“Shady Dolls Theatre Company is a fierce and formidable example of the type of ensemble acting and esprit d'corps that we frequently celebrate in the theatre but all too rarely get to see.”

Richard St. Peter : :  Artistic Director : :  Actors Guild of Lexington, Kentucky

Established in 2004, Shady Dolls Theatre Company comprises four female graduates of the American Theatre Arts degree programme at Rose Bruford College.

Our artistic policy is informed by the ensemble’s desire to challenge the idea of a single “feminine perspective” by producing unusual, contrary and witty theatre that draws on the great diversity of women’s experiences. We wish to nurture new work, re –examine the classics, and to share a sense of adventure with as wide an audience as possible.

In 2005 Shady Dolls collaborated with NXT (New Cross Theatre) to produce The Erotica Project at the Greenwich Playhouse. The play was offered to the Company by writers Lillian Anne Slugocki and Erin Cressida Wilson for its European premiere. The Erotica Project with its original and provocative presentation of women’s sexuality was an ideal platform for the Company’s debut. The show drew huge media interest, receiving national press coverage for the production and venue; it exceeded all expectations and catapulted the Company onto the professional stage.

“Vibrantly written and buoyantly performed…tough minded and (always a bonus) impressively supple.”

SUNDAY TIMES

“Superbly performed and well-directed… well written and insightful whether you approve or not.”

MORNING STAR

“The entire company brings just the right amount of irony coaxing comedy and pathos…spend the evening with The Erotica Project, you’ll have fun.”

EVENING STANDARD

Homestead by Steven Dykes, premiered at The Courtyard at Covent Garden in September 2006. Set in the American South of the turbulent 1950s, Homestead is a thrilling new version of Lorca's masterpiece of desire and betrayal: La Casa de Bernada Alba. The production was hailed a “triumph” by the press, receiving enormous critical acclaim and playing to full houses. Shady Dolls’ fascination with the grotesque proved it could capture a diverse West End audience.

“All are superb…I can’t really find anything to fault, except the run – too short. This play deserves to be seen.”

THE STAGE

“**** An evening that rivals the starrier houses”

EVENING STANDARD

“Has the National re-located to Covent Garden?...’Homestead’ is that rare thing, a play based on another which has a new, fresh, legitimate voice of its own…. Shady Dolls' impressive production is ripe for a no-expenses spared reincarnation in one of the loftier space on the South Bank.”

BRITISH THEATRE GUIDE

In 2007 the Company embarked on their second collaboration with Steven Dykes with what promised to be our most provocative show to date. The Spoils, a musical play commissioned by Shady Dolls, reunited Steven Dykes with his long term collaborator Paul Englishby - the acclaimed composer of the RSC’s recent hit musical The Merry Wives of Windsor. The Spoils took the Edinburgh Fringe Festival by storm in the summer of 2007, and the Dolls hope to secure funding to develop the piece further in 2008.

“**** The real strength of this piece for me was its accessibility.”

THE FRINGE REVIEW

“A finely constructed piece of well-acted theatre.”

THREE WEEKS

In addition to professional theatre, Shady Dolls are committed to our Outreach Programme and also to producing our infamous cabarets which are currently in high demand across London.

In 2008 Shady Dolls plan to continue to nurture new writing and have many exciting developments to reveal in the coming months. We would like to thank everyone who has supported us thus far, and hope you will join us in our future exploits and antics!  Watch this space…

“I predict great things to come from this lot”

THE STAGE