Spyway produces Surprising theatre – emotionally engaging yet thoughtful and thought provoking. We specialise in producing performances of all sorts in unusual locations and work everywhere from large theatres, through village halls to cafes and pubs. Our creative impetus comes from writers, new, established and emerging. We aim to produce well-made perfomances through excellent acting, direction and design.
Spyway is a collaboration between theatre director and writer Peter Cooper and designer Annette Sumption as well as various other designers, musicians and artists. We are based in Dorset but produce work throughout the UK.
Designers don't always get mentions in press reviews but Annette's work for Love and Madness Theatre Company at The Riverside in London has come in for particular praise:
Richard III Riverside Studios, London, 2 February - 21 March 2010
“Annette Sumption's sparse set works perfectly in the small studio space,”
- Tracey Sinclair
OMH
“The staging is quite simplistic, just a conference table on wheels and some chairs being endlessly reconfigured which worked; the monochromatic palate also looked good, with the only colour being red, whether through the atmopsheric lighting or the tie around Richard's neck.”
- There Ought to Be Clowns
Fool For Love Riverside Studios, London, February - March 2010
“Fool for Love takes place in the seediest of motel rooms and designer Annette Sumption, with great assistance from her talented lighting colleague Paul Green, conjures up just the right milieu,”
- Philip Fisher
British Theatre Guide
Last Updated on Sunday, 07 February 2010 10:59
Little Arthur Flyer
Written by Peter Cooper
Saturday, 06 February 2010 14:36
The new flyer and poster for the tour of "Little Arthur's History of England" for Artsreach in Dorset village halls.
Last Updated on Saturday, 06 February 2010 14:41
The Loneliness of the Puppet Maker
Written by Peter Cooper
Thursday, 17 December 2009 10:16
New short by film maker Iosu Vakerizzo here. The Loneliness of the Puppet Maker featuring Peter John Cooper.
Last Updated on Friday, 05 February 2010 20:13
Lucile and the Idleness of the Mechanical Men
Written by Peter Cooper
Tuesday, 02 February 2010 12:12
A new short by exciting young film maker Iosu Vakerizzo
Featuring Emily Eaves, Peter John Cooper, Tom Loughlin, Joe Anderson and Oliver Revolta.
Written and directed by Iosu Vakerizzo.
Lucile and the Idleness of the Mechanical Men is a half hour long film set in a future were men are going extinct and women are thriving, a new ice age is upon us, the use of electricity is now history and men are being replaced by mannequin-like, wind-up robots. All this set in a the future that someone from the 1800s might have imagined, in a comedy that talks about our love affair with technology.
Following a summer season at Sheringham and Cinderella for their Christmas pantomime, Annette is working for Love and Madness Theatre Company again in the New year. She will be designing two productions at The Riverside in London.