Solstice

KDC Theatre presents Solstice, a themed night of new short plays.
Sat 21-Mon 23 June 2025
at Rosemary Branch
Tickets: £16.50 (KDC members £12)

CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS

About

Solstice is KDC Theatre’s 9th annual new writing show, featuring 7 new short plays all themed around the solstice.

A solstice marks a point of extreme: the longest day or the longest night. It is a turning point in the calendar year and carries powerful symbolic weight, evoking cycles of growth and decay, hope and loss, light and shadow. Come join us on the summer solstice for a night of brilliant new writing covering a range of genres and moods.

Plays:
Green Wire, Yellow Wire – by T K Tansey
Holmes and Watson at Breakfast – by Rom Watson
Reprise – by Ken Preuss
Solstheist – by Cam Eickmeyer
Uber – by Ron Rosenfeld
Unreasonable Situations – by Lindsey Brown
Words To That Effect – by F J Hartland

Cast:
Cassandra Fothergill
Marina Fraser
Ksanet Ghebrehawariat
Benjamin Hack
Aissa Hussain
Lucy Harper
Nikos Kipouros
Hugh Laughton-Scott
Martin Loesche
Peter Molloy
Juliette Moore
Laura Morgan
Olivia Peacock
Oscar Sadler
Megan Sheerin

Directors:
Ben Anadolu
Azul Alysum
Sarah Jost
Alexander Kampmann
Matthew Partridge
Saskia van ‘t Hoff

KDC Theatre Summer 2025 Season Launch

Want to learn about KDC Theatre and our upcoming Summer Season show, Solstice? Come along to KDC’s Season Launch at the Theatre Deli Leadenhall Bar at 7.30pm on Friday 2nd May 2025.

KDC SUMMER SEASON LAUNCH

Friday 2nd May 2025, 7.30pm
Theatre Deli Leadenhall bar
107 Leadenhall St, London EC3A 4AF

Hear the showrunner and directors talk about the production and answer your questions. You can also find out more about getting involved with KDC Theatre, including backstage roles.

To help us manage numbers, please let us know you’re coming by filling in this short form. Feel free to come along and meet the team!

Summer 2025 show: Full stack – actors needed!

Announcing auditions for our summer production!

Our 9th annual Full Stack show will be staged at the Rosemary Branch Theatre, London from Sat 21 June to Mon 23 June 2025.

The winning plays of our writing competition Full Stack will be staged by our directors, in an anthology show of short plays about the solstice. Each play will feature the solstice in one way or another; a change, a sunset or sunrise, or transitions. You can check out the original prompt here.

For more information, check out the audition notice here: Solstice

Auditions are free and open to all. Please choose one of the dates to attend and read the audition notice to prepare. We are expecting Tuesday to be busier.

Don’t forget to fill out the audition form before you audition!

Dates: Mon 5 May (Theatre Deli) or Tues 6th May (The Cockpit Theatre) 2025
Time: 19:00-22:00
Location: Monday: Theatre Deli, 107 Leadenhall Street, London EC3A 4AF (near Bank or Liverpool St station)
Tuesday: The Cockpit Theatre, Gatefort St, London NW8 8EH (near Marylebone or Edgware Road)

Recalls by invitation on Sat 10 May, 15:00-18:00, The Cockpit Theatre. Don’t worry if you can’t make the whole block of time, but please do flag this at first round auditions.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Summer 2025 show: Full stack – writers needed!

Writers wanted for our 9th annual Full Stack new writing competition, our yearly invite to writers experienced and new to get out their keyboards and start a-tapping! We’re looking for short scripts for an anthology show to be staged in summer 2025 (likely second half of June 2025).

The brief

The theme for our Full Stack Summer 2025 show is…SOLSTICE.

Solstice

A solstice marks a moment of extreme: the longest day or the longest night. It is a turning point in the calendar year, observed across centuries and cultures as a time of ritual, reflection, and change. But beyond its astronomical roots, solstice carries powerful symbolic weight – evoking cycles of growth and decay, hope and loss, light and shadow.

