistently positive response, particularly for the strong ensemble performances including those from Matthew Kelly and Simon Greenall. On 9 September, the company announced their production of ''Toast'' would tour the UK in 2016, culminating with a limited run Off-Broadway as part of 59E59's Brits Off Broadway festival. Their transfer to 59E59 Theaters received favourable reviews including Critics Pick from Ben Brantley of ''The New York Times''.

Their co-production of '' Accolade'' by Emlyn Williams opened to strong reviews. This production was produced with Nicola Seed as part of the Stage One season for new producers.

Selected work

*'' Teddy'' by Tristan Bernays, with music by Dougal Irvine, Watermill Theatre and UK Tour, 2018
*''When We Were Women'' by Sharman Macdonald (Orange Tree Theatre, 2015)
*''Teddy'' by Tristan Bernays, with music by Dougal Irvine (Southwark Playhouse, 2015)
* '' Accolade'' by Emlyn Williams (St James's Theatre, 2014)
* ''Toast'' by Richard Bean ( The Park Theatre, 2014), UK Tour, 2016 and 59E59 Theaters, New York, 2016
*'' The Dead Wait'' by Paul Herzberg (The Park Theatre), 2013)
* ''Thark'' by Ben Travers (The Park Theatre, 2013)
*'' A Life'' by Hugh Leonard (Finborough Theatre, 2012)
*'' The Drawer Boy'' by Michael Healey (Finborough Theatre, 2012)
*''Barrow Hill'' by Jane Wainwright (Finborough Theatre, 2012)
*''Generous'' by Michael Healey (Finborough Theatre, 2010)
*''A Day at the Racists'' by Anders Lustgarten (Finborough Theatre, 2010)
*''Me and Juliet'' by Rodgers and Hammerstein (Finborough Theatre, 2010)
*''Anna Karenina'' by Leo Tolstoy adapted by Helen Edmundson (Arcola Theatre, 2011)

Productions in development

Productions in development include a Gorky's ''Vassa'' in a new adaptation by Luke Barnes; a UK Tour of their rock 'n' roll musical '' Teddy'' by Tristan Bernays and Dougal Irvine; and a retelling of the Boudica story from playwright Tristan Bernays.

Reviews

In his final review for ''The Daily Telegraph'', Charles Spencer heralded Snapdragon's production of ''Toast'' as “like a latter-day Ibsen but with rather better jokes… Constantly compelling.”. Overall, the production received twelve four-star reviews including from ''The Guardian'', ''The Daily Telegraph'', ''The Times'', ''The Sunday Times'', ''The Sunday Express'', '' Time Out'', ''The Stage'', WhatsOnStage and the ''Evening Standard''.
In ''The Guardian'', Michael Billington called the production of '' Thark'' "a joyous evening in a parallel universe". In a five-star review of '' A Life'' by Hugh Leonard, ThePublicReviews.com called Eleanor Rhode's production a “stunning revival of this minor-key comic masterpiece.”
In the ''Financial Times'', Sarah Hemming found the production of ''Generous'' on the whole impressive: "a witty, sympathetic exploration of human behaviour". Billington called it "bright, sharp, swift and well-acted". In the ''Independent on Sunday'', Kate Bassett said of ''A Day at the Racists'' that although "this low-budget staging is a little rough around the edges" it was theatrically "the wow of the week".Bassett, Kate
"Theatre"
''The Independent on Sunday'', 7 March 2010

References

{{authority control

Theatre companies in England
Theatre companies in London