From the West End to the North East

Fresh from London’s theatreland, all-round performer Oli Brooks landed in Berwick this summer, bringing a pot-load of pizzazz to the town’s growing theatre scene.

He’s joined forces with Ben and Alice Humphrey (Berwick locals and Oli’s great pals) who run Tortive Theatre and have recently taken over The Straw Yard — a studio theatre and multi-functional arts venue in town next to the Barracks. Oli is associate director of this new venture.

He brings performance experience from an array of shows including Matilda the Musical and Hairspray as well as Shakespeare productions and a variety of recordings and film work.

He’s already making his mark here, including running workshops for youngsters in the area. Along with Tortive Theatre he has also directed a new play, The Whirligig of Time, a play about Malvolio getting his revenge. It garnered four and five star reviews at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe and is currently on a UK tour, showing at Alnwick Playhouse at the end of November.

“It’s great being in such a lovely town as Berwick,” says Oli. “Working in the theatre world in London is brilliant, but it’s time to add a new string to my bow and I want to be part of something that I can help nurture and develop.”

So far the West End workshops that Oli is running have been well received and he’s now looking into them becoming a more regular fixture at The Straw Yard (and potentially Alnwick Playhouse).

As well as putting together touring productions, Tortive Theatre also produces shows and creative events at The Straw Yard. One to look forward to is Little Red Riding Hood:The Trial – a madcap re-telling of the classic fairytale in partnership with Alnwick Playhouse. It runs from 13-31 December, 2024.

For more information about tickets, forthcoming events and shows, visit www.thestrawyard.co.uk