In May this year Beth Wood left the Arc Arts Centre where she had been Artistic Director since September 2009, prior to the centre opening in February 2010. Since May she has set up Prospero Theatre. 

Beth talked to us about what it was like leaving the Arc and what her plans are for Prospero.

Beth said: "Prospero is a shiny new company which will embody many of the values that have been most dear to me at the Arc and indeed in most of my pre-Arc posts. The first arm of Prospero goes live in just under two weeks which is very exciting. The tag for the new company is ‘Exceptional art that speaks with the voice of an inclusive society.’ We will produce theatre projects that are designed to be fully inclusive, constructed and delivered by specialists in the field, endorsed by market leaders, and are always of the highest possible artistic standard.

"The name of the company comes from the character of Prospero from Shakespeare’s ‘Tempest.’ Prospero’s knowledge and magic come together to create a world in which anything can happen. I think the character was in my mind because he made a brief appearance in Another Way’s Smorgasbard in June this year, a selection of Shakespeare pieces in which I played Katherine of Aragon. My daughter also pointed out that the name has ‘prosper’ within it. I am not a fame and fortune person but I am highly ambitious for the company to succeed. She says that I am ‘on fire for it’ which is probably the only state of mind and soul in which to undertake the business of launching a new company!

"Obviously I was pretty distraught when I was made redundant from the Arc in May (although I stayed to complete 5 projects that I was in the middle of, finishing the last of these in July.) But I have always believed that the ‘Arc’ was not the bricks and the mortar, but the work and the people. So then, I thought, how can I continue the work that I so passionately believe in? And so Prospero was born. The final piece slotted into place when I was chatting to David Gold, patron of the Arc, explaining what had happened. Up to that time I had been applying to other theatres for Artistic Director posts, and had interviews coming up in Corby and Lyme Regis. We talked about the benefits of the work of the Arc to young people, particularly the confidence gained by the many disadvantaged teenagers with whom we had worked. As we spoke I realised that this simply wasn’t something that I wanted to give up.

"I was asked in an interview at the weekend what were the things I most enjoyed at the Arc. Two productions came most strongly to mind. The first was a six month project ‘Creating Cultures’ funded by Children-in-Need. I worked with a team of actors in three schools for pupils with special needs. Each created pieces that were eventually performed in the Studio. Thinking of the progress made by some of the young people in the project still gives me goosebumps. There was barely a dry eye in the audience. The second was a project working in partnership with the actress and writer Jessica Clements and with Orbitshed, one of my favourite companies. The piece was called ‘Elephant of my Heart’ and involved 60 teenagers with behavioural problems and a 12 foot elephant created in recycled materials by Let’s Celebrate. Over two terms the attention span of our very wonderful participants more than quadrupled. I am also extremely proud of the Christmas shows produced by the Arc which always got huge attendance and very good reviews. The last two in particular were great fun as we moved into the world of the musical with original songs by Chris Chambers, the Artistic Director of Another Way Theatre. And of course I had a ball working with all my groups; the incredibly imaginative 4 to 7 year olds, my wonderful Theatre School actors and the extraordinary adults with whom I have just spent an amazing week in Edinburgh.

"The plans for Prospero are just as exciting. There are six arms to the company, each headed up by a different team, which come on line gradually from September 2015 to September 2016. The last to go live will be the professional touring company. Work in schools begins first. I have a team of great actors who will be going with me into Primary Schools from 24^th September to deliver participatory sessions on everything from Greek Myths to Shakespeare. Also in rehearsal is a project on Cyberbullying which goes out later in the term following a June pilot for which we received excellent feedback. The piece is called ‘Safe not Silent’ and is being produced in collaboration with ABC Theatre and its director Chrissie McNeice. Close on the heels of this will come a wellbeing and mindfulness project ‘Fox Holes in my Mind’ which I am developing with two quite brilliant child psychologists.

"I love working in collaboration. Someone once said that it is my default position. I am very fortunate that after 25 years in the business as Artistic Director of 4 theatres and several years as drama consultant for Surrey Education, I have a lot of hugely talented friends and associates who have helped me set up Prospero and who are keen to work with and for the company. I am thrilled that both Prospero Theatre School and the Community Company will be working with the amazing Human Zoo , who have just finished a sell-out show at the Pleasance in Edinburgh. Another forthcoming collaboration is with Jessica Clements. Jess and I have spent much of the Summer developing ‘Elephant of my Heart’ into a full length play which will go on in London in the Spring and then tour. Once again the songs have been written by Chris Chambers and are wonderful. They had both Jess and I in tears this week.

"The final arm of Prospero is Prospero’s Books. Through my career I have written more than 60 plays. I have never had them published although they have been performed by 16 companies in 5 countries. I have also written the drama activities for many years for Longman’s Shakespeare texts. Prospero’s Books will offer scripts to schools and other groups ranging from 45 minute pieces that can be used in the classroom, to 3 hour plays to be produced in theatres or as main school productions. There is also the option of having Prospero actors / directors to assist with the shows.

"It has certainly been a Summer of roller-coaster highs and lows. The redundancy hit me hard, but it is probably not in my nature to jump ship, and now that I have set up Prospero I am thankful to have been ‘pushed’. I am also glad to be continuing a loose association with the Arc in that Prospero will be delivering the contract for Friday Club, mixed arts for adults with disabilities which has long been one of my favourite things in the world. I challenge anyone to spend a Friday with our Friday Club actors and not leave uplifted and inspired! So it is certainly onwards and upwards. I am certain that Prospero has the strongest possible foundations upon which to grow. I can’t wait to get the upcoming Prospero projects underway."

If you are interested in becoming part of Prospero Theatre School or Adult Acting classes, or if you want to book Prospero for a workshop in a school or a creative arts project please do get in touch. The Drama programme for Secondary Schools comes on line in November under the expert eye of Mark Johnson.

My email is This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and my phone number 07956-674966.

Even Einstein said ‘Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life’s coming attractions.’ Now just might be the time to release your sense of adventure!’