IS POWER GENDERED, OR IS JUDGEMENT?
Do we judge toxic behaviour from men and woman differently?
Learn more about the show that made couples re-evaluate their own relationships:
ABOUT SPENT
“If a man did that to a woman, you’d be horrified!”
Wanna test that theory?
An intimate relational drama, SPENT follows A and B at a tipping point: do they stay together or walk away?
Featuring dual performances — actors swap roles between shows — SPENT exposes how men and women may exert control in subtle, distinct ways, and challenges our assumptions about what that power really means.
GET A CLOSER LOOK
See two versions of the same scene and see if your interpretation shifts:
POST PREMIERE SUCCESS
SPENT completed sold-out, 5-star runs at The Old Red Lion Theatre and the Baron’s Court Theatre
SPENT secured ACE Funding for a 4-person run of the show
The expanded show will include same-sex couples and actors from the Global Majority - actors will swap parts resulting in 4 different couples
1/3 of audiences returned to see the flipped version of the show
NEXT STEPS
Finding the right collaborator to help us
Bring the show to a larger, but intimate venue (apporx. 80-100 seats) e.g. Jerwood Theatre Upstairs at the Royal Court, Studio 2 at the Arcola, or the Soho Theatre.
Widen our audience reach to fill those seats through expanded and targeted marketing highlighting the versatile nature of the show
REVIEWS
SPENT struck a chord with both critics and audiences, sparking conversation and praise in equal measure.
Click the quotes below to read the full reviews:
“A metaphor for the power balance in any intimate affair”
THE THEATRE TIMES
“An inventive portrayal of heartbreak”
ISLINGTON NOW
CAST & CREATIVE
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Helen Cunningham
DIRECTOR
Helen is an actor, writer, and director trained at The Oxford School of Drama. A key contributor to NewsRevue, she’s performed in three casts (including its West End run), directed twice, and wrote for its 2023 Edinburgh run. Her plays The Queen’s Arms and Curating were staged at The Drayton Arms.
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Nikoletta Soumelidis
WRITER & ACTOR (A/B)
Nikoletta is a Drama Centre trained actor, writer, and director. Her credits include the National Theatre, The Old Vic, Bush Theatre, Vienna’s Burgtheater. As a dramaturg, she has worked with Maktub Theatre, PlayDates, and Home Studio London.
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Charlie Collinson
ACTOR (A/B)
Charlie is an actor and director who trained at The Oxford School of Drama, NYT, and Ecole Philippe Gaulier. His theatre credits include Park Theatre, Vault Festival, The North Wall, and Hope Street Theatre. Recent roles include Baby in Mojo and Mephistopheles in Doctor Faustus.
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Sophie Sparkes
COMPOSER & TECHNICIAN
Sophie is a London-based director, photographer, and composer working across theatre, opera, dance, and film. Her music has been performed at venues such as The Southbank Centre, The Saatchi Gallery, and St Martin-in-the-Fields. Collaborators include The BBC Singers, Aurora Orchestra, Ensemble Klang, and The Helsinki and Latvian Radio Choirs.
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Lauren Lucy Cook
MOVEMENT DIRECTOR
Lauren is a performer and theatre maker with a focus on devised and physical theatre. She is co-founder and creative director of The Makers Theatre, known for playful, collaborative work. She’s currently developing two new shows: one exploring grief and childhood, and another in early R&D with director John Kurzynowski.
