The Open Theatre Company Archives
The Open Theatre Company Archives
Guiding us through the early years of Open Theatre is Matt Moore!
“I’m celebrating 20 years of being with Open Theatre Company in 2021. I stepped into acting in 2001 when I was involved in a community cast; I then became a Shyster member from 2003-2010. I worked on some amazing productions with the Shysters and toured around the Midlands and to Edinburgh Fringe. I started to do some of the sessions at the Belgrade Theatre on Monday the 27th of February 2001 at 7 p.m. It was beginning of a new journey for me”
Matt Joins Open Theatre
Matt Joins Open Theatre
Matt’s Blog – My first session!
I’ve been doing this work for 20 years – I began in 2001 when I began working with the company and in 2003 – 2010 I was a shyster member until it unfolded. But I remained in the company in the school work and I support and role model the work with young people.
I’ve been doing this work for 20 years – I began in 2001 when I began working with the company and in 2003 – 2010 I was a shyster member until it unfolded. But I remained in the company in the school work and I support and role model the work with young people.
MidSummer Night’s Dream
MidSummer Night’s Dream
“The city has lost its sense of life. It’s cut off, out of touch but in control. No face-to-face contact, just discussions mediated by videophone. Draconian laws prevent any deviation from the norm. Young people are told who to fall in love with, refusal is punishable by death. Text messaging is small comfort. CU2nite@midnite
Outside the city where the motorways have fallen into disuse is another world, a wild place inhabited by weird but strangely human beings. This is a place with its feet firmly in the real world, but its head and heart thick in dreams. It’s the place where the lovers flee to, a world of darkness and deceit, of confusions, hilarity and transformation. Ultimately a world where people are touched.
This production of Shakespeare’s most popular comedy is collaboration between the Belgrade Theatre and the Shysters Theatre Company. It’s a feast of imagery, music, verse and stunning visual effects.” – Original Promotional Material
Matt’s Blog – My first Production!
Matt’s Blog – My first Production!
Something Wicked This Way Comes
Something Wicked This Way Comes
Wasn’t developed into a full production. Shared work of Something Wicked this Way Comes in the AEUW Building Room 1 featuring community cast of Fountain Theatre company and professional actors from Shysters Theatre Company
Wasn’t developed into a full production. Shared work of Something Wicked this Way Comes in the AEUW Building Room 1 featuring community cast of Fountain Theatre company and professional actors from Shysters Theatre Company
The Mysteries
The Mysteries
All Aboard for Galway! The Myseries was a first for Open Theatre – an international collaboration with Galway’s ‘Macnas’. The play featured a huge cast of 72 people, and was performed in both Galway and in Coventry Cathedral
All Aboard for Galway! The Myseries was a first for Open Theatre – an international collaboration with Galway’s ‘Macnas’. The play featured a huge cast of 72 people, and was performed in both Galway and in Coventry Cathedral
Matt’s Blog – First Time Flying!
Tango Apocalypso
Tango Apocalypso Trailer
Wizard of Oz!
Whizzing to Oz! was one of several projects run with special schools in the area. Eventually, projects like this one led to forming One of a Kind.
The Monkey King
Some of The Shysters were involved in this project, working with children from Worcester schools and with the Birmingham Hippodrome. We all had to pretend to be animals and improvise by making animal sounds, using a lot of music. The show was directed by Richard Hayhow and performed in the Patrick Centre in the Birmingham Hippodrome. Jasper Carrott came to see one of our performances!
The Monkey King
Some of The Shysters were involved in this project, working with children from Worcester schools and with the Birmingham Hippodrome. We all had to pretend to be animals and improvise by making animal sounds, using a lot of music. The show was directed by Richard Hayhow and performed in the Patrick Centre in the Birmingham Hippodrome. Jasper Carrott came to see one of our performances!
Don Quixote Rides Again!
The Shysters were involved in this production and performed on the main stage at the Birmingham REP (along with Matthew Kelly). Kathy and Richard worked on it and some of our scenes were incorporated into the show after a two week rehearsal process. It was a musical set in Spain, and the music was performed by an orchestra.
Don Quixote Rides Again!
The Shysters were involved in this production and performed on the main stage at the Birmingham REP (along with Matthew Kelly). Kathy and Richard worked on it and some of our scenes were incorporated into the show after a two week rehearsal process. It was a musical set in Spain, and the music was performed by an orchestra.
My Bloody Valentine
The Shyster Shadows were a group who were trained up by the original Shyster members. ‘My Bloody Valentine’ was a film which involved myself and another Shyster shadow member who played my lover. In the film, disasters kept happening and everything kept going wrong for the characters. There was a lot of slapstick comedy and romance. As a costume, I wore a shirt, jacket and trousers. Music with lyrics was incorporated as a soundtrack when the film was made. We won an Oska Bright award for the film, and we all travelled down to Brighton for the ceremony.
Content Warnings: Suicide Attempt
Moses & The Two Tabs
Moses & The Two Tabs
The Raven’s Tale
The Raven’s Tale
If you would like to find out more about us or the programmes we run, get in touch, or better still…