About The Company
Mission:
Co-founded by Simon Pittman and Phil Tattersall-King, Rough Fiction is a UK theatre company making work through cross-arts collaboration, working with a range of artists and co-producers.
Rough Fiction aims to:
- Create original productions that explore contemporary culture, with a focus on interdisciplinary collaboration and storytelling.
- Engage new, young and diverse audiences in the arts through strategic touring and integrated participatory projects that encourage access and creative dialogue.
Artistic Team:
Margret Ann Bain, Emma Deegan, Lachlan McCall, Helen Millar, Simon Pittman & Phil Tattersall-King
With backgrounds in new-writing, devising and physical practices, company members continue to work professionally outside of Rough Fiction as actors, directors, theatre-makers and practitioners. People we have worked with include: The National Theatre, Frantic Assembly, Paines Plough, West Yorkshire Playhouse, The National Theatre of Scotland, Punchdrunk and Cardboard Citizens.
Current Production Collaborators:
Lindsay Fraser and Fine Line
Edward Farmer and London Arts Orchestra
History:
‘Uniformly excellent… Rough Fiction push the boundaries between movement and the spoken word’ (Whats On Stage)
‘Wonderfully atmospheric… boldly original’ (British Theatre Guide)
‘Highly recommended… The deconstructive flair of The Wooster Group playing Pirandello’ (Metro)
Co-founders Simon Pittman & Phil Tattersall-King met at university and, after transferring a production from university to The Pleasance Theatre in Islington, they were invited to bring a new show to the Edinburgh Festival. They created Hospitals and Other Buildings That Catch Fire which was met by critical acclaim, nominated for a Fringe First and subsequently selected for the National Student Drama Festival. They then formed Rough Fiction producing Killing Alan, also at the Edinburgh Festival. Rough Fiction were an associate company at The Point, Eastleigh from 2010 to 2012. The Last of The Lake toured the UK in 2012 supported by Arts Council England and co-commissioned by Brighton Dome. Simon also established Rough Fiction’s Ensemble Laboratory in 2010 first hosted by The Actors Centre. The Lab ran weekly training and rehearsal sessions in London with over 40 ensemble members for over four years and produced a pop-up production of The Love of The Nightingale with a cast of 24.
The company has been on a break from producing work since 2012. In 2017, Rough Fiction began developing productions again and is supported by ETT Forge – English Touring Theatre’s talent development program. Six core artists now run the company together, each leading on productions and projects.
