nabokov
nabokov was my first company. I formed it in 2001 while I was at Sheffield University and ran it with co-founders George Perrin and Ric Mountjoy until 2010. We then sat on the Board for another decade until the company took its final bow in 2021.
nabokov was a new writing company dedicated to commissioning, developing and producing backlash theatre - new work that offered an antagonistic response to contemporary agendas, trends and events. Fuelled by unbridled passion and dogged entrepreneurialism, nabokov grew from a student bedroom start-up to a company with an international reputation for producing new plays, curating new writing nights and programming large scale events.
“Proving that political drama does have a place in the 21st Century” The List
During my tenure as founding Artistic Director, nabokov produced critically acclaimed productions in London, Edinburgh and on tour including KITCHEN, BEDTIME FOR BASTARDS, CAMARILLA and NIKOLINA by Van Badham. Our World Premiere production of ARTEFACTS by Mike Bartlett opened at the Bush Theatre in London before touring nationally and transferring to New York. TERRE HAUTE by Edmund White premiered at The Assembly Rooms, Edinburgh, prior to a NationalTour and runs in the West End and Off-Broadway.
Our SHORTS nights were a mix-tape of new work from the most exciting artists of the moment and our PRESENT:TENSE events challenged playwrights to write plays in response to the most important story on the news agenda. Our multi-arts event NABOKOV ARTS CLUB featured plays, performance poetry, films, comedy, live music and DJs in a 700 capacity warehouse on Saturday nights. Alongside our own events and productions, nabokov curated, produced and hosted work at festivals and events including THE LATITUDE FESTIVAL and THE INNOCENT VILLAGE FETE.
nabokov commissioned, developed and presented work by a wide range of stellar artists including Kae Tempest, Mike Bartlett, Josie Long, Isy Suttie, Inua Ellams, Jack Thorne, Mark Thomas, Bridget Amofah, Duncan Macmillan, Clock Opera, The Irrepressibles, Bola Agbaje, The Correspondents, April De Angelis, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Robin French, James Graham, Joel Horwood, Lucy Kirkwood, Patrick Marber, Gary Owen, Tim Price, Edmund White, Tamara Harvey, Polly Findlay, Matthew Dunster, Vicky Jones, Josie Rourke, Michael Longhurst, Arthur Darvill, Rory Kinnear, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Dockers MC, Scroobius Pip, Polarbear, Luke Wright, Left With Pictures, Simon Brodkin, Tim Key, Aline David.
Our work was seen across the UK and internationally; in the West End, in a toilet in Sheffield, Off-Broadway and in festival fields, tents, warehouses, pubs and nightclubs.
When George and I left nabokov to run Paines Plough in 2009 we were succeeded by Artistic Directors Joe Murphy (2010-2015) and Stef O’Driscoll (2016-2021). The tens of brilliant producers, administrators, technicians, literary managers who ran nabokov for 20 years now occupy some of the most exciting and empowered positions in British Theatre.
