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Kelly Long, Lauren Donoghue, Rachelle Grubb & Tom Hartwell - Hatch and Scratch Peckham Fringe Interview

Hatch & Scratch will run three special edition Sunday performances as part of Peckham Fringe Festival on Sunday 5th May, Sunday 19th May and Sunday 2nd June showcasing local Peckham creatives alongside some Kennington regulars.

Hatch & Scratch is a monthly new writing night, produced by Pathway Theatre at the Golden Goose in Kennington. Each month we showcase four core writers and one guest writer. Hatch & Scratch wants to encourage consistent practice and performance for writers, while offering a regular opportunity for actors and directors to work.

Photo by East Photography

We work to build a safe, supportive space run by creatives for creatives, free from common industry pressures. We want to widen creative circles and encourage collaboration.

As part of our Peckham Fringe we chat with Kelly Long, Lauren Donoghue, Rachelle Grubb & Tom Hartwell to learn more. 

What can you tell me about your show?
Hatch & Scratch is a monthly new writing night curated and produced by Pathway Theatre, showcasing new writing by four core writers and one special guest writer. It is curated by Pathway Artistic Director Kelly Long and writers Lauren Donoghue, Rachelle Grubb and Tom Hartwell. 

Our amazing new writing night will be running for three evenings as part of Peckham Fringe 2024 at  the Golden Goose Theatre. Hatch & Scratch wants to encourage consistent practice and performance for writers, while offering a regular opportunity for actors and directors to work. 

We work to build a safe, supportive space run by creatives, for creatives. The ethos of the night is all about making some theatre without all the industry bullsh*t that goes with it! No soul-crushing auditions or stressful press reviews. 

Where did the inspiration for the show come from?
The idea for Hatch & Scratch came from Kelly listening to the 'How to Write a Play' podcast with Mike Bartlett from the Old Fire Station, Oxford. The idea of a monthly deadline to write to seemed like a great way to make work and see it performed regularly. She immediately brought Lauren, Rachelle and Tom on board as fellow “core writers” - or “geese” as it’s become!

Hatch & Scratch is all about hatching exciting new ideas and scratching them with some of the best directors and performers around.

Photo by East Photography

How have you approached bringing your show to life?
We wanted to make our Peckham Fringe editions special and specific to the local creative community. More than 90% of our guest writers are local to Peckham, and more than half of our creative teams have close links to the South East London community. 

To make the event happen, we offer free rehearsal space, build the companies, cast the pieces and welcome participants into a fantastic creative network. 

Hatch & Scratch has always felt special - the auditorium is filled with warmth and goodwill every month as the theatre community comes together to share expertly crafted new work. For Peckham Fringe, we’re offering some of the best new writing brought to life by fantastic local creatives. You’ll be able to say you saw it here first!

If you were a biscuit, what would you be and why?
KELLY: I’m an off-brand jam & cream; hard on the outside, not quite jammy enough, but quite sweet.
RACH: I’m a party ring; fun, vibrant and you’ll always find me at the buffet table.
LAUREN: Classic digestive; dry as hell, drowning in tea and barely sweet enough to count as dessert. 
TOM: A lotus Biscoff biscuit, never asked for but a pleasant surprise when it arrives, and you’ll usually find me accompanied with a coffee.

What keeps you inspired?
We love giving creatives the opportunity every month to make something new. Often, actors, writers and directors don’t get to practice theatre-making outside of rare jobs and stressful auditions. We love being able to offer a stress-free month of doing what you love. And seeing a fantastic director connect professionally with a wonderful actor is a hugely exciting moment for a producing team!

We work hard to bring equal opportunities to every corner of the theatre community we can reach. 

We want to tell myriad stories from every corner of human experience. 

What do you hope an audience takes away from Peckham Fringe?
If they’re a creative who wants to take part, we hope they get in touch!

If they’re a theatre-lover, we hope we provoke thought, inspire feeling and give entertainment in the hour and fifteen minutes we have them for!

Hatch and Scratch takes place on Sunday 5th May, Sunday 19th May and Sunday 2nd June. Tickets are available from https://www.theatrepeckham.co.uk/show/hatch-scratch/

Photo by LMCD Photography


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