ALFIE JAMES
Celebrating 30 years of staging plays
Current News
“A masterful performance full of heart-wrenching raw emotion”
Alfie took to the stage in a rare appearance in his recent “Women’s Suffragette” theatre and heritage project at the Hen and Chicken’s Theatre, London. Alfie played the abusive and hard-hitting husband and father to one of the members of the Women’s Suffragettes. “As soon as Alfie walked on stage you felt a chill down your spine. He commanded the stage.” One audience member said. Alfie also wrote and directed the sell-out theatre project which brought together a group of adults exploring the inspirational story of the Women’s suffragette movement. The project was a huge success receiving a standing ovation and critical acclaim.
What’s eating Gilbert?
Alfie’s new play “What’s eating Gilbert?” has just been awarded funding from the Arts Council to bring to life a one-act play to raise awareness of eating disorders particularly among young males. Working with the BEAT charity, the play will centre around two teenage brothers coming to terms with the impact of having an eating disorder has, the stigmas attached and the support which is available. The play will be performed at The Hen and Chicken’s Theatre in London as well as being showcased at local Youth Theatre groups as part of its long-term development. Alfie is due to also direct the piece with a cast being announced soon.
Reluctant Dragon another Sell-out success
Alfie’s adaption of the much-loved story of the Reluctant Dragon received another sell-out performance at the Loughton Library. Performed by members of the Women Unscene Theatre Project and using a dragon’s mask created by the wonderful Jacob Anderson and costumes by Madeleine Ockendon, poetry and even the odd rap. The play was a wonderful success. So much so, that the play is set to be taken on by The Black Dog Camden group who premiered the play last year again as an outdoor tour in the Summer of 2024. In the meantime, you can listen to the audio play at the bottom of this page.
Ruptured Duck Returns for its first live performance.
During the Covid lock-down Alfie collaborated with local disabled artist Sophie Weaver creating a community theatre project exploring disability and accessibility in the arts. Together they created a mini podcast series interviewing leading disabled artists from around the UK. They also worked with a group of disabled performers to create a new audio play “The Ruptured Duck” which was inspired by Sophie’s life. The play is now in rehearsal for its transition from audio play to the stage working with a fully inclusive cast of disabled and non-disabled performers. The play will be performed for free at the Kelvedon Institute on Saturday 11th November.
“The Edge” takes to the online airway.
Alfie recently surprised online listeners with a performance of his award-winning play “The Edge.” Listeners were given a real treat when Actor friend James Cartmell (Where’s Wally, BBC’S Doctors) teamed up with Alfie to perform this one-act play on James’ online stream.
Alfie to lead the new Railway Children Victorian Community Project
As part of the Black Dog Theatre Creation’s tenth year celebrations, Alfie will be leading a new Heritage and Theatre Project based on exploring life in Colchester during the Victorian times. The group will then devise a small play inspired by the classic story “The Railway Children” to be performed at the East Anglian Railway Museum early 2024.
Ross and Freddie
Alfie’s new play “Ross and Freddie” has just been awarded Arts Council funding to be performed in early 2024 in London. Alfie has teamed up with The Terrence Higgins Trust to bring to life a play which explores living with HIV in today’s world as well as themes of disability and coming out. The play will be the first performed by the newly formed Pride Theatre Productions founded by Alfie.
Articles:
"A chat with My boy Danny" Writer Alfie James by Monica Yell
(A rare chat with Alfie James for the London West-End Broadwaybaby.com Theatre journal.
Read the four-star review for "My boy Danny"