DugOut Theatre

Directed by Ed Smith, R.C. Sherriff's First World War drama would serve as part of the inspiration for DugOut's name (a dugout being a common feature of trench warfare). The production starred several future company members, including Jimmy Walters and Ekow Quartey. It was performed in the Alec Clegg Theatre at the stage@leeds in May 2009. Other cast included Tom Gill, Jamie Laign, Andy Jordan, Tom Holloway and George Chillcott taking the lead role of Stanhope.

Patrick Marber's first play was directed by George Chilcott in Mine, the Leeds University Union, in May 2010. After its success in Leeds, the production was moved to Edinburgh for the 2010 Fringe Festival, where it garnered renewed acclaim and became a sell-out show. Chilcott's decision to introduce choreography to scene changes was met with high praise[5] and would become a staple of future DugOut work. The Edinburgh show was selected by the National Student Drama Festival to be performed in Scarborough in 2011, and was exceptionally well-received there, receiving a commendation ensemble acting.[6] Cast included: Jimmy Walters, Harry Williams, Will Barwick and Ed Smith.

Ed Smith returned to directing after his success on the stage as Mugsy in Dealer's Choice with Noël Coward's 1924 farce. Combining the choreography and pace crafted in Dealer's Choice with Coward's text proved popular with audiences, and Hay Fever became the first of DugOut's shows to be awarded five stars. Particular mention was made of Smith's use of a live band on stage, complete with a smoking jacket-clad, wisecracking pianist.[7] Hay Fever ran at the stage@leeds in from 3 November to 6 November 2010.

Ekow Quartey starred as the title role in DugOut's first Shakespeare production. As director once again, George Chilcott set the piece in a Venice much like 1960s America, with the far-off war in Cyprus bearing similarities to Vietnam.[8] After a successful run in the stage@leeds in February 2011, Othello was selected to go to the Edinburgh Fringe later in the same year. It was performed in the Loft at the Zoo Roxy, and was relatively well-received, with Chilcott's setting and eye for detail, the use of music, and both Quartey's Othello and Tom Black's Iago receiving praise from reviewers.[9]

DugOut chose to put on an updated version of John Godber's popular play in a non-theatre space in March 2011. After a successful three night run in The Hi-Fi Club, Bouncers Remix was chosen to be one of DugOut's two shows at the 2011 Edinburgh Fringe, being performed in the Sanctuary at the Zoo Roxy throughout August 2011.[10] Originally proposed and envisioned by Will Brown (who was eventually cast in the role of Lucky Eric), the production was directed by Tom Black.

DugOut's production of Harold Pinter's 1958 play combined the company's signature styles of movement and scene changes with first-time director Harry Williams' eye for dialogue. Bringing in new members to the company, it ran from 2 November to 5 November 2011 in the stage@leeds,[11] and was praised for its realistic set and 'astounding lucidity' with which dialogue was delivered.[12]

In December 2011, DugOut announced plans to perform their first all-new piece of writing. It was revealed in January 2012 that the play, devised by the cast, would be called Inheritance Blues and star Tom Black, Will Brown, Luke Murphy, Henry Perryment, Ed Smith and Harry Williams, with Chilcott returning as director. The play, based around a wake at which a blues band unexpectedly arrive, features live music and a cappella singing. The show was very well-received, being selected for the National Student Drama Festival and being awarded the judges' award for devising. It also won the popular vote for the Festgoers' Award, voted for by everyone at the festival.[13] DugOut were invited to perform Inheritance Blues at the Bedlam Theatre for the Edinburgh Fringe, where it earned a string of four and five star reviews and was nominated for three Musical Theatre Network awards and The Stage Student Choice Award after a sell-out run.[14]

Phoebe Sparrow, Nina Shenkman, Hugh Coles and Sam Ripman starred in this intimate comedy about secrets, set in a mysteriously empty London flat. After a well-received run at the stage@leeds, Cover transferred to C Nova for the Edinburgh Fringe, with Tom Black replacing Sam Ripman in the cast.[15] The Edinburgh run of the show earned four stars from both ThreeWeeks and Broadway Baby, with Nina Shenkman earning particular praise.[16][17]

In November 2012, DugOut began the devising process for their third new work by attending Unlimited Theatre's Uninspire workshop at the West Yorkshire Playhouse. In April 2013, the company travelled to France to devise what would become Fade, joined by acclaimed writer and performer Alexander Owen.[18] After an open devising process, Owen wrote the script for Fade and the play premiered at the Bedlam Theatre in August 2013.[19]