About us

FIRERAISERS is an innovative performance company, committed to discovering new audiences through accessible and exciting productions. Past shows have been supported by Arts Councill England, Heritage Lottery Foundation, Esmee Fairbairn, The Royal Victoria Hall Foundation and EUCLID.

Based in Lewes, East Sussex, we make ‘extraordinary theatre in unexpected places’, performing nationally but always premiering work in Sussex.

In addition to co-productions with conventional theatre venues such as Soho Theatre and Birmingham Rep, it is also the company’s mission to present work in startling and unusual locations. By making imaginative use of evocative sites allied to strong new writing, technology and music, we work with local community to create unique and memorable work.

Among others, these have included settings as diverse as Selfridges Window on Oxford Street; a nightclub where we recreated the battle of Waterloo; and Brighton beach, where a performance of The Tempest on an oilrig attracted a record one night audience of 40,000.

Among others, these have included settings as diverse as Selfridges Window on Oxford Street; a nightclub where we recreated the battle of Waterloo; and Brighton beach, where a performance of The Tempest on an oilrig attracted a record one night audience of 40,000.

Further productions include: Things That Go Bump, was a beautifully atmospheric treasure hunt set at dusk throughout the mansion and grounds of South Hill Park, which revisited the Park’s ghostly past; X, an interactive crime scene investigation in woodlands across Sussex and Kent: Femme Fatale pitted Warhol’s muse Nico & his would-be assassin Valerie Solanas against each other in a darkly comic battle to the death at Lewes Depot, Kino Hastings, Vault and Latitude festivals and Omnibus Theatre, London. Hepburn & Tracy: a co-commission with Hampstead Theatre; a retrospective celebration of Andy Warhol’s Factory and the origins of the current creative free for all in an art gallery Turner Prize – You Decide (2011) in collaboration with Theatre Royal Margate; and a rave in an industrial space in Manchester in collaboration with the Home Mcr - Manchester Sound The Massacre (2012).

“I love theatre – I love invention. I love people who are prepared to risk everything. Fireraisers really are venturing, really are pushing the boat out. It’s unique.”
Lord Richard Attenborough

“Fireraisers – one of the great hopes for British Theatre”
The Guardian