Edward's is a semi-professional touring theatre company based at King Edward VI Grammar School in Louth, Lincolnshire. Formed in 1998, the company has achieved an excellent reputation for its lively and varied productions. Each year at least two productions are staged, one of which is taken to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe This year is the tenth time Edward's will be perfomring at the Fringe. In 2005 and 2006 Edward's achieved the coveted "Sell Out" award with Alan Bennet's Habeus Corpus and an adaptation of George Orwell's 1984.

For the tenth aniversary Edward's will be celebrating with 2 productions, Marry Me a Little and The Suicide, more details on these and other production can be found in the production section.

"...theatre that is poignant and shocking..." (Three Weeks)

"...uniformly excellant cast..." (The Guardian)

Company history and ethos:

Edward's Theatre Company aims to give its members the opportunity to work as part of a self-financing professional theatre company, using a wide variety of theatre styles and a range of theatre activities.

The company's roots:

The company was established in 1998 and although the company name is relatively new, the school has, over the years, gained a formidable reputation for its lively and varied productions

Edward's is run on the same lines as a small touring company lucky enough to have rehearsal and performance space. Students are involved in all aspects of running the company, from publicity to lighting, according to their area of interest.

As the company has to be financially self-sufficient, many students become involved, not only in the production itself, but also in the financial aspects of theatrical management and fundraising. All company members derive valuable experience across a whole range of theatre activities.

Branching Out:

Recognising the high standard acheived, it was felt that members would benefit from showing their work to a wider audience than that available locally, and so the company now takes its productions to various venues in Lincolnshire and to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. It is hoped that this will continue and that the number of venues visited will increase as the company's reputation spreads.

This venture provides an extremely worthwhile experience for all those involved, whatever their career aspiration. Not all go into the entertainments industry, although many have done so - some past members have finished Drama degrees and are now working in the industry, others are training to be drama teachers, others to be stage managers and some are even considering theatre management.

Edward's Season:

Each year the company stages at least two productions, one of which is run as a two-week workshop at the end of the summer term. It is this production that is taken up to the Edinburgh Fringe. Last year it was Stephen Jeffreys' dark political satire The Clink, and this year's Fringe production is Alan Bennett's Habeas Corpus.

The workshop is open to senior students only (i.e. years 10 to 13) and consists of two weeks intense work culminating in three performances in the school's Performing Arts Studio. The production is then staged at other venues in Lincolnshire, before...

The Edinburgh Tour:

A further rehearsal period follows, to allow the production to be adapted for performance at the Fringe and for the development of street theatre. The atmosphere and intensity of the Fringe are infectious and provide the students with the opportunity to see a range of theatre that is unavailable in Lincolnshire, to meet people from other companies and exchange ideas, and to take part in the nerve-racking business of street theatre to promote their work.

Edward's is made possible by the combined effort of many individuals, especially...

Artistic Director: Carole Ashcroft
Company Manager: Michael Kitching
Company Stage Manager: Oliver Smith
Press Officer: Rhona Adam
Touring Technician: Robert Ashcroft
Finance Manager: Jean Pridgeon