Fourth Monkey Actor Training Company


Fourth Monkey is a drama school, theatre company and charity arts organisation.
Fourth Monkey provides vocational training in acting for stage and screen as well as preparing artists for voice acting and motion capture at their specialist training centre, The Monkey House.
Fourth Monkey was founded in 2010 by Charleen Qwaye and Steven Green.

Overview

Fourth Monkey was formed by Steven Green, the company's Artistic Director, with the intention to create an alternative to conventional drama school training.
Fourth Monkey has a particular focus on training artists to create their own opportunities. Their Emerging Artists programme provides support and mentorship to new companies formed in training
Initially only a one-year course "The Year of the Monkey" the company, in 2012, began providing a two-year programme as well. Today, Fourth Monkey offers undergraduate and postgraduate degree courses and the curriculum has been celebrated for its decolonisation by the awarding partner Falmouth University.
Alongside Fourth Monkey's approach to training, the company is noted for its theatre productions. Although performing in a wide range of theatrical styles and genres, they are generally recognised for their work in repertory theatre, ensemble theatre, physical theatre, in-yer-face theatre, site-specific theatre, and fringe theatre.
The Fourth Monkey Ensemble is the professional touring arm of the company. Born out of the training programme, the company's aim is to deliver original, physical theatre nationally and internationally. The Ensemble toured in 2014 – 2015 with their acclaimed OFFIE nominated production of The Elephant Man, which was supported by Arts Council England.
Fourth Monkey performed annually at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, where they earned a following. The company has since shifted their focus towards partaking in the Camden Fringe, performing annually at the festival since 2017.
Fourth Monkey has collaborated – and created work in association – with theatre companies such as All In Theatre,
Clay & Diamonds, Complicite, Fevered Sleep, Rhum & Clay, Shunt, The Spanish Theatre Company, Theatre Re, Theatre Témoin, and Told by an Idiot.
The company also offers a variety of short courses and intensive programmes.

The Monkey House

In September 2015, the company announced they had set up their own premises "The Monkey House" on Seven Sisters Road near Finsbury Park, having previously taught in locations such as Jacksons Lane.
The Monkey House is also a London Fringe performance space, and since 2017 has annually played host to a number of shows for the Camden Fringe.

List of productions and performances

Fourth Monkey has a long history of both audience and critical reviews for their performances of established texts and company-devised projects.

2019

Camden Fringe Season 2019
Two Year Rep productionValhalla devised by Fourth Monkey
Fourth Monkey's Cult Season Witness written by Mia Jerome 909 written by Abi Smith Sannyas written by Mia Jerome
Two Year Rep – First Year Devised Show 2019RebelRebelRebelRebelRebel. Please? devised by Fourth Monkey in association with Rhum & Clay
Fourth Monkey at The Cervantes 2019
A showcase of performed excerpts from translations of Spanish and Latin American plays. Performed in association with The Cervantes Theatre, London.Yerma by Simon Stone after Federico García Lorca The Unwritten Law by Felipe Santander All About My Mother by Samuel Adamson after Pedro Almodóvar The Little Pony by Paco Bezerra
Redemption Season The Love of the Nightingale by Timberlake Wertenbaker The Lower Depths by Maxim Gorky
YOM Devised Season 2019Heroes devised by Fourth Monkey An Open Mind devised by Fourth Monkey
Of Land & Sea Season Henry V by William Shakespeare Pericles by William Shakespeare

2018

Edinburgh & Camden Fringe Seasons 2018

Two Year Rep production:The Woman and the Canvas was devised by in a co-production with Fourth Monkey.
Reworked from their 2017 devised show The Woman on the Chair.
Scandal Season Bombshells performed by graduates of the Year of the Monkey course Fatty performed by graduates of the Year of the Monkey course Kidnap! performed by graduates of the Year of the Monkey course
Fourth Monkey at The Cervantes 2018
A showcase of performed excerpts from new translations of Spanish and Latin American plays. Performed in association with The Cervantes Theatre, London.The Opera Cleaners by Ramón Griffero Divine Words by Ramón del Valle-Inclán When Five Years Pass by Federico García Lorca The House of Bernarda Alba by Federico García Lorca
Two Year Rep – First Year Devised Show 2018The War of the Worlds devised by Fourth Monkey in association with Rhum & Clay, adapted from the novel of the same name by H. G. Wells
Season of War Widows by Ariel Dorfman and Tony Kushner Ghetto by Joshua Sobol
YOM Devised Season 2018Adrift devised by Fourth Monkey Faire des Marques devised by Fourth Monkey
Fire & Water Season Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare The Tempest by William Shakespeare

2017

Edinburgh & Camden Fringe Seasons 2017

Two Year Rep productions:The Burial of the Rats devised by Fourth Monkey, adapted from the short story of the same name by Bram Stoker Titus Andronicus by William Shakespeare
Fourth Monkey's Women of Greece Medusa by Ezra Elia Persephone by Ami Sayers Pandora by Ami Sayers
Orlando: The Queer ElementOrlando: The Queer Element devised by in association with Fourth Monkey, loosely inspired from Orlando by Virginia Woolf
Two Year Rep – First Year Devised Show 2017The Woman on the Chair devised by Fourth Monkey in association with
Later reworked as their 2018 Edinburgh and Camden Fringe production The Woman & the Canvas.
Conflict SeasonMother Courage and Her Children by Bertolt Brecht, translated by John Willett 3 Winters by Tena Štivičić
YOM Devised Season 2017Goblin Market devised by Fourth Monkey Refugee Blues devised by Fourth Monkey
Fall of Man Season The White Devil by John Webster Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare

