- CREATING COMMUNITY THROUGH THEATRE -
Our History
Here are some of the key moments in our development over the past 20 years.
An after school drama group
2001
SAVVY started with just four pupils, as an after-school drama group for teenagers wanting to study all facets of theatre-making. We explored mask, movement, puppetry, drama, stage-combat & regularly took part in the National Theatre's Connections and other local youth festivals.
Becoming a company
2007
SAVVY officially became a company, with the broad aim of working in youth & community arts. We launched with an intergenerational project & started a weekly drama group called Action Replay for adults with a learning disability, working in partnership with Croydon & Sutton Mencap.
A year of development & change
2016
With investment from Arts Council England, SAVVY spent a year working with Jessica Hepburn (former Executive Director, Lyric Theatre Hammersmith) to develop our first business plan, budget and strategy to realise our long-term aims, primarily to find a permanent home to bring our growing participatory theatre programme together.
Our Anniversary Year
2018
To celebrate our 10 years as a company & becoming a newly formed charity, SAVVY produced its most ambitious season of work to date, with 3 shows, across 3 boroughs in 3 months. We also hosted a gala event where we announced the exciting news of our new home, and produced a pantomime with an inclusive cast of over 60 actors.
A new home
2019
Three years after our ambition to find a home, we moved into our brand new SAVVY Studio at Fairfield Halls in Croydon. We now have a thriving weekly Take Part programme for all ages & abilities, a growing community outreach Special Projects programme and Artist Development training courses for those who struggle to access mainstream pathways into the profession.
