THE WORLD’S A STAGE
Pluto Play Productions was founded by Brian Daniels and the late Andrew Connolly in 1997, and Brian is the current CEO. It is a registered charity and was created to take over the running and management of the famous New End Theatre in Hampstead, North London.
The building that housed the theatre was constructed on New End in 1890 as part of the former New End Hospital. It was converted into a theatre in 1974 by Buddy Dalton and soon formed its reputation for presenting new writing. Brian was Artistic Director and Chief Executive of the theatre for 14 years.
The New End Theatre, Hampstead, London
Pluto Play Productions is governed by a Board of Trustees with the CEO reporting to the Board members through the year about work and financial matters. Its stated aim is:
“the advancement of public education in all aspects of the dramatic arts by the presentation and production of plays and other expressions of drama, including the commissioning of new works and the mounting of public performances of them”.
Since 2011, more than 20 commissioned plays have been added to the Pluto Play Productions portfolio, all written by Brian Daniels, that address contemporary issues around health and social care, life limiting illness and bereavement, dementia, and family relationships. They have been commissioned by a variety of organisations and individuals and staged in theatres, hospitals, hospices, universities, and community centres across the UK - even in Portsmouth Cathedral, the House of Lords, The Crucible Theatre, Sheffield and The Barbican Theatre. An ensemble of professional directors and actors bring the stories to life, and most are staged radio-style where the actors sit facing the audience and read script in-hand.
Each performance is followed by a discussion involving the audience, usually with an expert panel, that has become an integral part of the whole experience. The atmosphere created by a performance provides a unique forum for promoting critical thinking and the exchange of ideas, for shining a light on difficult issues and encouragement to initiate change, both individually and collectively.
This website features descriptions of all the plays listed under themed headings. It also provides information on how to become a host for a performance, how to commission Brian Daniels to write a new play plus news and upcoming performances