We’re looking for new plays that explore transitions: between seasons, states of mind, relationships, political eras, or phases of life.

Any genre is welcome (and we’d love to see a variety of different approaches that we can combine into a balanced show).

We’d love to see plays that explore turning points, rituals, extremes, light and dark, endings and beginnings, and/or a clear sense of mood or shift – whether political, personal, environmental, emotional or spiritual.

Some ideas to spark your thinking:

  • A character facing a moment they can’t come back from
  • A story set over the course of one long night (or day)
  • A community waiting for light to return or reckoning with its absence
  • Personal transformation that mirrors seasonal change
  • Time as an unseen force in the story

Constraints:

  • Maximum length: 15 minutes – your play can be shorter, of course!
  • Cast: 1-3 actors – more characters are possible if actors double (or triple) up.
  • Staging: As this is an anthology show, we are looking for plays that can be staged with minimal set and props which could be quickly brought on and removed by the actors. Scenic projections are not possible and there should be minimal lighting and sound cues.
  • Please note: This is an amateur production and not a paid opportunity. By submitting your script to us, you are giving us permission to perform the script in our Full Stack 2025 show.

How to submit:

  • Deadline: Monday 21st April 2025, 18:00 UK time zone

To submit:

  • Please fill out the form linked here. As part of this, you will be asked to upload your script in pdf format.

Next steps:

  • We will notify all writers if their scripts have been chosen for the show or not by mid-May 2025.
  • Any questions, please contact James Taverner on james@kdctheatre.com.

Do You Feel Anger?

KDC Theatre presents “Do You Feel Anger?” by Mara Nelson-Greenberg
Directed by Anna Markland and Dean Reilly

1 – 5 April 2025
at Barons Court Theatre
Tickets: £16.50 (KDC members £12)

click here to buy tickets

About

Written during Donald Trump’s first term in office, Do You Feel Anger? is a surreal dark comedy exploring whether you can achieve compromise, without compromising your values.

Sofia is an empathy coach, hired to help a debt collection agency stop screaming at people on the phone. Whilst dealing with her own family difficulties, she is determined to teach the employees emotions beyond anger, hunger and horn. But the longer she struggles to make change happen, the more she finds herself drawn into the dangerous absurdity of what passes for normal.

Cast:
Sofia: Arianna Kozloski
Eva: Rhiannon Lewis
Howie: Simon Berry
Jordan: Sarmed Hyder
Jon: Martin Peacock
Janie / Sofia’s mum: Jenni Wredden
Rafalgore: Bernard O’Sullivan

Creative team:
Directors: Anna Markland and Dean Reilly

Breathing Room

KDC Theatre presents “Breathing Room”
Directed by Carl Fletcher

8 – 12 April 2025
at Drayton Arms Theatre
Tickets: £16.50 (KDC members £12)

click here to buy tickets

About

At 25, Emily insists her city life is perfect – or so she tells herself and anyone who will listen!

A sudden phone call pulls her back to her rural hometown, forcing her to face old friends, family, and the unsettling question: what now? When life stops giving you a roadmap, is a Quarter Life Crisis inevitable?

Breathing Room is a new devised ensemble play about the messiness of adulthood.

Cast:
Clare McKervey
Elisa Benham
Harmony Chan
Matt Hoisch
Nikos Kipouros
Phoebe Vasconcellos
Sarah Jost

Creative team:
Director: Carl Fletcher
Assistant Director: Freddie Wride
Lighting Design: Flick Hemming

Content warnings: Mild discussions of bullying, infertility

Masterclasses & Workshops

In addition to stage shows, KDC Theatre also offers a programme of masterclasses and workshops. The programme evolves regularly so keep checking back on the schedule below, sign up for our Showdown newsletter, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter , or Instagram.

Programme for 2025

Stepping Into Directing

What does a director actually do?
How do they pick and research a play, run auditions and plan rehearsals?
What does it mean to direct a show for KDC, or elsewhere?

