About the Company

Shatterbox was founded in 2008 by Anna Holbek and Shelley Davenport through the development and writing of Fair Trade. Both actresses trained on the BA Acting degree course at Italia Conti. Anna met actress Emma Thompson on the set of Brideshead Revisited where she worked as Assistant to the Director (Julian Jarrold) and helped the actors (including Emma) on their piece of singing for a scene in the film. It was through this that Anna formed a relationship with Emma and learned about the art installation project Journey (against sex trafficking), of which Emma was a key advocate. Anna was asked to bring some actresses together to model for the campaign. It was working on Journey that inspired Anna and Shelley to write Fair Trade, and Emma has put her full support behind it as Executive Producer.

Click HERE to view Emma Thompson’s video presentation of the Journey art installation.

Fair Trade was originally performed at the Pleasance Theatre Islington in February 2009 and has been shaped and developed into an exciting and original piece of theatre by a team of people of very different ages and backgrounds, who share a common cause and the desire to reach their audience. Every member’s dynamic input has resulted in a remarkable show, which they are all extremely proud to have been part of.

Click HERE to view programme pages from the 2009 production.

After near sell-out performances and a unanimously positive response to the production, Shatterbox were invited to bring Fair Trade to both the Latitude Festival and Edinburgh Fringe Festival. After a near-sellout Summer run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, London's Rich Mix and the Latitude Festival, Fair Trade has been invited to Manchester's Contact Theatre in Spring 2011, followed by a number of additional UK venues.

Since the 2009 performances, Fair Trade was redeveloped once again, with a major script edit from writer Kate Ferguson, and a shuffle of company roles.

TOUR PRODUCER FOR 2010
Sarah Crompton joined the company in Summer 2009. Sarah’s work assisting artistic producer, Anna Holbek, has been absolutely invaluable to the development of the company. She worked as the main producer for Shatterbox during the Summer 2010 tour of Fair Trade. Having graduated from Manchester University in 2009 Sarah has already worked as assistant producer for 5 theatre companies: Falling Leaves, Gecko, State of Emergency, Night Light and of course Shatterbox.

DIRECTOR
We were very fortunate to secure director Lotte Wakeham for our 2010 tour. She was recently working in the West End as an assistant director to Richard Eyre on Private Lives at the Vaudeville and to Anna Mackmin on The Real Thing at the Old Vic.  In 2009 Lotte's production of Austentatious at the Landor Theatre, Clapham, received 5 star reviews and will be transferring to Trafalgar Studios.   She has also recently directed some new writing for the Old Vic (Thinking the Deep Thoughts, Old Vic Symposium).

MOVEMENT DIRECTOR
The writers felt it important to include both a physical dimension and musical element to the work which was originally just a verbatim piece. Movement director, Angela Gasparetto is a physical theatre practitioner with an energetic, hands-on approach to improvisation. She led the cast in exploring the themes of the play through movement and contact work. Current Head of Movement at Italia Conti for the Acting degree course, Angela trained at the TooBa Physical Theatre School of Speech and Drama, and continues to work with Jacky Lansley at the Dance Research Centre, London. Click HERE to visit her website.

COMPOSER AND MUSICAL DIRECTOR
Jessica Dannheisser is primarily a film composer, arranger and orchestrator. She has contributed to many major motion picture scores including The Young Victoria, Telstar and Disney's The Crimson Wing. Jessica has composed several scores for theatre including The Tempest at the Victoria & Albert Museum courtyard, Blood Wedding at the Southwark Playhouse and Waiting, starring Juliet Stevenson that premiered at the Purcell Room in March 2010. Click HERE to visit her website.

THE CAST
Sarah Amankwah, Anna Holbek, Adele Lynch, Deborah Hewitt, Babajide Fadojutimi, Simon Yadoo, Christopher Dingli and Jonathan Holbek.

Click on each name to view their CVs

DESIGNERS
Set and costume design by Bridget Murton and Sophie Jacobs; Lighting design by Christopher Nairne.