About Us
Camden People's Theatre is dedicated to the creation of new work and new ways of working.
CPT produces, promotes and supports professional theatre from innovative emerging companies.
Placing special emphasis on movement, gesture, and visual impact, recognising that these are integral in making theatre accessible on a cross-cultural basis, CPT prioritises work which has been developed through collaboration.
CPT is an invaluable resource to a range of communities: the local communities of South Camden/West Euston; the wider London audience; and the community of theatre & arts practitioners on a local, national and international basis.
Founded in 1994 by a group of theatre practitioners interested in developing a collaborative working method and a visual, gestural style of performance, CPT continues to forge short- and long-term relationships with a diverse range of companies and artists. Few venues can match our depth of involvement in our specialist field of visual, physical and collaboratively-made theatre.
Each Spring, since 1997, CPT has presented SPRINT, a Festival of contemporary theatre. SPRINT continues to provide a showcase platform of major importance for emerging theatre practitioners.
In 2002/03, CPT piloted TONIC, a scheme for the Training Of New and Innovative Companies. With the support of Arts Council England, London, CPT now works with up to four emerging companies per year, providing support towards the development of new performance work.
In December 2003 CPT opened The Basement, a new community arts and workshop space at the venue, with the support of Abbey. As a result, CPT was able to offer a number of valuable community arts projects. The space provided an important resource for some innovative cross-generational work and the space is frequently used as rehearsal facility by emerging companies.
Twice - in November 2001, and again in 2002 - Camden People's Theatre was nominated for an Empty Space Peter Brook Award. The citation on both occasions was for "quality studio theatre events in a much needed area".
In August 2003, for the first time, the resident company showed work at the Edinburgh Festival fringe: Napoleon in Exile at the Traverse. The show transferred to leading off-West End venue The Drill Hall in February 2004.
Also in 2004 CPT celebrated its tenth anniversary as a key player in the development of small-scale theatre in London with the CPT:X Festival and received project funding from Arts Council England, London to further develop its TONIC programme.
In 2005, CPT hosted a residency by the internationally-renowned Pacitti Company and presented the World Premiere of their latest work A Forest. The show launched the Autumn Season in which three emerging companies each presented a three week run of their new work as part of the first full TONIC season.
TONIC continued in 2006, supporting new works from Dan Kai Teatro (Iceland/UK/Spain), Indian Runner Production (France/UK), dANTE oR dIE (Israel/UK). After a break in 2007 TONIC returns this year offering support to a larger number of companies, alongside an expanded Sprint festival in June.
For more information about past events, please visit our archive pages.