This masterclass will offer budding directors practical skills and approaches to the art of directing for the stage. Come along to hear from Saskia van ’t Hoff, KDC’s Artistic Director, and Stephen Reimer, director of KDC’s “The Bus” (Spring 2023) and “W;t” (Autumn 2024), as they take you step-by-step through the journey from creative vision to opening night. Experienced directors interested in brushing up on their skills and/or learning more about directing for KDC are also welcomed to attend.

Spaces are limited so book now! Please book your slot HERE.

Date: Tuesday 25 March 2025
Time: 7-9pm
Location: Cockpit Theatre, Gateforth St, London NW8 8EH
Fee: £15 / £13.50 for KDC Theatre members

Previous workshops:

Audition prep

Auditions do not have to be scary, anxiety-inducing events – no, really! With the right preparation it becomes a lot more fun and relaxing. Our Audition Prep workshop takes you through what you can expect during auditions, what the (casting) directors are expecting from you and what they will be looking for, and how to come prepared to make your experience not only more fun but (hopefully) also more successful!

We will explain how auditions work, we will let you experience some exercises and directions that are commonly used during auditions, and we will share many tips & tricks to be as prepared as you can and stand out from the rest. Join us for a confident boost for your next audition!

Spaces are limited so book now! Please book your slot HERE.

Date: Wednesday 15 January 2025
Time: 7-9.30pm
Location: Theatre Deli, Leadenhall
Tickets: £15 / £13.50 for KDC Theatre members

Date: Wednesday 13 December 2023
Time: 7-9.30pm
Location: Theatre Deli, Leadenhall
Tickets: £15 / £13.50 for KDC members

Acting for Beginners

Join our Artistic Director in exploring the fundamentals of acting: reading and understanding scripts, how to create your character, and what method of acting suits you best. We’ll explore these topics through exercises, example texts, and sharing experiences. This masterclass gives you the foundation to get up on stage and be the best Hamlet, Hamilton, or Hemione you can be!

This masterclass is targeted at beginners with no or little experience in acting, but is open to everyone. Please wear comfortable clothing you can move around in.

Date: 24 October 2023
Time: 7-9.30pm
Location: Cockpit Theatre
Tickets: £15 / £13.50 for KDC members

Stage combat

Have you ever wondered how actors fight on stage without hurting each other? This masterclass will reveal all the secrets! How to grab someone by the hair, punch a person in the face, fight another person hand-to-hand, and how to be on the receiving end of it convincingly. Performance Combat Instructor & Coordinator Katy Treble will walk you through stage combat step by step so you can put on an amazing stage fight in your next production.

This masterclass is open to everyone with an interest in stage combat; directors, actors, choreographers, writers, and everyone else. Please wear comfortable clothing you can move around in.

Date: Friday 03 November 2023
Time: 7-9.30pm
Location: Theatre Deli, Leadenhall
Tickets: £20 / £18 for KDC members

Apply to be KDC Theatre’s new Artistic Director

KDC Theatre is looking for a new Artistic Director – if you’re potentially interested, please review the role responsibilities and person specification below and apply here before 3 April 2025.

Artistic Director

Role responsibilities

The Artistic Director works alongside and is supported by the KDC Chair, Trustees and volunteer committee members. KDC Theatre is fully run by volunteers, so this is a hands-on role that gets involved in not just the artistic vision of the company, but also the production of our shows and our community of actors, directors, writers, and backstage crew.

  • Develop artistic and creative formats and activities to support the charity’s objectives and KDC Theatre’s growth and mission
  • Set the artistic goals for the year ahead and communicate those at various official meetings and events
  • Work with other Trustees to meet the requirements of the Charity Commission and ensure the charity is effectively managed
  • Review pitches by directors, interview directors, and pick the shows for the upcoming year
  • Present at season launches to announce plays, directors, and other events to attending guests
  • Attend regular committee meetings, season launches, and AGMs
  • Actively represent KDC Theatre, hands-on, during show seasons for directors, actors, crew, and writers
  • Function as committee liaison for some shows and events
  • Other such duties as needed to support the management of the charity.

