11/09/23

​

ACT II's double-award nominated devised show, NEVERLAND, is back this October and you should come and join the party!

​

After two incredible runs at Camden Fringe and The Pleasance we cannot wait to bring the summer festival feaver back to North London. With a live musician, puppetry, improv, dance, singing, and dialogue, this is a production that has it all - no wonder our previous audiences have LOVED IT.  Find us at The Lion & Unicorn Theatre, Kentish Town, from the 24th - 28th October. Tickets are likely to sell fast so make sure to get yours as soon as possible.

24/082023

​

We're over the moon to introduce to you, ACT II's FIRST EVER Associate Creative. Gabriele Osella will be taking on a range of creative roles across ACT II's calendar of events and bringing his exceptional talent and experience to support our future work.

​

Gabriele has been a Festival Leader of ACT II Festival for two years. He has then gone on to Co-create our most recent production of "Neverland" and support our friends Nalini Theatre Co. with there Camden Fringe run of "Woman. Life,. Freedom." He is a creative powerhouse with PR, Event Management, Producing, Facilitating, Directing, and Dramaturgy experience. He's gonna be doing BIG things as ACT II's Creative Associate and we can't wait to have him on board.

23/082023

​

Join ACT II this August and early September as we take over The Pleasance Theatre, London. There's lots of ways you can get involved from private working spaces, networking, workshops, sharings, and shows! Check out all the events we've got on offer...

 

Tickets & Information can be found here

 

Workshop: Developing Your Creative Company, Tuesday 5th September, 7:30-9pm

 

Have a theatre company that you're looking to grow? Want to start a creative company but don't know how? Got a production company that needs advice on funding and marketing? Fear Not... ACT II have you got you covered.

Join us at London's leading Fringe Theatre as we unpack the dos and don't of growing and developing your creative company. We'll be hosting an relaxed, playful, and informative workshop and Q&A session that will help you demystify the world of creative companies and collectives.

This will be a practical workshop that will work through all the elements of creating a theatre company from funding, marketing, identity, community, social media, associate schemes, and lots more. They'll even be an opportunity for you to ask lots of questions to those that have already built and grown a successful creative company.

 

Show & Tell: WIP Sharings from ACT II's Summer Resident Companies, Wednesday 6th & Thursday 7th September, 7:30 - 9pm

As part of ACT II's Pleasance Takeover, 7 emerging theatre companies have taken over London's leading fringe theatre to develop their practise, rehearse & develop new shows, and work with new creatives.

​

To celebrate their time with ACT II & The Pleasance and to provide a space where they can test out all things they have learnt during their residency they will be sharing a 15 minute extract of what they've been working on.

​

We can't wait to introduce you to Achy Bits, Bullet Point Theatre, Cathartic Party Theatre, Mad Jacks, Moosk!, and One.Five.

 

Neverland (Friends & Family showing followed by a Q&A with the cast & creatives), Friday 8th September, 7:30 - 9pm

ACT II's double-award nominated and critically acclaimed production, Neverland, is returning to London for one night only!  Thought the 2023 festival season was over? Don't worry, ACT II have got you covered. Neverland is a devised performance, "brilliantly directed by Amy Tickner," that will take you straight back to that festival weekend.

​

This show promises to be a joyful, laugh-out-loud experience that will have you donning that bucket hat, putting on the wellies, and booking your tickets for Glasto 2024. With one previous audience member coining Neverland "the best show I've seen all year" this is a fringe theatre production that you don't want to miss.

​

With puppetry, live music, dance, dialogue, live improvisation, and a pre-recorded mix from DJ Macchiato himself, Neverland promises to be a theatre experience like no other. Sit back as you're transported to all the places and people you would encounter at a festival. You'll come across Security Guard Sarah, Hippy-Dippy Reya, just-can't-keep-still Eddie, and lots more larger than live characters that make festival experiences ones to remember.

After this one off performance of Neverland, they'll be a chance to give feedback and chat to the cast & crew about the making of this devised show as we look to develop the production before a soon-to-be-announced re-run in October 2023.

