Theatre 503

Theatre503 is a studio theatre above The Latchmere pub in Battersea, London. It sits on Battersea Park Road in the London Borough of Wandsworth. The building has housed a theatre since 1982, when it opened as the Latchmere Theatre. In 2004 it became Theatre503, keeping the same address and the same link to the pub below. The space is small and flexible, designed for new work rather than large productions. The theatre is one of the United Kingdom’s leading homes for new writing. Over 120 debut and emerging writers appear there each year in more than 70 productions. It has won the Peter Brook Empty Space Award and two Olivier Awards. Productions such as Katori Hall’s The Mountaintop and Jon Brittain’s Rotterdam began at Theatre503 before transferring to the West End. The International Playwriting Award brings unproduced writers from around the world to Battersea for full productions. Inside, the theatre offers a single studio space with tiered seating that can be rearranged. The Writers’ Programme runs courses and masterclasses led by alumni and staff. The 503Five scheme gives 18-month residencies to UK writers who are not yet professionally produced. Rapid Write Response turns ten-minute plays into staged readings within three weeks. Outside, Battersea Park Road is lined with cafés and local shops, a short walk from Battersea Park.