Person specification

  • Good communication and leadership skills
  • Analytical and evaluation skills to assess artistic and creative value of pitches, and understand how decisions impact the company’s revenue and reputation
  • Artistic vision and the ability to put that vision into practical actions
  • Some experience making theatre in any capacity and understanding of the way theatre is made
  • Ability to combine creativity and business skills, and understanding of how business and creativity come together in a company or charity
  • Ability to review creative pitches on artistic and business merit
  • Some experience of creating low-budget productions, preferably in theatre but any creative field is acceptable
  • Strong feeling of responsibility and accountability
  • Comfortable speaking in front of people to share artistic vision and plans
  • Experience working with people, in the creative industry is a plus
  • Understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship. For further information, visit https://www.gov.uk/guidance/charity-trustee-whats-involved

The time expectation for this role can be flexible, and as a volunteer-led organisation all committee members and Trustees balance their time against other commitments. The Artistic Director should expect to attend monthly committee meetings (held in the evening) and to commit 2-3 hours a week on average to fulfil the role. 

Applications are open until 3 April 2025: Apply here

About KDC

KDC Theatre is a London-based charity dedicated to providing amateurs and resting professionals with an opportunity to create theatre.

Our charitable objective is to advance the arts for the public benefit, in particular by producing and presenting amateur theatre performances in Greater London. We are a registered charity, and our constitution can be viewed here.

To find out more about KDC Theatre, head to kdctheatre.com and sign up for our newsletter. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Spring season 2025 auditions

Announcing auditions for actors for our spring 2025 productions!

We have two shows in spring 2025, and you can audition for both on the same day!

Do You Feel Anger?
Written by Mara Nelson-Greenberg
Directed by Anna Markland and Dean Reilly
Staged at Barons Court Theatre from 1 to 5 April 2025
Audition notice

The Quarter-Life Crisis
To be devised by the cast
Directed by Carl Fletcher
Staged at Drayton Arms Theatre from 8 to 12 April 2025
Audition notice

Auditions are free and open to all. Please pick one of the dates to attend and read the audition notices carefully to prepare.

Don’t forget to fill out the audition form before you audition!

Dates: Mon 20 or Wed 22 January 2025 (please choose one of these dates to attend)
Time: 6.45pm welcome and registration to ~10pm
Location: Theatre Deli Leadenhall, 107 Leadenhall Street, EC3A 4AF, London

Recalls by invitation are Sat 25 January 2025, 12-6pm at Theatre Deli Leadenhall.

If you’d like to hear the directors speak about their productions and ask them any questions, you can meet them at the KDC Spring Season Launch on Wednesday 8 January 2025, 7.30pm at the Theatre Deli Leadenhall bar. You can also talk to them about getting involved in other backstage ways.

To help us manage numbers, if you’re planning to come to our Season Launch, please RSVP at the link here.

We look forward to seeing you at auditions soon!

Good Time

Join Us for Good Time!

Get ready for an unforgettable evening brought to you by KDC Theatre! We’re thrilled to announce Good Time, a vibrant, one-night-only event on 7th December 2024 that’s all about celebrating creativity and the incredible talents of the KDC community.

🎭 What’s in store? A lively showcase of original performances, monologues, music, stand-up comedy, and unique acts from KDC’s best creatives. This variety-filled evening will highlight the extraordinary range of talent within our community — and promises to leave you energized, inspired, and thoroughly entertained.

🎉 One Big Party After the performances, join us for a fantastic party to celebrate the creative energy of our community! It’s the perfect way to kick off the holiday season with friends, fellow theatre lovers, and good vibes.

Saturday 7 December 2024, 19:30-22:30
The Castle, E1 1LN
Tickets: £14 (KDC members £12)

buy tickets here