 

Private Rehearsal Rooms and Communal Workspace:

Join us at The Pleasance, any day from 10-5pm to access private and communal spaces for you to work in a supportive and creative environment. Whatever project you're working on, this is a great space to get things done, meet new emerging creatives, and be in a creative space. There's lots of space for you to carry out individual work, attend meetings, host auditions, schedule rehearsals, and lots more at The Pleasance from now until the beginning of September. Book your space NOW.

11/082023

​

We're super excited to say that after Neverland's critical acclaim at this years' Camden Fringe, we've been nominated for not one but TWO fringe theatre awards!

​

Nominated for an OffFest Award and London Pub Theatre's Standing Ovation Award.

"I couldn't fault it" Theatre & Tonic
"Just go" London Pub Theatres, 4.5 STARS
"A feelgood show that has me smiling throughout" Everything Theatre, 4 STARS
"A brilliant piece of theatre" Audience Review
"Nothing like I've ever seen before" Audience Review

17/07/2023

​

Pleasance Takeover

​

 

In August 2023, ACT II will be inviting 8 THEATRE COMPANIES to join us as we take over The Pleasance Theatre, London.

​

We are so excited to be launching our first-ever summer residency at The Pleasance Theatre, London. From the 7th of August to the 8th September 2023, ACT II will be taking over The Pleasance, London, and we want you to be a part of it.

​

As part of The Pleasance Takeover, 2023, we will be offering 8 theatre companies:

1. Affordable studio space at London's leading fringe theatre

2. Mentorship & Support

3. Free tickets to Q&A and Panel Events with leading theatre companies, getting to know them, their practise, and how to follow in their footsteps.

5. A chance to showcase their work at The Pleasance Theatre, London

6. A long-lasting relationship with ACT II

​

HOW WILL THIS WORK?

The selected companies will have access to a studio space, at The Pleasance, London, for one whole week (10-5pm, Monday-Friday). During this week you can use the studio space to play, create, rehearse, and workshop your ideas as a company. Whilst you are rehearsing at The Pleasance, you will have the access to free meeting space, mentorship & support from ACT II, free marketing and promotion through ACT II's extensive network, free access to Q&A and Panel events on how to build  your company and gain residencies at London's leading fringe theatres. The companies invited to take part in ACT II's Pleasance Takeover will have the chance to perform a 15 minute sharing at the end of the program in September. There will be an audience of friends, families, industry professionals, other like-minded theatre companies, and industry leaders. The sharings will be a celebration of the work you were creating during your one week at The Pleasance Theatre, London.

​

COST:

£280 per company (equivalent of £8 per hour for studio space)

​

DATES:

Residency 1: 7th - 11th August

Residency 2: 14th - 18th August

Residency 3: 21st - 25th August

Residency 4: 28th - 1st September

​

Sharing nights, Q&A, Panel Events, & Networking: 5th - 8th September, 7:30 - 9:30pm

​

WHO ARE WE LOOKING FOR?

Theatre Companies that are:

- making exiting and creative work

- that need access to an affordable space to play & create

- going on to make more work in the future

- that make work with & for under-represented groups & individuals

- looking for mentorship, exposure, and a space to learn & test out their practise

​

DUE TO ILLNESS WE HAVE TWO MORE SLOTS AVAILABLE FOR OUR PLEASANCE TAKOVER DURING WEEKS 1 & 2 OF THE RESIDENCY. IF YOU'D LIKE TO TAKE PART, WE ARE LOOKING TO FILL THESE SPACES ASAP SO PLEASE GET IN TOUCH

​

As part of ACT II's Pleasance Takeover we are also offering discounted private meeting spaces. For just £30 per person for the whole day, 10-5pm, you can have access to a private space for self tapes, meetings, auditions, quiet working, and more. To book your slot please email amy@act2festival.org. These spaces are available Monday - Friday from 7th August - 1st September.

