Rank & File Theatre

22/08/2026

Sometimes seeing your work written down makes you stop and remember why you started in the first place.

Rank & File is featured in the Summer 2026 issue of Drama Magazine, in Jude Haste’s piece, “Rank & File: A Theatre of Courage.”

Reading Jude’s words feels a little like looking back at the heart of what we have been trying to build.

One participant captured something at the heart of this beautifully:

“I never knew theatre was about the everyday. Now I realise the value of our stories.”

That idea also speaks to why the company was named Rank & File — a name rooted in ordinary people rather than those in positions of power.

Perhaps that is also why Theatre of Courage feels such a meaningful way to describe this work.

Seeing Rank & File in the pages — and on the cover — of Drama Magazine feels very special.

Not because the story is finished, but because it is still unfolding.

Thank you to National Drama, to Jude for putting these thoughts into words, and most of all to every person who has trusted Rank & File with a part of their story. ❤️

We’ll be putting the link in our bio so you can all read the full article.

SociallyEngagedTheatre

10/08/2026

Theatre is, at its heart, an act of coming together. 🎭

A celebration of connection — of sharing a space, a story, a moment, and creating something that could never exist in quite the same way alone.

Perhaps that’s why theatre means so much to us. Because beyond the stage, the lights and the performance, it reminds us of something deeply human: the joy of being together.

To listen, to respond, to support one another, and to belong.

This is why we love theatre. Because theatre brings us together.

And to everyone who continues to stand beside us, support us, share these moments with us, and be part of our journey — thank you, from the bottom of our hearts. We are so grateful to have you with us, and we love you. 🤍🎭

09/08/2026

What happens when Shakespeare is handed over to imagination, mischief and a company ready to make it entirely their own? 🎭

Pyramus & Thisbe grew from a remarkable collaboration between Rank & File Theatre and Eight Bells for Mental Health — a playful reimagining of Shakespeare’s Rude Mechanicals, shaped by the ideas, personalities and creative instincts of the performers themselves.

What began as a taster session soon grew, through the enthusiasm of the participants, into a regular theatre group. From early performances in the Eight Bells garden, the company went on to perform to a full house at The Old Library, Newbury, where the work received an incredibly warm response.

With a Beatles-inspired twist, the production brought together inventive characterisation, spontaneity, ensemble play and plenty of humour. Each performer brought something distinctly their own, creating a piece with a wonderfully unpredictable energy.

But this was never theatre about mental health. It was theatre created by people with ideas to explore, voices to share and talents to bring to the stage — people whose experiences of mental health challenges may be part of their lives, but do not define their imagination or creativity.

As Alex Lombardo of Eight Bells said: “Rank & File Theatre has revolutionised Eight Bells and given our members a natural high.”

Performer Tom Lyons reflected on the impact beyond the stage: “Drama has improved my confidence and has given me a weekly boost to my wellbeing.”

At its heart, Pyramus & Thisbe became a celebration of Shakespeare as living material — something to play with, reinvent and make our own. A stage can be more than a place to perform: it can be a place to be heard, to be seen and to discover what is possible.

A huge thank you to everyone who came, shared in the laughter and supported the performers so warmly. Your response made this special collaboration even more meaningful. 🤍

Shakespeare, imagination and community — with a little mischief thrown in. 👑🎭

Rank & File Theatre × Eight Bells for Mental Health

02/08/2026

COMMON GROUND

What does it mean to call a place home?

Created from the real voices of people across Reading and Whitley, Common Ground brings together movement, multilingual storytelling and live music to explore belonging, identity and the courage to stand together in the face of fear, division and misinformation.

At a time when headlines and labels can shape the way we see one another, this performance invites us to pause, to listen, and to reconnect with the human stories behind them.

As highlighted in the Newbury Weekly News review, the production also featured live integrated audio description, seamlessly woven into the performance, reflecting Rank & File Theatre’s commitment to genuine accessibility and inclusion.

Created by Rank & File Theatre in partnership with Refugee Support Group and Whitley Community Development Association.

Featuring live music by Anna Proskura (bandura) and Stu Barker (harp)

Thank you to everyone who entrusted us with their stories. This performance belongs to you.

ReadingUK StandTogether SharedHumanity RefugeeSupportGroup

28/07/2026

We are incredibly grateful for the wonderful response to Washroom, directed by Iman Eskandari Badi.

It was a privilege to share this performance with such a warm and engaged audience. We were delighted to welcome so many people—including fellow artists and theatre-makers—who joined us and shared such thoughtful feedback after the performance. Thank you to everyone who came and supported our work.

We hope this is only the beginning of Washroom’s journey, and we look forward to bringing the production to festivals in the near future. We’ll keep you updated as new opportunities unfold.

Created and presented by Rank & File theatre. 🎭

* Written & Directed by Iman Eskandari
* Sound Design & Original Music by Stu Barker
* Set & Costume Design by Effie GU

28/07/2026

We are incredibly grateful for the wonderful response to Washroom, directed by Iman Eskandari Badi.

It was a privilege to share this performance with such a warm and engaged audience. We were delighted to welcome so many people—including fellow artists and theatre-makers—who joined us and shared such thoughtful feedback after the performance. Thank you to everyone who came and supported our work.

We hope this is only the beginning of Washroom’s journey, and we look forward to bringing the production to festivals in the near future. We’ll keep you updated as new opportunities unfold.
🎭

Created and presented by Rank & File Theatre.

* Written & Directed by Iman Eskandari
* Sound Design & Original Music by Stu Barker
* Set & Costume Design by Effie Guyuan

10/07/2026

06/07/2026

Come and see Eight Bells’ very own Rude Mechanicals at The Old Library, Newbury this Thursday evening.

Expect Shakespeare, silliness, live music, comedy, and a lot of heart in our playful take on Pyramus and Thisbe.

Big shout-out to all our wonderful performers and to the brilliant Rona Topaz, celebrating why theatre, mental health, wellbeing and disability rights matter!

MentalHealthAndTheArts CommunityTheatre Newbury

04/07/2026

In 2022, Rank & File actor Mary-Juan, took to the stage to speak about her home country of South Sudan.

Since then, war has escalated and South Sudan faces a humanitarian crisis.

South Sudan is so often ignored by the headlines, but must not be forgotten. What is happening is so deeply tied to Britain’s history, and people like Giel McMalual/ جِيل ملوال continue to bring this to our attention - amplifying voices and taking action. Though we live in a fractured world, we can try to speak out, learn and come together on common ground.

The link to Mary-Juan’s full speech can be found in our bio.

03/07/2026

This is happening next week. Only a handful of tickets left! Thanks newburytoday for covering 🧡

Rank & File Theatre to present the first showcase at The Old Library featuring three new performance pieces created with local communities 👇 read on in comments below