Join award-winning theatre director Matthew Parker for a workshop exploring all the elements and steps of putting on a show on the London Fringe and Off-West End scene.

This full and frank discussion, formed from Matthew’s personal experience, will touch on all aspects of putting a show on including:

• How to choose a suitable venue from the 70+ venues across London
• How to pitch your show to Artistic Directors
• Info on how budgeting, marketing (online vs print)
• How to run a successful (and joyous!) casting process
• How to engage with the press and reviewers
• Building your creative team and how to ensure a collaborative process
• The design and creative pre-rehearsal process
• Rehearsal planning
• Risk management and mitigation
• How to ensure a successful and happy run once the show is open

No experience of producing a show necessary – just enthusiasm for exploring the ‘how’.

Matthew will draw upon his 13 years of experience creating work for the London Fringe and Off West End, including his 5 years as Artistic Director of The Hope Theatre where he collaborated with over 100 theatre makers infringing their shows to fruition. The workshop will also allow participants to bring potential projects to chat through and will be informative, fun and honest.

Matthew Parker is a multi-award-winning theatre director, actor, PR consultant and ex-Artistic Director of The Hope Theatre, where he was awarded Best Artistic Director at the OFFIE Awards 2017. For the past 13 years he has directed and been part of producing over 30 productions on the London Fringe and Off West End including 6 at The Jack Studio Theatre where he has been variously a Director, Movement Director and Choreographer, actor, Associate Director and a member of the Box Office and Literary Teams. His work on London’s Off West End often gains excellent reviews, sold out performances and awards, including 8 nominations as Best Director at the OFFIE Awards for his work from 2015 onwards up to and including this year’s Thrill Me: The Leopold & Loeb Story at the Jermyn Street Theatre and 2021’s Trestle here at the Jack Studio.

In addition to his work as a director, Matthew is a Press & PR consultant and works with companies in ensuring their work is seen, reviewed and sells well. He has taught and led courses, seminars and workshops in various acting and theatre-making disciplines at the Drama Studio London, The MTA, Mountview and Trinity Laban. Matthew has created and facilitated actor-training workshops for professional theatre makers at various London branches of Equity and on the London fringe.  More information on Matthew’s work and practice, including all his past productions, can be viewed at matthewparker.net

PHOTO CREDIT: Craig Fuller