09/06/2023

​

Introducing NEVERLAND, ACT II's first ever in house production coming to the Lion and Unicorn Theatre as part of Camden Fringe 2023. NEVERLAND will be a devised, immersive piece exploring what festivals mean to us. With a tent and a live DJ on stage expect a great night out as well as powerful storytelling a trip straight to the heart of a festival and gig culture. NEVERLAND will be created and devised with a cohort of young, emerging theatre makers over a 2 week R&D process and performed from 2 - 4 August. After the success of ACT II Festival 2023 tickets are expected to sell out fast so grab yours now here.

 

NEVERLAND will be devised, created, and rehearsed for just two weeks of evening rehearsals in July 2023. It will then run for four nights at the Lion & Unicorn Theatre, Kentish Town, as part of Camden Fringe 2023.

 

ACT II will work with six young performers, an Assistant Director, Assistant Producer, DJ, Stage Manger, Lighting Designer / Operator to make this show happen. NEVERLAND will be an opportunity for these young people to work in a professional environment for the first time. It will be a chance for them to create work on themes that directly relate to them and to learn how to devise a show and take it to a fringe festival. NEVERLAND will incorporate physical theatre, design, and live-music, giving the young people an insight into how to work with these elements when making a show.

​

Set at a festival, with a tent and a live DJ on stage, NEVERLAND promises to be the fringe show of the summer.

​

Directed by Amy Tickner whose previous work has been nominated for a London Pub Theatre Standing Ovation award and has had transfers to Chiswick playhouse. People have said that Tickner's work is "a delight to watch" (Everything Theatre on Sixty-Seven, Lion & Unicorn Theatre, 2022) and that her directing is "wonderful and impressive" (Dress Circle Reviews on Paper Boy, Lion & Unicorn Theatre, 2021).

​

​

Want to take part in NEVERLAND? We're looking for the following roles:

​

- DJ / Sound Designer

- Lighting Designer & Technical Opporator

- 2 x male(+) performers

​

Apply via this link: https://forms.gle/q2VtiNxXRuuXoaEL7

Deadline: 5pm, Monday 10th July

20/04/2023

​

Didn't manage to catch ACT II Festival 2023 in person? Do not worry, you can watch the festival ON DEMAND until May 2nd. Thanks so The Space Theatre's incredible work and support of new writing, they can provide access to London's most promising young theatre makers through the click of a button. Check out all the information here.

16/04/2023

​

After two incredible Saturdays at The Space Theatre, ACT II Festival 2023 has finally come to an end. The support and feedback that we have received as been incredible and we are so grateful that all the hard work that has gone in to running ACT II and the Festival is paying off. The 78 young people that took part in the festival produced inspiring and professional work that will sure to develop beyond the festival. But, that's enough from us... here's what our industry reviewers had to say about ACT II Festival 2023:

​

"All the shows on the day were great, they had an individual style, tone and different depths... It was an inviting experience with jam-packed talent from writing, directing, and performing"

* * * *

Theatre and Tonic

(check out the rest of the review here)

​

"It's refreshing to sit through an event watching the sort of stuff that Fringes used to be made of...passion, commitment, and fearless creative energy"

Broadway Baby

(check out the rest of the review here)

​

"An exciting festival of new talent that tackles a vast range of topics affecting young people today. There are some stand out moments that would not feel at all out of place being presented as professional plays in their own rights."

* * * *

Everything Theatre

(check out the rest of the review here)

(check out their show by show review here)

​

"The festival offers a huge variety of shows and a wide variety of styles, but it is an important showcase of new talent. Amy Tickner is making good things happen"

London Pub Theatres

(check out the rest of the review here)

​

"The festival is a great way of keeping fringe theatre alive by encouraging young creatives and allowing them to establish a voice within their work that they could pursue even further. Hopefully, this is only their beginning."

Oda Alsos (Emerging Reviewer)

(check out the rest of the review here)

​

"I think it’s a fantastic premise; an intimate theatre festival that gives over seventy young people the chance to perform, network and have fun! From writing to directing to acting, these twenty-minute plays are the perfect vehicle for students wishing to showcase their talent."

