Folio is a Wiltshire based theatre company, founded in 2014 by Lizzie Stables, specialising in developing and touring new plays for regional and rural audiences that challenge and redefine how contemporary rural living is perceived. We work with venues, theatre companies and charities, to engage under-represented audiences and provide participation opportunities for those whose stories we tell. Our work reflects a national need to share main stage quality work in under-served areas, inspiring artists and audiences to re-connect to arts and culture in the place they call home.
Folio’s debut show, ‘Unearthed’, received critical acclaim and was listed in The Guardian as one of their 'readers' favourite stage shows of 2015'. As part of the ‘Unearthed’ tour we established a partnership with Carers’ Trust to deliver creative workshops for young carers in the West Country. Since then, Folio have created new plays for UK tours with partners including Salisbury Playhouse, Brewhouse Theatre, St James Theatre, Pound Arts and English Touring Theatre (ETT). Artists from rural areas who started their careers with Folio have gone on to write for the BBC, direct for The RSC and win a Tony Award.
Our PortFOLIO
2015 - ‘Unearthed’ Debut Tour
Venues including the Arcola, New Wimbledon studio, The Bikeshed)
Supported by Proteus Theatre, The Brewhouse Theatre and Arts Council England
Charity partners: Carers Trust and The Stroke Association
Written by Alys Metcalf
Directed by Kim Pearce
The Guardian - readers favourite stage shows of 2015
2016 - ‘Reel Life’ tour
Venues including The St James Theatre London (now the other Palace) and Ustinov Studio, Theatre Royal Bath
Supported by Old Vic Workrooms, Trowbridge Arts
Charity partner: Coppafeel!
Written by Alys Metcalf
Directed by Adam Lenson
2016 - 'Unearthed' Remount Tour & Young Carers Programme
Venues including Salisbury Playhouse, Hull Truck, Cheltenham Everyman
Supported by Arts Council England, The John Thaw Foundation, The Mortimer and Sackler Foundation and Split Infinitive
Charity partners: Carers Trust and The Stroke Association
Written by Alys Metcalf
Directed by Kim Pearce & Hannah Joss
2018 - 'Our Blood Is An Ocean'
at Bristol Old Vic Studio
Supported by BOV writers room
Written by Jack Sanderson-Thwaite
Directed by Alex Moxon
2019 - 'The Edit' UK Tour
In association with Salisbury Playhouse
Supported by Arts Council England.
Written by Sarah Gordon
Directed by Joe Hufton
2019 - 'Believe' tour
In association with Pound Arts & Rural Arts Wiltshire
Supported by Jack Lane Foundation
Written by Russ Tunney
Directed by Lizzie Stables
2020 - 'Nanny' (in development)
In association with English Touring Theatre
Written by Jenny Rainsford, Alana Ramsey and Lizzie Stables
Directed by Jenny Rainsford
2021 - World Wide Wiltshire
A Folio & Wiltshire Creative co-production
Directed by Jo Newman
2021 - #GRIMMTALES
Folio & Arts University Bournemouth
Adapted by Hannah Treadaway
Directed by Sepy Baghaei
2021 - LEAVE ALONE
Written by Alys Metcalf
Directed by Joseph Hancock