The Archway Theatre is delighted that its young adult members will be taking to the main auditorium this year to stage an exciting production of The IT, which grapples with issues arising from adolescent mental health, and ‘the rage within’. Told from the perspective of a teenager, with support from a flexible cast comprising various characters, the play considers how people cope when their inner feelings take unexpected forms.
Written specifically with young casts in mind, this play was first performed in 2021,and went on to win Best Play for Young Audiences at the Writers’ Guild of Great Britain Awards 2023. This should be a very exciting piece of theatre, and tickets are likely to sell fast.
Director Ella Sowton comments, “It is an absolute pleasure and privilege for me to run this group that is full of immensely talented, vibrant young people who are the future of our greatly loved theatre. I am so proud of all of their hard work and commitment during this production. The Archway Theatre is extremely lucky to have them!”
Performances are at 7:45pm, from 27 to 31 May 2025. More information, as well as tickets, can be obtained via The Archway’s website: www.archwaytheatre.co.uk.
Tickets are priced at: £13.50 (for non-members); or £11.50 (for members).
ABOUT THE DIRECTORS
Ella Sowton has been a member of the Archway Theatre since 2017 when she joined the Young Adults Workshop Group. She believes firmly that being a part of the Young Adults Workshop as a young adult has shaped her as a performer. Ella has taken part in Young Adults productions in the past including Twisted Tales, The Spirit of Albion and Midsummer Nights Dream. When the opportunity arose to take over running The Young Adults Workshop, Ella jumped at the chance. She directed her first Young Adults Workshop production, DNA, in October 2024.
Co-director Jenna Simmonds-Wood has been an avid member of The Archway for many years, having last been on stage in the Young Adults production of DNA. This is Jenna’s second directing gig, but the first time in the main theatre. “I cant wait for audiences to see how hard everyone has been working on this show and I hope they enjoy it,” says Jenna.
ABOUT THE ARCHWAY THEATRE
The Archway Theatre is among Surrey's leading repertory drama theatres. Nestled in Horley’s atmospheric railway arches, The Archway Theatre Company has for over 70 years been surprising and delighting local residents and visitors with high quality productions, ranging from Shakespeare and the classics, through modern comedies, musicals and pantomimes, to experimental pieces that push the boundaries of the form.
A member of the prestigious Little Theatre Guild, the Archway boasts a comfortable 95-seat auditorium and a cosy, recently refurbished bar, where audience members and cast and crew can relax and enjoy the anticipation and afterglow of memorable performances.
The theatre’s ten main house productions per year run for ten nights each. In addition, there is a studio space for smaller-scale shows and its Youth Workshop and Young Adults group offer fantastic opportunities for the young people of the area to experience the thrill of putting on live theatre.