2016

Fourth Monkey's Genesis and Revelation

Two Year Rep productions:Ascension: Part II by Steve Green Ascension: Part I by Steve Green
YOM productions:Sodom by Ami Sayers The Ark by Steve Green The Whale by Steve Green
The Russian Season Plasticine by Vassily Sigarev, translated by Sasha Dugdale Terrorism by The Presnyakov brothers, translated by Sarsha Dugdale The Grain Store by Natalia Vorozhbit, translated by Sasha Dugdale
Two Year Rep – First Year Devised Show 2016Ruckus devised by Fourth Monkey in association with Shunt
YOM Devised Season 2016Question Mark devised by Fourth Monkey The Nesting Place devised by Fourth Monkey
The Revenge Season The Winter's Tale by William Shakespeare The Revenger's Tragedy by Thomas Middleton

2015

Fourth Monkey's Grimm Tales Little Red Cap by Ami Sayers Hansel & Gretel adapted by Toby Clarke The Bloody Countess devised by Fourth Monkey Rapunzel adapted by Angela Gasparetto
Transformation SeasonThe Odyssey by Hattie Naylor, adapted from the epic poem by Homer The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit by Ray Bradbury
Contemporary Season 2015Don Juan Comes Back From The War by Ödön von Horváth, in a new version by Duncan Macmillan The Public by Federico García Lorca Hellcats devised by Fourth Monkey in association with Told By An Idiot
Shakespeare's Comedies Season As You Like It by William Shakespeare A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare Much Ado about Nothing by William Shakespeare
Tamburlaine The GreatTamburlaine the Great: Part II by Christopher Marlowe Tamburlaine the Great: Part I by Christopher Marlowe

2014

Fourth Monkey Ensemble 2014/15The Elephant Man by Steve Green and David Ledger
Edinburgh Fringe Season 2014 Alice by Toby Clarke, adapted from the Alice novels by Lewis Carroll Treasure Island adapted from the novel by Robert Louis Stevenson The House of Bernarda Alba by Federico García Lorca Can't Stay Away! by, adapted from David Posner's translation of The 22 Misfortunes of Harlequin by Carlo Goldoni The Sad Story of the Sun and the Moon devised by Fourth Monkey
Greek SeasonRhesus by Euripides Lysistrata by Aristophanes
Shizaru Season The Kitchen by Arnold Wesker Vinegar Tom by Caryl Churchill The Iceman by Toby Clarke, adapted from the short story by Haruki Murakami
Trinity Buoy Wharf Season 2014Our Country's Good by Timberlake Wertenbaker Yerma by Federico García Lorca The Good Person of Szechwan by Bertolt Brecht
Marlowe SeasonThe Jew of Malta by Christopher Marlowe The Massacre at Paris by Christopher Marlowe Faustus by Christopher Marlowe

2013

Edinburgh Fringe Season 2013The Peculiar Tale of Pablo Picasso and the Mona Lisa by Steve Green One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Dale Wasserman, adapted from the novel of the same name by Ken Kesey Sans Salomé by Toby Clarke
Trinity Buoy Wharf Season 2013Paradise Lost devised by The Fourth Monkey Ensemble, adapted from the epic poem of the same name by John Milton Project Colony devised by The Fourth Monkey Ensemble, adapted from In the Penal Colony by Franz Kafka

2012

Edinburgh Fringe Season 20124.48 Psychosis by Sarah Kane The Elephant Man by Steve Green and David Ledger Nights at the circus by and Steve Green, adapted from the novel by Angela Carter The Erpingham Camp by Joe Orton Divine Words by Ramón del Valle-Inclán Minotaur conceived by Natalie Katsou and translated by Yannis Goumas
London Spring Rep Season 2012Lord of the Flies by Nigel Williams, adapted from the novel by William Golding The Bacchae by Euripides, translated by Ranjit Bolt

2011

London Rep Season 2011Antigone by Sophocles, translated by Ranjit Bolt The Love of the Nightingale by Timberlake Wertenbaker The Threepenny Opera by Bertolt Brecht

2010

A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess

Awards

YearAward CeremonyCategoryNomineeProductionResult
2019Off West End AwardsOffFest – Short RunFourth MonkeyValhallaNominated
2015The StageSchool of the YearFourth MonkeyShortlisted
2015Off West End AwardsBest Male ActorDaniel ChrisostomouThe Elephant ManNominated
2015Off West End AwardsBest ProductionFourth Monkey EnsembleThe Elephant ManNominated
2014Edinburgh FringeSell-Out ShowFourth Monkey Two Year RepAliceWon
2014Off West End AwardsBest Set DesignerZahra MansouriThe Peculiar Tale of Pablo Picasso and the Mona LisaNominated
2014Off West End AwardsBest Costume DesignerZahra MansouriThe Peculiar Tale of Pablo Picasso and the Mona LisaNominated
2014Off West End AwardsBest EnsembleFourth MonkeyThe Peculiar Tale of Pablo Picasso and the Mona LisaNominated
2012Off West End AwardsBest Lighting DesignerPablo Baz4.48 PsychosisNominated
2012Amnesty InternationalFreedom of Expression AwardFourth MonkeyThe Elephant ManNominated
2012Edinburgh FringeSell-Out ShowFourth Monkey4.48 PsychosisWon
2010Edinburgh FringeSell-Out ShowFourth MonkeyA Clockwork OrangeWon