Take the Space (Touring Theatre Company)
“This tiny company punches way above its weight – see them and experience meticulously researched theatre that stimulates, entertains and relies on skill and imagination”
Our Mission
Take the Space is an artist led company, formed in 2005, when we committed to creating and touring new work of high quality across the whole range of the touring circuit – from small village halls and studio theatres, to midscale arts centres, to the classic proscenium no.1 theatres.
We aim to be flexible enough to take any space, to be accessible to all those in our diverse society and most of all to entertain and inspire.
The Story so Far
Our first play was Sam & I, the story of the marriage between Elizabeth St Michel and Samuel Pepys. This solo show, written and performed by Siobhán Nicholas and directed by Chris Barnes, had been commissioned for the City of London’s Tercentenary Pepys Festival.
In 2005, we were awarded our first arts council grant and were able to take Sam & I on our very first tour. After a performance at Guildford’s Yvonne Arnaud’s The Mill, the theatre manager, Brian Kirk asked “What’s the next one?” Siobhán answered “ A play about a C17th genius called Robert Hooke who was written out of history ” And that’s how it began: through Brian, Yvonne Arnaud Theatre became our co producers, not only on Hanging Hooke but also Dolce Via, our homage to Fellini’s La Strada. Dolce Via was also a small homage to Siobhán’s great great granny from Donegal and to Chris’ misspent youth during which he’d spent two seasons with Barnum and Bailey’s Ringling Brothers Circus!
Two great women astronomers, Jocelyn Bell Burnell and Caroline Herschel inspired STELLA, a story of women, their men and astronomy whilst two great men of Boxing inspired White Feather Boxer: Barry McGuigan and Muhammad Ali. Both men had bravely committed to peace movements. During our research & development, it was wonderful to discover that in the early C20th, there had actually been three Boxers who were also Quakers. The play became above all a tribute to the extraordinarily brave conscientious objectors of WW1.
Our new play Goodbye Jolene was inspired by another phenomenal woman - Dolly Parton, the genius musician and song teller whose Imagination Library brings the gift of reading to children world wide
What People say about Us
“This tiny company punches way above its weight – see them and experience meticulously researched theatre that stimulates, entertains and relies on skill and imagination” The Public Review ”
“Individually they are both remarkable; together, they are a tour de force that sweeps the audience in their wake as they strike, flare up and blaze from one another’s incandescent energy.”
“This is the most wonderful piece of new writing
I have seen in years.”
“...this gem of a show...was story telling of the highest order...”
“...the audience choked on the bared emotions and the wonderment of people seeing deep space for the first time”
“Distinguished actor Chris Barnes delivers a knockout performance in this complex story about a veteran boxing trainer who takes on a troubled young female boxer, only to find himself confronting his conscientious objector past. From his broken nose to his limp, he inhabits the part - achingly poignant and compassionate, careworn yet precise and demanding. The late Michael Bogdanov, the passionate, controversial proponent of visceral, raw theatre is credited as an Associate on “White Feather Boxer”, Barnes performance is a fitting tribute to his mentor. ”
“This play has both enormous heart and elegance, a balance that only comes with dramatic gifts honed over many years and productions. It avoids the sentimental, but not true sentiment. A gentle tribute to singing, its people and touching disabilities that affect us all (in this case one in seven), it’s a major sixth in Nicholas’ own augmented chord of plays. If you’re attracted by any of the themes, it’s a must-see, but it’s worth anyone’s 90 minutes.”
Breaking News:
We’ll be deep in research this year for a new project but we do still plan to take Goodbye Jolene on the road again so please watch this space for full details on our performances in late 2025/ early 2026
Our new play about a dyslexic woman who inspired by her hero - Dolly Parton, decides to grab a bigger life was developed during lockdown. It was a blast working with film makers, a small country band and our bijou Choir - Voces Septem; #ThomasTallis #WilliamByrd #iconicsongstress #Dolly Parton #dyslexia #isolation #imaginationlibrary.
Go to our Goodbye Jolene page for more information
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