About Us

The SpiderLight Ensemble is a theatre company based in Bristol. Their ethos is based around collaboration, and they explore storytelling in an authentic, autobiographical way. Themes of identity and queerness are often present in their work; they enjoy being physically expressive, abstract and experimental. Their devising practice is rooted in a sense of play, with great importance placed upon judgement-free exploration.

meet the team

Poppy Franklin

Poppy is a theatre maker and co-founder of The SpiderLight Ensemble. She likes to experiment with movement and physical expression, exploring the societal restrictions we place upon ourselves. She was the director of, and creative mind behind ‘LIQUID’ (2021).With a strong interest in queer theory and drag, Poppy uses this to inspire her practical work when devising with the company. She is keen to explore themes of identity using vivid imagery and experimental movement. She is often lead writer for our productions, specialising in poetry and storytelling. She also worked closely with our composer Rowan to develop original music and lyrics for ‘Gorham, Ghyston, and I’ (2021)

Ellis dorian Freeman

Ellis is the oldest member of the ensemble at the age of 26, and is the Company Director for The SpiderLight Ensemble.
Ellis graduated from Bath Spa University in 2022. During his studies he discovered and developed upon a wide range of interests, including, classical theatre, fringe theatre, devising, and textual analysis. His love for experimental theatre was strengthened when he began working with The SpiderLight Ensemble on ‘LIQUID’ (2021).Ellis is both a performer for and co-writer of ‘Gorham, Ghyston, and I’ (2021). He also performs as a Drag King under the name Austin Flowers. Ellis' interest in drag often intersects with his work in the ensemble, whose performances often feature elements of drag and commentary on gender. He is looking forward to taking on the role of director in the ensemble's next creative project.

Phoebe Ruff

Like most of the company members, Phoebe completed her BA in Acting from Bath Spa University in 2021 and is one of the original co-founders of The SpiderLight Ensemble. She enjoys both acting and directing roles within productions. She was the director of ‘Gorham, Ghyston, and I’ (2021) and was also the host of the company's recent Short Film Showcase Night (2022). She is passionate about proactive and political theatre but also refuses to take herself and life too seriously. These particular interests have been nurtured and facilitated by the work the Ensemble has done so far and she is excited to continue making fresh work.Outside of the theatre company she is pursuing her training as an actor combatant as a member of the BADC, a skill that she will be able to apply to future productions.

Rae Stewardson

Rae is one of the co-founders of The SpiderLight Ensemble and was an actor and creator in both ‘LIQUID’ (2021) and ‘Gorham, Ghyston, and I’ (2021). Like the other members of the ensemble she is a graduate of the Bath Spa Acting course. She is interested in making work that has meaning, gets an audience thinking about new ways of perceiving the world around them and allows them to ask questions about why things are the way they are.She takes great interest in queer studies, mental health, environmental issues, women's studies and feminism and is passionate about creating theatre that is accessible to everyone regardless of their situation. Creating work in local communities and giving other artists a platform to show their work is something that is very close to her heart. This is something the ensemble were able to achieve in their recent Short Film Showcase Night at the BeanTree Cafe (March 2022).

Rowan Suthren

Rowan is an actor-musician based in South London. After working as a musician and composer as part of the music team for ‘Gorham, Ghyston, and I’ (2021), they joined The SpiderLight Ensemble as a full time member, and are eagerly looking forward to writing new music for the company’s upcoming projects.Their compositions are often inspired by folk music of all varieties, most notably traditional Scottish and Irish jigs and reels; any Rowan-penned instrumental is guaranteed to feature a mandolin, and any vocals are likely to be dotted with close and intricate harmonies.As an actor and deviser, Rowan is interested in retelling folklore and mythology from a queer perspective, exploring physical expression, and like their fellow Ensemble member Poppy, they also have a keen interest in poetry, contributing to the theatrical language of the Ensemble.

past work

LIQUID (2021)

‘LIQUID’ is an experimental film, an enquiry into personal expression. The deconstructive nature of this piece exposes the traditional gender binary, and explores the possibilities which can be found outside of it. LIQUID is where oppression and conformity meet freedom and celebration. A revelation, isn’t it?‘LIQUID’ was featured in the Wiltshire Creative Student Film Festival at the Salisbury Playhouse in July 2021.LIQUID can be viewed here

Gorham, Ghyston, And I (2021)

Long long ago, in ancient Bristol, magical creatures roamed the land. Amongst these creatures were magnificent giants, who shaped the landscape with their mighty strength.‘Gorham, Ghyston, and I’, is a whimsical retelling of the folktale of the Bristol Giants. Devised by the SpiderLight Ensemble and featuring a soundtrack of original songs by our resident songwriter Rowan Suthren.Commissioned by Bristol City Council, ‘Gorham, Ghyston, and I’ was featured in the Dairy Garden Day at Blaise Estate, as a way of utilising the idyllic amphitheatre which had gone unused for years. This piece drew on the local landmarks within the estate and the stories that live alongside them.'Gorham, Ghyston, and I' was performed again in 2022 as part of Bath's Sparkfest festival.

Short Film Showcase (2022)

In March 2022 The SpiderLight Ensemble hosted a showcase of short films from aspiring filmmakers around the country. This event was created to uplift fellow artists, and celebrate the hard work and creativity of new filmmakers.A collection of 10 films were curated, spanning a variety of genres and artistic disciplines, hosted at the Bean Tree Cafe in Staple Hill, Bristol. This was a great opportunity for local artists to share their work with an audience, and to network with other filmmakers. After the success of the first showcase, the ensemble are keen to repeat this event next year.

upcoming work

More details soon...

Contact

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[email protected]