A Fresh Chapter: Creative Director Katie Pesskin on Seven Dials Playhouse’s New Season and Support for Emerging Artists

Katie Pesskin, Creative Director of Seven Dials Playhouse, is spearheading a bold new vision for the venue that emphasises transparency, accessibility, and support for artists. With a seasonal, curated programming model, the Playhouse aims to create a clearer path for artists to showcase their work and connect with audiences. Katie shares her thoughts on the shift towards self-led practice in UK theatre, the future of sketch and character comedy, and how the Playhouse’s new direction fosters a community where creativity and collaboration can thrive. From reimagining development spaces to embracing diverse voices, this new chapter at Seven Dials Playhouse promises an exciting future for theatre-makers of all kinds.

Can you walk us through your thinking behind the seasonal curated programming model?We wanted to create a clearer and more accessible way for artists to engage with us, and seasonal programming gave us the structure to do that.

A lot of artists tell us they struggle to know how to get their work programmed. By introducing seasons with open calls and specific themes, we’re able to say, “This is what we’re looking for right now - if you’ve got work that fits, here’s how to submit it.” That transparency is really important to us.

It also helps us communicate with audiences more effectively, because we can frame the work within a broader curatorial vision. It encourages cross-pollination - someone might come to see a play and then take a chance on a cabaret show from the same season. We’re hopeful this structure will help grow audiences and better support the artists we work with.

How does Seven Dials Playhouse’s new direction reflect a broader shift in how we support theatre artists in the UK?Over the last 10 to 15 years, we’ve seen a clear shift towards artists making their own work. More performers are writing and devising rather than waiting to be cast and that’s reflected in how drama schools are training people too. Many now have modules on self-led practice and creating original work.

That means we need to support artists not just in performing, but in developing and generating ideas. And that needs time, space and financial support. People need to be paid to make work, not just to perform it.

Some of the UK’s most successful TV and theatre exports started at the grassroots level, and we’re proud to help create the kind of opportunities where that work can begin. Applications will be open soon!

What role do you see sketch and character comedy playing in the future of live performance?With Saturday Night Live launching a UK edition, it feels like sketch and character comedy is finally getting a bit of the spotlight again - and that’s really exciting.

We recently announced our Sketch Comedy Collective, which we hope will become a space for performers and writers to cut their teeth in comedy. I’ve seen so many brilliant artists come through sketch and character work, it’s a great route into writing, developing material, and discovering your voice.

It’s also an accessible entry point to theatre-making, and we believe it plays an important role in shaping the next generation of writers and performers.

How are you reimagining development spaces to better serve the artistic process?We’re trying to alleviate the external pressures that make it hard for artists to be creative, especially in London.

That means not just offering physical space to work but also paying people for their time so they’re not having to juggle survival jobs to make rent. Our goal is to give artists the freedom to focus on developing their ideas without those financial and logistical burdens getting in the way.

What sort of artists or collectives are you hoping to attract with this new vision?Everyone. The most exciting thing would be to have someone come in and make something we’ve never even imagined before.

We don’t want to put limitations on who we work with. As long as it’s safe to do in our building, we’re open to all kinds of artists, all kinds of work. We want to be surprised, challenged, and inspired.

How does the open-door ethos shape the relationship between the venue and its community of artists?It’s about making the venue feel as accessible and welcoming as possible.

Our bar space is open during the day, so artists can work, meet, write, or just hang out. Our team is often based there too, so people can come and speak to us directly. We’re trying to make those interactions as informal and human as possible.

We’re also keeping our programming and development applications as simple and low barrier as we can, so artists don’t feel overwhelmed or shut out. We hope that by creating these open and transparent pathways, we’ll build a strong, supportive community around the organization.

You can find out more about Seven Dials Playhouse by checking out their website https://www.sevendialsplayhouse.co.uk/ 

Artists keen to get involved can visit https://www.sevendialsplayhouse.co.uk/artists