The Faction Theatre Company
Encyclopedia
The Faction Theatre Company is an independent touring theatre company based in London
. It specialises in producing revivals of classical texts using a "physical and inventive approach". The company's plays are usually presented with no props or set.
The company's first production was Richard III
at the Brockley Jack Theatre, London in October 2008. The production – with Leipacher in the title role, Millar as Buckingham, Sawyer as Lady Anne, Delaney as Hastings, Fordred as Clarence, Tom Shaw as Tyrell and Mellett as Elizabeth – was a success and the company's second production, an all-male version of Macbeth
, was produced in early 2009 at the Brockley Jack and at The Tabard Theatre, Chiswick. Jamie Maclachlan played the title character, with Leipacher as Lady Macbeth, Fordred, Guiney and Austin Hardiman as the Witches and Delaney as The Porter. Later in 2009 the company presented Twelfth Night at the same venues, to very positive reviews. Again, many of the key ensemble were involved, including Sawyer as Olivia, Mellett as Maria, Shaw and Guiney as Toby Belch and Andrew Aguecheek, Fordred played the clown, Feste, whilst Leipacher played Orsino, and Millar played Malvolio. As of January 2010 The Faction has been named as a resident company at the Brockley Jack Theatre, and the company's fourth show, The Tempest
., after a successful run in Brockley, transferred to an open-air space at Brockwell Park
in south London.
, translated and adapted Kabale und Liebe, which was performed as Intrigue/Love at The Southwark Playhouse - the first central London venue the company have visited - in summer 2010. The show was directed by Leipacher, and the cast included Millar, Sawyer, Mellett, Fordred and Delaney, as well as company newcomers Alice Henley
, Cerith Flinn and Steven Blake. In November 2010 the company staged Schiller's debut play Die Raueber (The Robbers), again adapted by Millar and Leipacher, at the New Diorama Theatre in central London, later touring to Theatre Royal Bath to excellent reviews. It was announced in late 2010 that the next Schiller play the company will perform will be Mary Stuart
, due to be produced as part of a rep season in late 2011. "The Demetrius Project" will see Schiller's unfinished piece, Demetrius
, completed by a team of writers and performed by the company.
Leipacher's own adaptations of The Odyssey, Arabian Nights and Chaucer's Canterbury Tales were produced in late 2010 and throughout 2011 as part of the Bridewell Theatre's Lunchbox Plays.
and back to Shakespeare when the company returned to Brockwell Park in summer 2011 for their production of A Midsummer Night's Dream
, which also toured to Theatre Royal Bath and Burnley Youth Theatre.
In 2011 and 2012 the company will stage their first rep season, with a small company of actors presenting Mary Stuart
, Miss Julie
and a revival of 2009's Twelfth Night.
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. It specialises in producing revivals of classical texts using a "physical and inventive approach". The company's plays are usually presented with no props or set.
Beginnings
The company was created by Mark Leipacher in 2008. Leipacher currently works as Artistic Director, with Kate Sawyer as Executive Producer and Rachel Valentine-Smith as Associate Director. Other key company members include Richard Delaney, Gareth Fordred, Derval Mellett, Daniel Millar, Alexander Guiney, Lachlan McCall and Isobel Smith.The company's first production was Richard III
Richard III (play)
Richard III is a history play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in approximately 1591. It depicts the Machiavellian rise to power and subsequent short reign of Richard III of England. The play is grouped among the histories in the First Folio and is most often classified...
at the Brockley Jack Theatre, London in October 2008. The production – with Leipacher in the title role, Millar as Buckingham, Sawyer as Lady Anne, Delaney as Hastings, Fordred as Clarence, Tom Shaw as Tyrell and Mellett as Elizabeth – was a success and the company's second production, an all-male version of Macbeth
Macbeth
The Tragedy of Macbeth is a play by William Shakespeare about a regicide and its aftermath. It is Shakespeare's shortest tragedy and is believed to have been written sometime between 1603 and 1607...
, was produced in early 2009 at the Brockley Jack and at The Tabard Theatre, Chiswick. Jamie Maclachlan played the title character, with Leipacher as Lady Macbeth, Fordred, Guiney and Austin Hardiman as the Witches and Delaney as The Porter. Later in 2009 the company presented Twelfth Night at the same venues, to very positive reviews. Again, many of the key ensemble were involved, including Sawyer as Olivia, Mellett as Maria, Shaw and Guiney as Toby Belch and Andrew Aguecheek, Fordred played the clown, Feste, whilst Leipacher played Orsino, and Millar played Malvolio. As of January 2010 The Faction has been named as a resident company at the Brockley Jack Theatre, and the company's fourth show, The Tempest
The Tempest
The Tempest is a play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in 1610–11, and thought by many critics to be the last play that Shakespeare wrote alone. It is set on a remote island, where Prospero, the exiled Duke of Milan, plots to restore his daughter Miranda to her rightful place,...