Daisy Couture (Emerging Reviewer)

(check out the rest of the review here)

09/04/2023

​

ACT II Festival 2023 has officially SOLD OUT online! Didn't manage to grab a ticket but would still like to come and support on Saturday 15th April? Fear not, we have now launched a limited amount of £10 tickets on the door. Turn up for the 1pm, 4pm, or 7pm slots and grab a ticket from The Space Theatre's box office. Make sure to get there earlier to avoide dissapointment and missing out on London's largest youth theatre festival. See you there!

06/04/2023

​

Thanks to the incredible work of The Space Theatre, we are super excited to say that this Saturday's performances of ACT II Festival 2023 will be LIVE STREAMED. If you can't make it in person, you can still watch 78 young people come together to create London's largest youth theatre festival. More information and ticket details can be found here.

29/03/2023

 

For the first year EVER, ACT II is inviting Young, Emerging Reviewers to ACT II Festival 2023. We are looking for four young reviewers to come to ACT II Festival on either the 8th or 15th April for FREE and review all of our 12 programmed plays. Their review will then be published on this website and promoted all over our socials.

 

This is a great opportunity for you develop your critique skills, to support new writing, and to see London's emerging theatre talent. Always got something to say after attending the theatre? Well now you can write it down!

​

To apply please email amy@act2festival.org with a little bit about yourself, why you want to review ACT II Festival 2023, and a small paragraph on a piece of art that you saw recently (film, TV program, theatre, poster, painting, TikTok, etc.) and what you thought about it.

​

We'll be selecting our reviewers on a rolling basis so please contact us as soon as you can!

28/03/2023

 

Over on our instagram page we've annouced our 50+ actors that are going to be taking part in ACT II Festival 2023. We are so excited to have such a brilliant group of performers take part in this years' festival and can't wait to see them shine on stage. Head to our instagram @act2festival to check out who we've got coming to The Space on the 8th & 15th April.

23/3/2023

​

We are beyond proud and excited to hear that ACT II Festival 2020 and 2021 participant, Tatenda Shamiso is heading to the Royal Court. After taking their five star show NO I.D to Vaults Festival 2023 and collecting a Show of The Week Award, Tatenda has been invited to the Royal Court from 18th April - 6th May. Having just worked on the critically aclaimed Street Car Named Desire as their assistant director we knew that Tatenda was going to go places and are so excited to hear that their hard work is paying off. ACT II Festival was once of the first moments that Tatenda brought their work to the stage, in a festival setting and we are so proud to see where they have gone in such a short amount of time. Grab your tickets and show support for one of our own.

22/03/2023

​

Our Artistic Director, Amy Tickner, has been busy spreading the word about ACT II Festival and will be featuring in TWO podcast series this week. Take a listen to find out all about what it takes to put on London's largest young people's theatre festival, what Amy's excited for in this years' ACT II Festival, and lots more! A huge thank you to The Space and Everything Theatre for hosting us and for taking the time to chat to Amy.

​

SpaceChats on Spotify

​

The Everything Theatre Interviews on Spotify

​

​

20/3/2023

​

To help support the running of ACT II Festival 2023 we are looking for EMERGING STAGE HANDS to join our Production Team. Come and be a part of London's largest young people's theatre festival and develop your backstage skills.

​

We are looking for 2-3 Stage Hands to help run behind the scenes of ACT II Festival 2023. This will involved helping with the movement and organisation of set, props, and costumes. This is a great experience if you wish to be a part of making new theatre, learn more about backstage, and will allow you to network with other young theatre makters!

​

You will be needed for an online call with the DSM / SM on the 6th April, at the dress rehearsal at The Space on the 7th April, and at both of our Festival Days on the 8th & 15th April.

​

For more details and to apply please email amy@act2festival.org. We are filling these roles ASAP so please get in touch as soon as you can.

