Out of Joint (1993-2025) was a British and international touring theatre company based in London. It specialised in the commissioning and production of new writing, interspersed with occasional revivals and classic productions.
History
Leadership Out of Joint was founded in 1993 by director Max Stafford-Clark and producer Sonia Friedman.
In 1998, Graham Cowley succeeded Friedman as producer in 1998. Upon his retirement in 2012, Cowley was succeeded as producer by Panda Cox, who originally joined the company as Stafford-Clark's assistant.
Martin Derbyshire joined in 2013 and later became Joint CEO and Executive Producer after Stafford-Clark's departure.
In September 2017, Stafford-Clark left the company. In April 2017, he was replaced by then Co-Artistic Director Kate Wasserberg.
Activities The company premiered plays by established writers such as David Edgar, Sebastian Barry, Richard Bean, Caryl Churchill, April De Angelis, David Hare, Rebecca Lenkiewicz, Mark Ravenhill and Timberlake Wertenbaker, as well as work from first-time writers such as Stella Feehily and Mark Ravenhill. Classic productions include She Stoops to Conquer, Three Sisters and Macbeth.
The company performed on six continents and has co-produced with theatres such as The National Theatre, Royal Court Theatre, Bush Theatre, Hampstead Theatre and Sydney Theatre Company.
By May 2021, the company had changed its registered address, professional and legal names, becoming known as Stockroom, previously the name of its writers development project. The organisation closed in November 2025.
Productions
YearTitleWriterNotesRef1994The Man of ModeGeorge EtheregeThe Libertine Stephen JeffreysThe Queen and ISue TownsendRoadJim Cartwright1995The Steward of ChristendomSebastian BarryThree SistersAnton ChekhovThe Break of DayTimberlake Wertenbaker1996Shopping and Fucking Mark Ravenhill1997Blue HeartCaryl Churchill1998Our Country's GoodTimberlake WertenbakerOur Lady of SligoSebastian BarryThe Positive Hour April De Angelis1999Some Explicit Polaroids Mark RavenhillDrummersSimon Bennett2000Rita, Sue and Bob TooAndrea DunbarA State AffairRobin Soans2001Sliding with SuzanneJudy UptonFeelgoodAlistair Beaton2002She Stoops to Conquer Oliver GoldsmithA Laughing Matter April De AngelisHinterlandSebastian Barry2003DuckStella FeehilyThe Permanent WayDavid Hare2004Sisters, Such Devoted SistersRussell BarrMacbethWilliam Shakespeare2005Talking to Terrorists Robin Soans2006The OverwhelmingJ. T. RogersO go my ManStella Feehily2007Flight PathDavid WatsonKing of HeartsAlistair Beaton2008The Convict's OperaStephen JeffreysTesting the EchoDavid Edgar2009Mixed Up NorthRobin SoansDreams of ViolenceStella Feehily2010The Big FellahRichard BeanAndersen's EnglishSebastian Barry2011Bang Bang BangStella FeehilyTop GirlsCaryl ChurchillA Dish of Tea with Dr Johnson Adapted by Russell Barr, Ian Redford and Max Stafford-Clark from James Boswell's The Life of Samuel Johnson and The Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides.2012Fear Of MusicBarney NorrisOur Country's GoodTimberlake Wertenbaker2013CiphersDawn King2014This May Hurt A BitStella FeehilyPitcairnRichard Bean2015Crouch, Touch, Pause, EngageRobin SoansJane Wenham: The Witch of WalkernRebecca LenkiewiczAll That FallSamuel Beckett2016A View from Islington North Alistair Beaton, Caryl Churchill, Stella Feehily, David Hare and Mark Ravenhill2017ConsentNina RaineRita, Sue and Bob TooAndrea Dunbar2018Close Quarters Kate Bowen2019The Remains of the DayBased on the novel by Kazuo Ishiguro adapted by Barney Norris2020The Glee Club Richard Cameron2022Dead Air Stockroom2023Alice in WonderlandStockroom and Vikki StoneBlaccineStockroom2024Boys from the BlackstuffBased on the TV show by Alan Bleasdale adapted by James Graham
References
Stafford-Clark, M. and Roberts, P. (2007) Taking Stock: The Theatre of Max Stafford-Clark, London: Nick Hern Books,
External reference
Out Of Joint website British Council Out Of Sight profile