Nine theatre-makers are coming together at Stanley Halls next month to produce one surprising night of theatre in south London’s new performance space.

From 7.45pm on Friday, February 13, Stanley Halls are being opened up to performers from various disciplines – story-tellers, interactive artists, durational performers, dance, Shakespeare, location specific – all committed to inventing a series of short works in this gem of a building.

The audience will journey through the building and discover new work in surprising locations.

The companies will be exploring issues as diverse as children and adults story-sharing, the science of being in a bubble, the legacy of the Halls’ founder, comings and goings on a staircase, breast is best and Jekyll and Hyde. Some are community inspired, others installations, some require role play, others are there simply to experience. All are original and made for Stanley Halls.

David Somner, from Stanley Halls, said, “Over the past few months we have invited companies and individuals to come and view the spaces, discover what inspires them about the Halls and suggest a piece of work they would like to create within it. We have chosen those that give a breadth of style and form, which draw on the building’s history, current social issues and find resonance within the building.”

Companies taking part are Malkin Tower, Prams in the Hall, OneOhOne, Dogs of War, Part Suspended, Cath Productions, SLiDe Dance, Caldy Walton and visual artist Catharina Cronenberger Golebiowska.

The Stanley Halls are a complex of halls, offices, apartments, cellars, public spaces, private rooms and galleries that have been a part of the South Norwood community since 1905. They are now managed by The Stanley People’s Initiative.

The Halls were a gift from the Victorian philanthropist, playwright and inventor William Stanley to the people of South Norwood. Honouring Stanley’s ideals of Justice, Liberty and Science we are looking to make the halls a centre for creation maintaining that legacy of invention as well as providing services to the local community. The spaces are being used by a number of companies, Invention Theatre is looking to build and strengthen those relationships.

• For more information about Stanley Halls and other events being staged there, visit the website here

• Inside Croydon Events: for dates and links to what’s happening in and around Croydon, updated daily, click here

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