Creating A Show On The Off West End

As part of SE Fest 2026, we’re delighted to bring you three workshops run by industry professionals. The workshops cover topics relevant for new and emerging theatre companies and artists. No previous experience is necessary to attend.

All workshops last approximately 90 minutes, and tickets need to be booked in advance. Creating A Show On The Off West End With Director, Producer, PR and Artistic Director Matthew Parker When: Saturday 29th August at 3.00pm Where: The Bridge House Theatre All tickets: £5.00. Join award winning theatre director, producer, PR and former Artistic Director of The Hope Theatre Matthew Parker for a workshop exploring all the elements and steps to follow when creating a show for the Off West End.

This full and frank workshop, formed from Matthew’s personal experience, will touch on all aspects of putting a show on including budgeting, marketing, how to run a successful (and joyous!) casting process, how to engage with the press and reviewers, building your creative team and how to ensure a collaborative process, the design and creative pre-rehearsal process, rehearsal planning, how to ensure a successful and happy run once the show is open. No experience of producing a show is necessary to take part – just enthusiasm for exploring the ‘how’. Matthew will draw upon his 16 years of experience creating work for the Off West End, including his five years as Artistic Director of The Hope Theatre where he collaborated with over 100 theatre makers in bringing their shows to fruition.

The workshop will also allow participants to bring potential projects to chat through and will be informative, fun and honest. ‘Matthew’s workshop was fun, friendly, and absolutely no nonsense. A kind and generous person, he tackles the confusing questions around casting, venues, budgeting, and more and offers some pearls of wisdom from his extensive and extraordinary career that are truly worth their weight in gold.’ Jake Leonard, Theatre Director ‘When we weren’t sure what to do with our show, Matthew gave us bespoke and insightful advice on what to do next. He helped us understand the fringe landscape so much better and gave us the confidence to pursue our project further.

In addition to being a fountain of knowledge, Matthew is such a kind, friendly and generous person – he’s a pleasure to learn from; do not hesitate to take his workshop, you won’t regret it.’ Clare O’Flaherty, Theatre Maker Matthew Parker is a multi-award-winning theatre director, actor, PR and former Artistic Director of The Hope Theatre. He trained on the Postgraduate Directing Course at Drama Studio London. Recent directing work includes The Dawn of Reckoning (White Bear Theatre), One Jab Cures All (Theatre at the Tabard), Beauty & The Beast (The Bridge House Theatre), Bonding (Adelaide Fringe & UK Tour), Trestle (Jack Studio Theatre), I Wish My Life Were Like A Musical (Wilton’s Music Hall, Kings Head Theatre & UK Tour), Thrill Me: The Leopold & Loeb Story (Jermyn Street Theatre), Vinegar Tom (OVO Theatre), The Comedy of Errors and Henry V (Roman, St Albans) and Brainville At Night (UK Tour).

Whilst at The Hope Theatre he directed 10 in-house productions and won the Best Artistic Director OFFIE Award in 2016; the same year The Hope was shortlisted as Fringe Theatre of the Year at The Stage Awards. Matthew has received 9 Best Director OFFIE Award nominations for his work since 2015 and won Best Director of a Musical at the 2023 OFFIE Awards for his direction of Thrill Me: The Leopold & Loeb Story.