About us
Rooftop, based in Ludlow, Shropshire, take a bold and far-sighted approach to theatre, stirring up Shakespeare and the classics to revel in the story, the comedy and the modern context. We also put on new plays and devise community theatre to connect with and project people’s lived experiences and memories.
We love performing in alternative and unusual venues with dramatic opportunities and use professionally trained and quality amateur actors who are versatile, engaging and clear. We’re currently planning performances for Ludlow Brewery and in the Secret Garden behind the Castle Bookshop in Ludlow.
Ludlow
Our Ludlow debut was in the 2014 Ludlow Fringe Festival with The Comedy of Errors at Ludlow Brewery. In 2015 we produced Henry V and The Tempest, followed by Hamlet in June 2016, and The Country Wife in 2017, all at Ludlow Brewery, with our Theatre Severn Shrewsbury debut in 2017.
In December 2016, we put on our first community panto, Robin Hood, for Ludlow Assembly Rooms, and a year later Cinderella.
In 2018, with Arts Council England funding, we collaborated with Ludlow Amateur Boxing Club and co-directed with Jules Woodman for a devised, community theatre production, Boxing Club Rules.
2022 saw our first production after the Covid-19 pandemic: a joyous celebration of Ludlow's recent past The Memory Garden, in the secret garden behind The Castle Bookshop, Ludlow.
Later in the year we made an enthusiastic return to Ludlow Brewery with Twelfth Night.
In 2023 we reprised The Memory Garden with added new stories and characters. Later in the year we took Much Ado About Nothing to Ludlow Brewery turning it into a jazz-age nightclub!
2024 saw the debut of Chain Girls by Simon Bolton in the Castle Bookshop’s Secret Garden, and the play has been picked up by Londwon Playwrights and the Birmingham Rep for feedback and potential development, which is very exciting!
London
Our name comes from our very first productions which took place on the rooftop space of the old City Literary Institute building in Stukeley Street, London, from 2000 to 2002. Written and directed by teacher George Pensotti, he inspired our lively and physical approach. We embraced Shakespeare in 2003 with an exuberant open-air production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at The Old Paddling Pool, Queen's Wood, Highgate, followed by The Comedy of Errors in 2004.
St Albans
In St Albans we put on a series of acclaimed open-air productions at Inn on the Park in Verulamium Park starting with Love’s Labour’s Lost in 2007 and The Taming of the Shrew in 2008. A winter production of Twelfth Night took place at the Town Hall and we returned to the open-air for The Winter’s Tale in July 2010, with Much Ado About Nothing in 2011 and The Merry Wives of Windsor in 2012.
In 2012 we were named Best Shakespeare Producers at the Fringe Report Award for “delivering his plays with freshness, originality and eclat”. The photograph shows us with members of our St Albans ensemble at the awards night – from left to right, Philippa Tatham, Simon Boughey, Bob Reitemeier, Paul Sayers, Simon Bolton, Chris Paddon and Lisa Castle.
Artistic Directors - Simon Bolton & Paul Sayers
Paul and Simon met at Birmingham School of Speech & Drama (now Birmingham School of Acting) in 1995. After training a few years of fringe acting roles in London and the regions followed. They took classes with George Pensotti at the City Literary Institute, whose inspiration and support led them to taking on Shakespeare, and Rooftop was born.
George Pensotti
A very special drama teacher at the City Lit who inspired our bold and physical approach to Shakespeare. He was also kind, patient and had a hilariously dry sense of humour.
The cast of Chain Girls with the chain makers from the Birmingham Commonwealth Games opening ceremony. Ludlow, 2024
Collecting the Fringe Report Award in 2012