Our Company
An Award Winning Theatre Company known for our innovative and exciting work
Who are we?
We're a group of Profesional Actors, Directors, Musicians, Stage Managers, playwrights and other theatre makers. We devise, write, stage and compose theatre for all ages.
In the Beginning...
'The Works’ was established in 2004. Its main aim at this time was to involve more local youngsters in drama and performing arts. Although, the company has branched out, children’s theatre and education still remain the heart of our work.
Aristophanic Adventures
Due to the success of an outside production of Aristophanes ‘Clouds’ in 2004, the company began touring outdoor venues across the region in the summer months. This production and last years version of ‘Wasps’ have been widely acclaimed by public and Classic experts across the country and have gained the company and the writing team of Paul Hart and Andrew Goy notoriety as a distinctive and recognisable force in the staging of Aristophanes in modern times. A reworked production of 'Acharnians' is being prepared for the near future.
Completeing the Works
As well as this, on alternate years, Artistic director Paul Hart has taken on a Shakespeare classic to tour outdoor venues. The first of which, ‘Othello‘, was a huge success touring venues including Leeds, Rochester and Canterbury Castles.
Future Works
In 2007, the company will return to Shakespeare with a production of ’Twelfth Night’ and for the first time, the company will be touring venues outside of Kent as well. This exciting venture includes new venues such as Reigate and Guildford Castles, The Hawth Amphitheatre in Crawley as well as renowned venues including Winchester Cathedral and Richmond’s York House Gardens.
The production will see a return to the company for composer; Tarek Merchant who became an associate of the company this year. Having written the music for ‘Wasps’ and our Theatre in Education tour of ’The Tempest’.
For ‘Twelfth Night’, he will be composing a fresh Jazz score to accompany the famous text. The actors will all be trained musicians as well as accomplished actors to create a new and exciting way of telling the story.
Works in Progress
Most would agree that drama is important for youngsters, not only does it encourage aspiring thespians, it also helps to improve confidence and communication skills as well as providing a fun and exciting hobby .
Director Paul Hart says that “‘The Works’ is different to other drama company’s. Through touring shows and workshops that support the schools curriculum and weekly classes we try to find a way of letting the children express themselves freely and finding their own association with the work. We work in a way whereby not only do the youngsters learn from us but that we learn from them and have the flexibility to adjust to their creativity. We aim to have fun with drama and performance and enable youngsters to come out of their shells and have the opportunity to build on their dramatic experiences”.
Awards
Last year, we were awarded a ‘Kent Respect Award’ by the Kent Messenger Group and the Home Office. This was awarded to us because of our community work and for raising hundreds of pounds for the homeless over a number of charity events.
Our Name
'The Works' suggests the building point of something that is both developmental and real. We see this regarding both the human form and the artistic process. Hamet's words "What a piece of work is man..." suggests man's potential, his ability to think and to create which indeed makes us 'infinite'. It is through this that we feel, we can form art and we can change society. This passion for originality and a belief in the power of human imagination is behind all the work we do.