Oryx Productions presents a series of short plays at 93 Feet East

Having only launched last January, Oryx Productions has quickly earned a reputation for staging lively and energetic short plays.

Returning to Brick Lane’s 93 Feet East, Oryx draws in young actors, playwrights and directors to create original theatre work, often debuting new talent and giving opportunities to those just starting out in the business. As the theatre world is notoriously difficult to break into, Oryx provides a unique outlet for those who want to get involved in productions, with students often employed as contributing actors, and some writers experience the pleasure of having an audience exposed to their work for the first time.

However, to dismiss the writers’ work on the 27^th November as amateur would be a mistake. Attracting and recognising emerging talent, contributors included Alex Oates, rumoured to be working on a new comedy series for BBC3, and Michael Ross, whose scripts include Hungry Heart, performed at the Southwark Playhouse.

Sharply written prose and dark humour dominated the short plays. Surreal ideas were explored well, particularly in a staged dialogue between the parents of a new born who is later revealed to be a rat, concluding with the mother looking for the “baby” having gone missing among the audience, and the father leaving to look for the household cat.

As always Oryx Productions provided an entertaining evening. The unconventional setting and staging for theatre combined with the obvious talent and enthusiasm of those involved in the productions make for a unique cultural experience. For those less interested in a cultural experience, the novelty of seeing actors perform seemingly at random in a crowded bar cannot be overlooked, and perhaps the chance to see the future big names of theatre continues to attract a large audience.

The editorial unit

For further information visit Oryx Productions’ website here.