Join Paines Plough for a bumper celebration of new writing and writers, to celebrate the theatre company’s 50^th birthday and raise funds to secure their future. 

Since 1974, Paines Plough have commissioned, produced and supported over 500 playwrights, including James Graham, Sarah Kane, Dennis Kelly, Miriam Battye, Simon Stephens , Nathan Bryon, Kae Tempest, Vinay Patel, Mike Bartlett, Chloe Moss, Duncan Macmillan, Amy Trigg, Zia Ahmed and Anna Jordan.

In February for one night only, you’re invited to an evening of one-off performances, beautiful reunions and raffle prizes to celebrate the company’s last 50 years, and to raise money for the next 50.

The event will feature extracts of some of Paines Plough’s most beloved plays in its 50 year history by writers including Sarah Kane and Simon Stephens – with guest performers Monica Dolan, Tom Sturridge, Alfred Enoch and Amy Trigg, with more guests to be announced nearer to the event.

This event is part of Paines Plough’s 50 for 50 campaign, which aims to raise £50,000 to support its work at a time where new writing is under threat. There are so many stories in danger of never being heard, and we want to make sure we can spend another 50 years finding them.

If you are unable to attend the Gala but would like to donate to Paines Plough, please donate to our JustGiving appeal at this link.

Please note: casting is subject to change.

#PP50for50

The true story of a cultural martyr and a cultural oppressor.

When two penniless actresses meet in Shanghai at auditions for Ibsen’s A Doll’s House, they quickly become inseparable. But as political upheaval rips through China, their tumultuous friendship will alter not only the course of their lives, but the course of history. One will become China’s first female director. The other, the architect of the Cultural Revolution.

Amy Ng’s newest play looks at the untold story of two of the most influential women in Chinese history – Madame Mao and Sun Weishi – and how the personal truly is political.

Abigail’s mum is dead. But it turns out she can’t afford her to be.

Did you know how expensive it is to die? It’s £4000 for the funeral. Extra for flowers. And even more if you want sausage rolls. Otherwise, she will get a council funeral and an unmarked grave.

Then, when a theatre suddenly pulls out of Abigail’s new project, she is asked to write about something else. Something more raw, from her ‘unique working class lens.’ Something that will make the audience feel really, really bad about themselves. Audiences like that, apparently.

Yep. To afford the funeral, she has to write about her mum.

Winner of the Scotsman Fringe First at the Edinburgh Festival 2024, with power and playfulness, Kelly Jones’s new play tackles the inequalities around death, and the cost of turning your loved ones into art.