“The company weave live music and storytelling together with entertaining effect... A breathless, excitable quality”
MUST SEE! - The Stage on RIOT
The Wardrobe Ensemble are a group of theatre artists working together to make new plays that dissect the twenty-first century experience. We consist of nine core members, one producer and a constantly growing community of associate artists. We are based in Bristol.
Flashy, rough, silly and serious, we explore the big ideas of our time through intimate human stories. We are usually energetic, often irreverent and dedicated to finding the place where the intellectual and the emotional collide.
The Wardrobe Ensemble is an emerging theatre company of 9 actors, musicians and devisors. Formed in 2011, their first show, RIOT, ‘An anarchic comedy’ ★★★★ The Scotsman, was described by Sebastian Born, Associate Director at the National Theatre as ‘one of the most exciting theatre experiences I’ve had since joining the NT’. In 2013 RIOT was part of the Limited Editions season at The Shed at the NT, alongside artists Dan Canham and Little Bulb. ‘These companies represent the future of British theatre’ The Telegraph.
The company’s second show, 33, was developed on residency at the Berkshire Fringe in Massachusetts, the National Theatre Studio and Bristol Ferment and premiered at Bristol Old Vic in July 2013. ‘A surreal touching triumph’ ★★★★ A Younger Theatre. RIOT and 33 have toured nationally and internationally to venues including Battersea Arts Centre, Salisbury Playhouse and Northern Stage, and have been seen by over 5000 people.
The company's show 1972: The Future of Sex was commissioned by Shoreditch Town Hall and premiered there in July 2015, before touring the UK in Spring and Autumn 2016. 'Terrific work...Funny, true and a little bit heart-breaking' Lyn Gardner.
Education Education Education, is a co-production with the Royal and Derngate Theatre Northampton and Shoreditch Town Hall. It premiered at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and won a Stage Award for Best Ensemble and a Fringe First before touring nationally and transferring to the West End in Summer 2019. 'A great mix of energy, chaos and passion' ★★★★ The Times
The company are associate artists of Complicité with whom they developed their show, The Last of the Pelican Daughters, which was also co-produced by the Royal and Derngate Theatre. The show premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2019. 'A high-spirited show, by a young company who know what they’re doing.' ★★★★ The Independent
The company have made numerous shows for families and early years. Eliza and the Wild Swans, Edgar and the Land of Lost, Eloise and the Curse of the Golden Whisk and The Forever Machine were all co-productions with the Bike Shed Theatre. Also in their repertoire is a show for under 7's, Little Tim and the Brave Sea Captain, a co-production with Bristol Old Vic, and three shows for ages 3-8, The Star Seekers, The Time Seekers and The Deep Sea Seekers, all three are co-productions with The Wardrobe Theatre, Bristol.
We have an eclectic mix of shows, at the heart of which is a desire to tell a compelling story in a visually engaging and inventive way.