The Faction is a London-based theatre company. The Faction is beginning to develop a real signature in imaginative, contemporary and visceral versions of the classics. Amid the current debate between the rise of new writing and lack of classical work on London stages, this enterprising and determined company is doing us all a service. – The Stage
It's a bold, brave enterprise – The Guardian
Company
After seeing the Schaubühne Berlin at Edinburgh International Festival in 2004, Mark Leipacher created The Faction Theatre Company in 2008. The Faction became a registered charity in 2011. Their first production was Richard III at the Brockley Jack Theatre, London, in October 2008. The Faction is now led by two artistic directors; Mark Leipacher and Rachel Valentine Smith, and is supported by a core ensemble of eleven actors and associate artists.
Ensemble Alex Guiney Amelia Donkor Anna-Maria Nabirye Christopher Hughes Christopher York Clare Latham Gareth Fordred Jude Owusu Kate Sawyer Lachlan McCall Natasha Rickman
Associate artists Gareth Jandrell – Playwright Emily Juniper – Playwright Suzie Foster – Stage Manager Max Pappenheim – Sound Designer Chris Withers – Lighting Designer
History
During The Faction's formative years, they toured across the UK, played studio theatres across London, and established an open-air season in Brockwell Park. They were then invited to be an associate ensemble of the New Diorama Theatre. With the support of their 5-year relationship at The New Diorama, The Faction was able to trial a more permanent model of working in repertory theatre, with a core ensemble.
Since 2012, The Faction have produced five annual sell-out repertory seasons, engaging with over 26,000 audience members and 4,000 students. In 2016, The Faction partnered with Selfridges to create an auditorium in their Oxford Street store for Shakespeare 400 celebrations, where they produced a version of Much Ado About Nothing to critical acclaim. The Faction took their work even further afield later that year, in partnership with the British Council, and the American University of Beirut, producing and co-directing an Arabic premiere production of King Lear.
In addition to Shakespeare, The Faction have produced work by other classic writers such Cervantes, Euripides, Gorky, Lorca and Schiller. They also bridge the divide between classics and new writing by engaging some of the UK's most exciting and emerging writers. To date, this has included Ranjit Bolt (Three Sisters), Gareth Jandrell (Thebes, published by Bloomsbury Methuen Drama), Emily Juniper (Miss Julie and Vassa Zheleznova) and two unique projects: Reptember and Demetrius.
Reptember is an Offies-nominated project, consisting of 12 classic texts adapted for solo performance by some of our most promising playwrights, including Jessica Sian and Will Gore.
Demetrius is an ongoing portmanteau project to complete Schiller's final unfinished work. Established writers such as April de Angelis, Glyn Maxwell and Simon Reade complete a "unit" before passing the baton to up and coming writers like Jon Brittain and Daniel Kanaber.
Productions Source: 2008 Richard III – Shakespeare 2009 Macbeth – Shakespeare Twelfth Night – Shakespeare 2010 The Tempest – Shakespeare Intrigue/Love – Schiller in a version by Mark Leipacher & Daniel Millar Canterbury Tales – Chaucer The Robbers – Schiller in a version by Mark Leipacher & Daniel Millar 2011 Strindberg's Apartment – Strindberg adapted by Simon Reade The Odyssey – Homer A Midsummer Night's Dream – Shakespeare Arabian Nights – Folklore 2012 Twelfth Night – Shakespeare Mary Stuart – Schiller in a version by Mark Leipacher & Daniel Millar Miss Julie – Strindberg in a version by Emily Juniper Othello – Shakespeare 2013 Fiesco – Schiller in a version by Mark Leipacher & Daniel Millar Three Sisters – Chekhov in a version by Ranjit Bolt Blood Wedding – Lorca in a version by Gareth Jandrell 2014 Hamlet – Shakespeare Thebes – Aeschylus in a version by Gareth Jandrell Shakespeare's Lovers – Shakespeare Reptember: Solo – Various 2015 Romeo & Juliet – Shakespeare The Talented Mr Ripley – Highsmith in a version by Mark Leipacher Joan of Arc – Schiller in a version by Mark Leipacher 2016 Richard III – Shakespeare Reptember Reloaded: Solo Season – Various Vassa Zheleznova – Gorky in a version by Emily Juniper Much Ado About Nothing – Shakespeare King Lear – Shakespeare (Arabic language premiere, Lebanon)
Awards
The Faction have been awarded the Peter Brook Ensemble Award, and has received Offies for Best Ensemble, or nominated for: Best Director; Best Actor (3 nominations); Best Supporting Actress; Best Supporting Actor; Best Lighting Design; Most Promising New Playwright; and TBC Award for the productions that defy traditional categories. In addition, The Faction were nominated at the London Theatre Awards for Best Artistic Director, and for the National Stage Management Awards' 'Individual Award'.
References
External links Official Homepage The Brockley Jack Theatre official Homepage The Tabard Theatre official Homepage Austin Hardiman at Mensdivision