Theatre Deli presents eight brand new work in progress performances this summer as part of their SHIFT+SPACE programme.

Opening on 23rd and 24th June, Look at Them Go will explore cultural memory through physical theatre and traditional slav folk music. Continuing the themes of cultural and racial identities, Best Fit (4th-5th August) sees an unlikely friendship develop in an African tailors, while Gate Number 5 (21st-22nd July) follows a lesbian relationship between a black and a white migrant. Divija Melally asks “how can we make our bodies forget and disregard race in a constantly changing world?” in The Skeleton is White (28th-29th July).

July includes two weeks of performances on female identity and sexuality: step into a bizarre world that explores identity, desire, sexual access and female body autonomy in Safari (7th-8th July) and celebrate the superpowers of the female body in Witching (14th-15th July). In August you are invited into the world of chairs in Ego/A History of Chairs (11th-12th August), discussing the history, future and mystery of the chair. Rounding up the season, Lucy Loughnane’s Ascent (18th-19th August) follows one woman as she navigates different social spheres to try and find her place in the world. 

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Three women meet at a bespoke African tailoring shop ahead of a special occasion and, in the midst of piecing together colourful fabrics, unpack their very different lives in Best Fit by Priscilla Krahn (4th-5th August)

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Described as “a generous and essential opportunity” by previous artists in the programme, SHIFT+SPACE is a unique take on work-in-progress programming, which offers artists an opportunity to present their performance on a Friday and incorporate audience feedback over a 24 hour period before presenting again on Saturday evening. 

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Witching by Iris Athanasiadi (14th-15th July) retells the stories of different feminine archetypes and celebrates the superpowers of the female body in a ritualistic and multisensory environment.

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SHIFT+SPACE has supported over 25 companies since opening in Autumn 2021, granting some their first ever performance opportunity and setting many on journeys to UK tours, slots at VAULT Festival and even award nominations. The programme includes free access to a package of resources including five days of space, technical expertise and marketing support to help them move their work-in-progress to the next stage. On top of this, artists keep 100% of the Box Office. New to summer 2023, SHIFT+SPACE is offering a £250 advance to artists, which many have cited as particularly useful in the current economic climate. 

A national meanwhile-space charity, Theatre Deli’s model involves taking over unused spaces to support artists and offer communities access to the arts. The organisation opened its most recent London venue on Leadenhall Street and around the corner from the Gherkin in July 2022. Theatre Deli's new Sheffield venue is due to open its doors in spring 2023. 

Esther Hallas Smith, Producer of Theatre Deli said: 

“SHIFT+SPACE is one of those unique opportunities which really lets artists take the reins and embrace the invaluable power of an audience. We’re really excited of the direction Shift+Space is heading and that we can further support fresh, groundbreaking work at the early stages of it’s journey. I can’t wait to see what each artist brings to the space!”

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SHIFT+SPACE Summer 2023 Line Up

Look at them Go by Sarah Klvanova and Viktor Andonov (23rd-24th June)

A flood arrived at our house yesterday...

Safari by Alysha Nelson and Chrisanthi Livadiotis (7th-8th July) 

Step into a bizarre world that explores identity, desire, sexual access and female body autonomy.

Witching by Iris Athanasiadi (14th-15th July)

Witching retells the stories of different feminine archetypes and celebrates the superpowers of the female body in a ritualistic and multisensory environment.

Gate Number 5 by Henriette Laursen (21st-22nd July)

A half-live, half-virtual interracial lesbian love story between a white European immigrant and a black former refugee, where the only thing standing between them, and their funny, heartfelt journey together, is Gate Number 5.

The Skeleton is White by Divija Melally (28th-29th July)

What does your body have to say after generations of being silenced and suppressed?

Best Fit by Priscilla Krahn (4th-5th August)

Three women meet at a bespoke African tailoring shop ahead of a special occasion and, in the midst of piecing together colourful fabrics, unpack their very different lives.

A Brief History of Chairs by Broken Record (11th-12th August)

Take a seat as esteemed chairologist Baillie Dobson invites you into the world of chairs; their history, their future and their mysteries.

Ascent by Lucy Loughnane (18th-19th August)

One woman's journey through time and space as she navigates through different social spheres to try and find her place in the world...