., after a successful run in Brockley, transferred to an open-air space at Brockwell Park
Brockwell Park
Brockwell Park is a 50.8 hectare park located between Brixton, Herne Hill and Tulse Hill, bordered by Brixton Water Lane, Norwood Road, Tulse Hill , and Dulwich Road in South London....
in south London.
Next steps
After the success of the first four shows The Faction attracted the attention of several venues interested in producing their work. In early 2010 the company took a departure from Shakespeare and began work on a major new project to translate, adapt and stage the collected works of the celebrated German playwright Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller. Leipacher and Millar, a graduate in German studies from the University of ManchesterUniversity of Manchester
The University of Manchester is a public research university located in Manchester, United Kingdom. It is a "red brick" university and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities and the N8 Group...
, translated and adapted Kabale und Liebe, which was performed as Intrigue/Love at The Southwark Playhouse - the first central London venue the company have visited - in summer 2010. The show was directed by Leipacher, and the cast included Millar, Sawyer, Mellett, Fordred and Delaney, as well as company newcomers Alice Henley
Alice Henley
Alice Sarah Henley is an English television and theatre actress.Alice Henley began acting at a young age, her first professional performance being at 13 playing Phyllis in a stage adaptation of The Railway Children....
, Cerith Flinn and Steven Blake. In November 2010 the company staged Schiller's debut play Die Raueber (The Robbers), again adapted by Millar and Leipacher, at the New Diorama Theatre in central London, later touring to Theatre Royal Bath to excellent reviews. It was announced in late 2010 that the next Schiller play the company will perform will be Mary Stuart
Mary Stuart
-People:*Mary Stewart, Countess of Buchan , fifth daughter of James I of Scotland, 1st Countess of Buchan*Mary, Queen of Scots , queen regnant of Scotland, wife of Francis II of France and mother of James I of England...
, due to be produced as part of a rep season in late 2011. "The Demetrius Project" will see Schiller's unfinished piece, Demetrius
Demetrius
Demetrius, also spelled as Demetrios, Dimitrios, Demitri, and Dimitri , is a male given name.Demetrius and its variations may refer to the following:...
, completed by a team of writers and performed by the company.
Leipacher's own adaptations of The Odyssey, Arabian Nights and Chaucer's Canterbury Tales were produced in late 2010 and throughout 2011 as part of the Bridewell Theatre's Lunchbox Plays.
Expansion and The Ensemble
As Artistic Director, Leipacher has always expressed a keeness to have a core ensemble at the heart of the company. Over the course of 2008–2013 the company will have produced over twelve plays, including work by Schiller, StrindbergStrindberg
Strindberg may refer to:People* August Strindberg , Swedish dramatist and painter* Nils Strindberg , Swedish photographer* Anita Strindberg , Swedish actor* Henrik Strindberg , Swedish composerOther...
and back to Shakespeare when the company returned to Brockwell Park in summer 2011 for their production of A Midsummer Night's Dream
A Midsummer Night's Dream
A Midsummer Night's Dream is a play that was written by William Shakespeare. It is believed to have been written between 1590 and 1596. It portrays the events surrounding the marriage of the Duke of Athens, Theseus, and the Queen of the Amazons, Hippolyta...
, which also toured to Theatre Royal Bath and Burnley Youth Theatre.
In 2011 and 2012 the company will stage their first rep season, with a small company of actors presenting Mary Stuart
Mary Stuart
-People:*Mary Stewart, Countess of Buchan , fifth daughter of James I of Scotland, 1st Countess of Buchan*Mary, Queen of Scots , queen regnant of Scotland, wife of Francis II of France and mother of James I of England...
, Miss Julie
Miss Julie
Miss Julie is a naturalistic play written in 1888 by August Strindberg dealing with class, love, lust, the battle of the sexes, and the interaction among them...
and a revival of 2009's Twelfth Night.
Awards
On November 1st 2011 the company, along with New Diorama Theatre were presented with a Peter Brook Award for Equity Best Ensemble for their production of The Robbers.External links
- [The Faction official Homepage http://www.thefaction.org.uk/
- [The Brockley Jack Theatre official Homepage http://www.brockleyjack.co.uk/
- [The Tabard Theatre official Homepage http://www.tabardweb.co.uk/
- Austin Hardiman at Mensdivision http://www.mensdivisionct.com/details.aspx?nav=1&mainsubid=5321&pic=020.jpg&indx=0&modelid=403009&subid=5321