Since first launching in 2013, Nonsuch Studios has played a pivotal role in Nottingham’s cultural development. They’ve created original productions that have toured the UK, worked with thousands of individuals through community projects, and reached millions via their online work. We chat with Edward Boott, the Artistic Director and Chief Executive of Nonsuch Studios, to find out more about the last ten years, and how you can get involved here in Nottingham…
Congratulations on the tenth anniversary of Nonsuch Studios. Did you ever think that it would grow to play this much of a large and crucial role in Nottingham's theatre and cultural scene?
No, not really. I’ve always described Nonsuch as a dissertation that's gone very much out of control. Ten years ago, we started as a theatre company and we (a collective of artists and theatre-makers) were all based in London. We had grand ambitions in the capital, but that just didn’t happen, so we all moved back home to where we are from originally.
I moved to Nottingham at a time when there wasn’t any infrastructure to support emerging artists. Even though it wasn't that long ago, there were no artist development schemes in the region, there was no real rehearsal space or accessible space. So, essentially, we had to build the things we needed to be a theatre company based in the city.
It's amazing to see the changes; where we've come, how the city has changed, and also the shifts in the region.
What inspired you to launch in 2013?
I did a performance degree at drama school, Rose Bruford College (European Theatre Arts), which was very much like an intensive performance course. However, the aim of that was not to create actors who would get agents and go to auditions, but instead to empower artists and creators to make their own work. So it was a natural progression from that course that students would graduate and create their own theatre companies.
I equally like the performance, directing, and producing side of things, so running a company really fitted into my mindset and my skill set. That’s where Nonsuch emerged from, and then, as more people joined the team, we've grown and shifted and changed in lots of different ways.
Did you face any challenges during the early years?
I think, in particular, getting people to know you're a reliable organisation in terms of creating shows of quality or running good community projects. Getting your foot in the door is obviously really key.
Also, just the level of resources that the city had. Nottingham didn’t have a main rehearsal space. Today, the other theatres in the city use us. For example, we are the main rehearsal space for the Playhouse, as they don't have a rehearsal room.
The main thing was getting access to support and access to opportunities. You really rely on the few people that do give you a chance.
I’ve always described Nonsuch as a dissertation that's gone very much out of control
Do you have any highlights from the last decade?
We did a festival on the Riverside Bandstand, which is the first time it had ever been used officially as a performance venue. We also did a festival called Nonsuch on Trent, which was really amazing. We produce shows that tour beyond the city, and our show for babies, Into the Clouds, has gone to the Southbank Centre, and will probably do a much larger international tour next year - which is a particularly exciting opportunity for us.
From a performance perspective, our very first programme show at this venue, when we opened, was called Queens of Sheba. It was part of an amazing programme that we used to run and are trying to rediscover funding for at the moment, where hundreds of students would come for the day to see the show in the morning, then they would workshop with the actors and performers. They were hard-hitting shows for teenagers that really met teenagers at where they were in their lives. The response to that was amazing, and the students were coming back in the evenings with their parents and family to come and see the show again.
How can people in the local community get involved with events or any classes that you run?
All our events are on our website, so you can book online or over the phone. We also have a section on our website which is all about the classes and courses that we run, so you just log in and book those.
As a venue, we also host other people’s classes. We have a life drawing class, which is really popular, we have yoga, and so on. Those are all listed on the classes page.
Then, for our community programme, which is work that happens outside of the venue, if you are interested in volunteering or finding out more, email [email protected]. If you want to find out about the studios, it’s [email protected] - or just fill out the contact form page with your query on the website.
Nottingham didn’t have a main rehearsal space. Today, the other theatres in the city use us
Where do you see Nonsuch Studios ten years from now?
Our big ambition is about bringing back our creative work to the city. 2019 was very much around setting up the venue, and then we've had about two or three years of sorting out the fallout of COVID. This year is about embedding our creative practice, producing more shows in Nottingham, taking our shows on tour, working with artists more locally, fundraising more, and getting some exceptional work made in the city.
Hopefully, in ten years’ time, we’ll have a Fringe Festival and Nottingham will be known for a thriving theatre community where exceptional work at a national and international level is made.
If you’d like to support Nonsuch Studios financially, you can donate or become a member through the website. All our spaces are also available for hire.
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