17/2/2023

​

Tickets for ACT II Festival 2023 are NOW ON SALE! For just £20 you can see 12 brand new 20-minute pieces all written, directed, and performed by the next generation of incredible theatre-makers. Join us at The Space Theatre on either the 8th or 15th April for a fun packed day of new writing and celebrating the creativity of young people. There will be four sets of shows running at 1pm, 4pm, and 7pm. You can come along for the whole day or just pop along to one session. Some lovely food and drink can purchased from the bar and we'll have live music keeping you entertained in between each session. For the running order, show synopsis, and tickets head to The Space website. ACT II Festival 2023 will also be streaming LIVE; so if you can't make the festival in person you can still join us from where-ever you are in the world!

13/2/2023

​

We are still looking for 15 MORE ACTORS to join ACT II Festival 2023! This is your final chance to join London's largest young people's theatre festival. perform at The Space Theatre, have access to 1-2-1 mentoring, and attend 6 free industry workshops.

​

There's a quick turnaround so check out this document and get your audition tapes in by 8PM THIS SUNDAY!

2/2/2023

​

We're super excited to FINALLY announce the six emerging theatre companies that will be hosting ACT II Festival's industry workshops. These workshops are for ACT II Festival participants to develop their theatre making skills, get to know leading fringe theatre companies, and come together as cohort each week. This year we are delighted to be welcoming Rhianna Ilube, Fourth Monkey, Itch & Scratch, Flawbored, Akward Productions, and OPIA Collective to lead our industry workshops. For ACT II, the workshops are a vital part of the festival, on par with the creating of the shows and performing them, so we are really excited to be able to host such incredible theatre companies that are all making daring and current work at some of London's leading fringe venues. Keep an eye out on our instagram (@act2festival) for lots of videos & photos from our industry workshops.

1/2/2023

​

Over on our socials we have announced cohort of young writers and directors that will be creating brilliant work as part of ACT II Festival 2023! Head over to @act2festival to see who we're welcoming into the ACT II Festival family for 2023. These young theatre makers really are going to be the creatives of the future with our festival alumni going on to do some incredible things. We are looking forward to welcoming them into ACT II Festival 2023 and seeing what they can make.

12/1/23 

​

Thinking about auditioning for ACT II Festival 2023 on the 4th & 5th February? Join us and Fourth Monkey for an audition techniques workshop. This is open to anyone ages 18-26 and will be taking place at UAL, Chelsea School of Design, on Thursday 26th January from 6-8pm. We'll then be heading to a near by bar afterwards to debrief and connect. This will be a great opportunity for you to get to know ACT II and the directors that are casting their plays for this years' festival. It will be a chance for you to develop your audition skills before you audition for London's largest young people's theatre festival next month. Check out the event page for more information and to book your place.

11/1/2023

​

AUDITIONS for this years' ACT II Festival are NOW OPEN and we can't wait to see you there. Auditions are taking place on zoom on Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th of February, where you can audition for as many parts in our 12 short-plays as you'd like. To audition you must sign up before 5pm on Friday 3rd Feb to secure an audition slot. Once you've opened up the sign-up form you will have access to our Information Document, Calendar, Play synopsis, and Audition Materials. Please read all of the information carefully before you agree to audition for ACT II Festival 2023. You must be 18-26 to take part and available for regular rehearsals in London from February-April and be able to attend all the events, workshops, and performances listed on the Festival Calendar. All auditioness must be a £1 audition fee to cover the cost of hosting the auditions and post-audition administration. If you have any more questions or would like any information clarified then please email amy@act2festival.org

​

To clarify, to audition for ACT II Festival 2023 here's what you need to do:

​

1. Head to our sign-up form and go through all the information at the start of the form.

2. Fill out the sign-up form and pay your £1 audition fee.

3. Look over the play synopsis and audition materials to decide what plays you may want to audition for. You do not need to learn any material but you may want to familiarise yourself with the text before-hand.

4. Check your emails on the evening of Friday 3rd Feb for your online audition link.

5. Turn up at any time from 11am - 4pm on the day of your audition.

6. Book your audition slots when you arrive, head to each online audition, and wait to hear back later on that week.

​

We will be posting lots more information, including helpful videos and more tips & tricks on our socials so keep an eye out on all things @act2festival.