One of the UK’s leading new writing theatre companies. Our mission is to develop new theatre productions and programmes that engage and inspire diverse communities in the East of England. We work in partnership locally and nationally year-round to co-produce and tour our productions and celebrate our home.
‘There is enough written about the horrors of the global crisis that hit us all through 2020-22; its longevity, its fierceness; its utter devastation. And so too in the Arts. We have lost colleagues, friends, shows, companies, audiences; and we have also lost what might have been - the shows that almost were, the plays that just didn’t make it, the ideas that were doused out. But if we know anything about scorched earth, it’s that from it green shoots will grow, pushing their way up to the light, performing the great and brilliant glory of life. And so too with theatre, with artists, with those who seek out the joy that this shared experience of story-telling can bring. In this year we nurtured hope, we found ways to replant and to protect and to grow. The story of our year is testament to the care and kindness of HighTide’s staff, artists, trustees and generous friends who when the time came, chose to make new things happen, to go again and to celebrate through story the communities and the people of the East of England.’
Rowan Rutter, Executive Director and Joint CEO. Photo “Lullaby” © Mike KwasniakThe world premier tour of When The Long Trick’s Over by Morgan Lloyd Malcolm, a co-production with New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich.
A digital production of the critically acclaimed LIT by Sophie Ellerby in a co-production with Nottingham Playhouse.
My Summer in Pakefield an audio play commission written by Ben Weatherill and co-produced with First Light Festival.
For When The Long Trick’s Over
“A transfixing picture of the mental and physical anguish of grief” The Guardian
“A welcome reminder of how intimate and ambitious theatre can be” The Stage HHHH
“Sumptuous cinematic design and strong performances make this a poignant but uplifting” The Stage
Photo: “When The Long Trick’s Over” © Will GreenInventing the Future was a festival of 6 new play readings by writers supported through HighTide’s artist development programmes:
Kabul Goes Pop by Waleed Akhtar Zidane of the Ends by Zain Dada OCO-2 by Nicole Latchana
Bump by Kelly Jones Wake Up People by John Webber End Cubicle by Kat Rose-Martin
Additional commissions: Oh We Do Like to Be! by Sonia Jalaly and Letters from the Future by Luke Wright
Inventing the FutureLunchtime Talks a series of online discussions with sector leaders around Anti-Racism, Innovation and Sustainability / Climate Justice.
Photo: “Kabul Goes Pop” © Mike KwasniakThe THIS IS US project included:
The Lullaby Project - a community creative project with Ipswich residents.
Stories on Screen - a filmmaking project for young people in Ipswich made with Creative Nation and Suffolk Refugee Support
Summer of Love - a playwriting project made with LGBTQI+ young people aged 15-24 from Lowestoft, developed in partnership with Access Community Trust
Power of Stories - a creative writing project for Black adults in the East of England VIP Day - a day of creative workshops runstudents from Suffolk One and West Suffolk Colleges
Listening to Lowestoft - a creative community project run in partnership with the Marina Theatre, Lowestoft
Photos: © Mike Kwasniak, John Ferguson, Charlotte Barker
The
Registered Charity Number 1124477
Company Limited by Guarantee in England and Wales
Registered Number 06326484
VAT Number 937066311 HighTide.org.uk linktr.ee/_HighTide
Patron
Sir Nicholas Hytner
Chief Executive Suba Das Chair of the Board
Tim Clark Deputy Chair of the Board
Leah Schmidt Trustees
Liz Fosbury
Jon Gilchirst
Kate Harvey Matthew Webb Nancy Durant Vinay Patel
Staff
Artistic Director
Suba Das Executive Director Rowan Rutter Executive Director (Parental Cover) Lindsey Dear Director of Communications and Development Francesca Clark Producer Holly White
Hannah Dunne
Birkbeck Placements Helena Snider Sarah Jane Schostack
Peggy Ramsay / Film 4 Awards Scheme Yolanda Mercy