Theatre503


Theatre503 is a theatre based at 503 Battersea Park Road in Battersea in the London Borough of Wandsworth, above The Latchmere pub. The venue is known for promoting the work of new writers.

History

The theatre was founded in 1982 as the Latchmere Theatre, an offshoot of the Gate Theatre, Notting Hill Gate. It is a studio theatre. The opening production was an adaptation of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, which proved so successful that the production transferred to the West End.
In 2004 the theatre was renamed as Theatre503. Under that name, the venue saw the premiere of works by writers including Duncan Macmillan, Tom Morton-Smith, Anna Jordan, Alice Birch, Charlene James, Katori Hall, Jon Brittain and Phoebe Eclair-Powell. It has won the Peter Brook Empty Space Award and two Olivier Awards, in 2010 for its production of Katori Hall's The Mountaintop and 2017 for Rotterdam by Jon Brittain.
Over 120 debut and emerging writers are staged each year in more than 70 productions ranging from one night series of shorts to full length four week runs. In a two-year cycle they read and receive over 4,000 scripts including their bi-ennial International Playwriting Award, 503 Five writers-in-residence, unsolicited and their Rapid Write Response programme.

Winners of The Theatre503 International Playwriting Award

  • 2014: Bea Roberts – And Then Come the Nightjars and Paul Murphy – Valhalla
  • 2016: Andrew Thompson – In Event of Moone Disaster
  • 2018: Danusia Samal – Out of Sorts
  • 2020: Pravin Wilkins – Moreno
  • 2023: Roxy Cook – ''A Woman Walks into a Bank''

    Awards

2020

  • Writers Guild Award, Best New Play

    2019

  • Off West End, Best New Play

    2018

  • Off West End, Best New Play
  • Stage Debut Award, Best Writer

    2017

  • Olivier Awards, Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre Rotterdam by Jon Brittain

    2016

  • Off West End, Best Producer

    2014

  • Argus Angel for Artistic Excellence
  • Off West End, Best Set Designer

    2011

Off West End Awards:
  • Most Welcoming Theatre
  • Best New Musical
  • People's Choice Best Female Performance
  • Off West End Adopt A Playwright Competition – Sarah Grochala

    2010

Winner – Olivier Awards, Best New Play, The Mountaintop by Katori Hall

2009

  • Meyer Whitworth Award, Ali Taylor for ''Cotton Wool''

    Productions

Landmark Productions
  • Wolfie by Ross Willis
  • J'Ouvert by Yasmin Joseph
  • Br'er Cotton by Tearrance Arvelle Chisholm
  • In Event of Moone Disaster by Andrew Thompson
  • Rotterdam by Jon Brittain
  • A Handful of Stars by Billy Roche
  • Land of Our Fathers by Chris Urch
  • Margaret Thatcher Queen of Soho by Jon Brittain and Matt Tedford
  • The Mountaintop by Katori Hall
  • Salt Meets Wound by Tom Morton-Smith