AWARDS
North East Culture Award Best Museum or Venue
WINNER 2023
Fringe Theatre of the Year
The Stage Awards 2023
North East Culture Award Best Museum or Venue Finalist 2022
Shortlisted for Fringe Theatre of the Year
The Stage Awards 2020
'Creating Safer LGBTQ Learning Spaces Award
Highly Commended
LGBTQ North East Awards 2019
Best Children’s Show Award
British Theatre Guide North East - 2017
Best New Play Award
British Theatre Guide North East - 2016
Best New Writing Award
North East Theatre Guide - 2015 and 2016
ABOUT
Alphabetti Theatre is an award winning, artist led performance space in Newcastle upon Tyne, formed by Ali Pritchard in 2012. Our venue on St James Boulevard, Newcastle upon Tyne has two stages, our main theatre space can hold 80 people and is set up in thrust with raised audiences on three sides, the second is a new addition built in 2021, sponsored by and named after D'Addario is our 80 capacity music and cabaret stage in the bar.
“Not Just an essential part of the region’s theatre ecology… but the UK. Long may it continue.” British Theatre Guide
We believe great art should be for everyone, regardless of financial situation. That’s why 43% of our performances are Pay What You Feel! The remaining 57% of performances are ticketed. There are three price categories: General, Concession (Suitable for Over 65, Student, Artist, Unemployment Benefit, Disability Benefit. With complimentary tickets are available for PAs supporting those with access requirements) and No Questions (If an audience member can't afford any of the other tickets and cannot attend a pay what you feel performance but would like to still see the show then this price bracket is for you - no questions will be asked, and you will be treated the same as all other audience members). Our Pay What You Feel ticketing scheme, means that audiences pay what they feel they can afford at the end of the show, and all ticketing monies are anonymous – with cash paid via envelopes and card paid via our “oyster card-esque" machine.
In 2020, during our forced hiatus we focused on the accessibility of the venue. According to Difference Northeast, 27% of the North East are disabled. We invested in our staff and equipment and now a minimum of 27% of Alphabetti’s programme is now accessible through captioned, audio described performances and/or relaxed performances.
Alphabetti was not opened for business, money, or personal gain but for the necessity of a fringe venue in Newcastle and the North East, ensuring the development and improvement of the ecology of the performing arts in the region.
We receive project grant from the Arts Council and other charitable organisations however the majority of our income to keep us running comes from our bar, so when you visit us make sure you sample our fine offerings!
We have a number of opportunities to get involved in such as performing in the space for theatre companies, writers, directors, poets, comedians and musicians. If you would like to be programmed at Alphabetti please visit our Programming Policy page for more information.
Read our Half Year Report
MEET THE TEAM
ED COLE
ARTISTIC & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Ed brings a wealth of experience to Alphabetti. After graduating from the University of Hull
with a degree in Drama and studying for a Masters at Drama Centre London, he co
founded Middle Child Theatre, now one of the UK’s foremost new writing theatre
companies. Since then, he has worked with numerous theatrical institutions across the
country as a director, producer, actor and theatre maker.
Ed grew up in County Durham, and throughout his career has developed an intimate
knowledge of the performing arts sector in the North East. He is passionate about theatre,
performance and the local region, and he is ideally positioned to maintain and develop
Alphabetti’s already prestigious reputation for supporting emerging artists, programming
bold new work, and acting as a trailblazer for progression and accessibility in the arts.
Ed expressed his enthusiasm for joining Alphabetti Theatre: "Stepping into the role of Artistic/Executive Director at Alphabetti Theatre is the honour of a lifetime. This theatre has a unique and vibrant spirit, and I can’t pay enough tribute to Ali and the tireless work he has put in over the years to develop it into the essential facility it is today. The talent and dedication of the team at Alphabetti is humbling, and it will be a privilege to build on the strong foundations already in place while exploring new horizons. I am particularly looking forward to engaging with our artists and audiences - understanding what the venue means to them - and working together to ensure Alphabetti Theatre continues to be a beacon of creativity, development, inclusivity and accessibility for Newcastle and the North East.”
CLARE OVERTON
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT
Twenty years ago, Clare ran away to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival for the summer which is where her love of theatre began. She then spent the majority of her career working in finance and admin at Live Theatre, Newcastle before joining Alphabetti Theatre as Executive Assistant in 2022. Clare loves working at Alphabetti Theatre with the brilliant staff team and seeing fantastic artists making great work makes going to work every day a joy. In her spare time Clare volunteers as a Brownie Leader and enjoys her allotment when the weather is good, but will often be found baking cakes in the depths of winter.
ESTHER FEARN
VENUE PRODUCER
Esther graduated from Newcastle University in 2015 with an MA in English Literature 1500-1900, and started volunteering and working with Alphabetti soon after. She took on the role of Venue Producer in 2019, and is involved in each show that Alphabetti produces. Her credits include: producer for Three Shorts (2019), Rocket Girl (2020), AWARE (2021), and Sucking Eggs (2021), and producer and assistant director for hang by debbie tucker green (2021). She has done voluntary work for QI, Seven Stories, Encyclopaedia Britannica Online and the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust to satisfy her research needs, and will not shut up about the cool thing she’s just read. When she isn’t working, you’ll find her dancing Lindy Hop with Newcastle group Swing Tyne, buried in a book, or generally bothering Rex.
SAM JOHNSON
GENERAL MANAGER
From a young age Sam has been involved in Theatre and the Arts. After many years in hospitality ,alongside running a Theatre company, he jumped at the chance to bring these two worlds together. Sam has been following Alphabetti's progress over the last 10 years, so was really excited to join the team in August 2022. He is responsible for running the day to day operations of Alphabetti, Including the bar, box office, rehearsal rooms and general running of the building. Sam's main passions include "getting a juicy vibe in the bar and cuddling Rex loads."
Nick Tyler
TECHNICAL MANAGER
Nick is our technical manager and newest member of staff. when he’s not programming lights and coiling cables he enjoys drinking Guinness, collecting pictures of ducks from charity shops and playing with his cat, choccy bean.