The South Devon Players Theatre & Film Company
Based in Brixham, The South Devon Players Theatre & Film Company are an inclusive, intergenerational company providing creative opportunities and touring productions of classic texts. We spoke to founder and co-director Laura Jury.
What do you do?
We could not find any professional opportunities in South Devon so we decided to make our own, offering a new approach to theatre-making of world-class standard. We involve Devon people of all demographics and levels of experience – from beginners to seasoned professionals – to create full-scale dramatic productions focusing on historical events, literature, and classical texts. We tour shows around theatres and community venues across the South West, and also stream associated educational materials online, and take workshops to schools.
How did you get started?
We started out in 2005, as a mix of local people from Torbay. We were all frustrated that for anyone seeking a career as an actor or theatre creative, you had to move away from the Torbay area, which was not possible for us, so we decided to club together, clear out what we could from home at a car boot sale, and start our own theatre company. Since then, we have gone from strength to strength, winning national and international theatre awards, and touring two to three shows per year around Devon. We are a mix of mostly adults (aged 16–70s) with a few young people who also get involved from time to time. We are female/autistic led, with a high percentage of neurodiverse (around half to two thirds at any given time) creatives in our ranks. We create theatre shows based on researched history, adapted classical literature, and do a fair bit of Shakespeare as well. In addition to this, we work with schools, and produce free online education packs around our latest show for students. We are unfunded as yet, and mainly fundraise ourselves through selling secondhand things on ebay, and stalls at fetes.
We still cause a lot of confusion, as it’s assumed all theatre – especially with regional female/ neurodiverse leadership – is amateur, unpaid, and will be of low quality. These assumed stereotypes from people who haven't experienced our work are damaging, so we are always doing our best to invite people to see our work, discuss mutual creative relationships with our organisation, and break through the glass ceiling.
The revolutionaries in Les Miserables (location in Brixham). Photo by Sacha Spencer
Who do you work with and why?
We pretty much work with whoever wants to genuinely, reliably, and positively be involved, and operate a permanent open-door policy, welcoming enquiries and discussions and new faces at all times. The whole reason for establishing the South Devon Players was to create opportunities, break down barriers to participating in or accessing theatre, celebrate literature and history, and explore using theatre as an educational tool for anyone, regardless of their background, gender identity, previous experience, race, and any other protected characteristic. We have a proud history of welcoming neurodiverse and disabled people as well – since many of us, including myself, are.
We work with traditional theatres and community venues to bring shows to audiences in an affordable way, while also working to ensure that our creatives are recompensed for making the shows and projects happen. We also love to work with schools, libraries, community groups and the like to widen participation and education. Our talks/workshops/student-only events are always linked to our main touring show at the time.
All the admin, fundraising, and publicity is done on a voluntary basis, and while we are not comfortable with that, it is a tight core team who really want to see this work flourish. Creatives and actors get credits that count towards their Spotlight registrations, and what they receive from participation in shows can go towards the threshold needed for getting their Equity cards. We also provide references for work and education, and creatives build a lot of skills, experience, and confidence being involved in our projects.
What would make your life easier as an artist or arts organiser?
Funding would mean that we could take up invitations to perform nationally, which we cannot afford to do at present due to the costs of travel and overnight accommodation. It would also enable us to pay our creatives at least Equity rates, rather than the equal split of ticket sales money, which is what we have to do at the moment and often comes to less. That aside, the other really useful thing would be breaking through the aforementioned stereotypes of ‘all local theatre is am-dram’, and that women/rural organisations/autistic people don't tend to produce reliable, high-quality work, so are too high a risk for funding.
And what keeps you going when things get tough?
Simply, the love of creating beautiful theatre. I have thought very often about walking away in tough times, but then cannot face a life not doing this!
What can people expect when they encounter you?
People are often nervous about attending an audition or crewing session, but with us, we operate strictly around having safe spaces with no bullying or offstage putting-down, and we want to see you do well and celebrate your abilities and potential. It’s a lively, friendly space that most people who become involved with us refer to as a family – that welcomes new members. So yes, on casting day you will come to our rehearsal space with lots of new faces and all the normal audition nerves, but you will find yourself greeted, shown where everything is, offered coffee and be made very welcome.
Coming to us for a show, as an audience member, is also made as accessible and inclusive as possible. Ahead of the shows, we put content information, any trigger warnings or sensory notes, and venue access notes on our website and social media (along with lots of rehearsal photos!), so you should be able to see all pertinent information. On the day, we usually make the show a whole experience, rather than just watching something removed from you on stage, so you may encounter a themed box office, in-character actors/additional set or decoration in the auditorium, and action that sometimes happens around you.
What does the next year look like for you?
We are still working on recovery from the pandemic and adjusting our work to attract audiences despite the cost of living. In some ways that means being less adventurous with lesser-known literature and sticking to well-known things. After our tour of Macbeth, we are touring A Midsummer Night's Dream, and The Three Musketeers. We are also working on building relationships with new venues, more schools, and community groups. The continued efforts to find funding are a constant, and we are looking to welcome more people who would like to be involved either as performers or behind the scenes.
What’s been the best moment for you in the last year?
Probably being able to get back to live performance after the pandemic, and touring successful shows like Ben Hur and Beowulf.
In what ways are you helping to put Exeter on the cultural map?
As our nearest city, Exeter is a key stage in our theatre tours. Our work in Exeter is publicised nationally, and in our last run of Les Miserables: The Memoirs of Jean Valjean, we had audience members come from as far away as Sweden.
What if..?
We would love to make more creative connections, bring our education work to more schools/community groups, find out about opportunities, and also help others where we can.
How do we find out more?
Website: www.southdevonplayers.com
Facebook: sdevonplayers
Email: southdevonplayers@gmail.com
Coming up:
Macbeth, 10-11 November, Brixham Theatre
Tickets £10/£8 from tickets.brixhamtheatre.uk or telephone 01803 415987