Without a Paddle is a multi award-winning theatre company and network. We create raw and invigorating theatre, tell stories imaginatively with impact and make theatre open for all. What drives us is exploring what it means to be human. We are interested in finding the extraordinary in the ordinary, and discovering what goes on behind closed doors. We dabble in the darker side of human nature, but our plays without exception have heart, humour and hope. We seek to enthuse not educate, and spark ideas not send messages. We are committed to brilliance. This commitment is not just for our audience but for the artists that lend us their skills. We provide a nurturing and illuminating environment for actors to work and grow with us. Also a theatrical network, we provide free services and support for actors and writers including buzzing social events and inpiring workshops for writers and actors, including the popular bi-monthly WAP Actors Workout and the WAP Weekly Workout. Awards include Best New Writing Award at Lost Festival for Just For Fun – Totally Random, and overall winner at the Off Cut Festival (Old Red Lion) for Closer To God, which also won the Audience Award. Without a Paddle: Support. Inspire. Thrill.
Anna Jordan - Artistic Director
Anna is a playwright, director and acting tutor. She trained as an actor at LAMDA, but sick of being out of work she started writing her own parts and has never looked back. (She has stopped writing her own parts though).
Awards include the Bruntwood Prize for Playwriting 2013 for YEN, West End Frame Fringe Production of the Year Award 2014 for Chicken Shop, Overall Winner and Audience Award in the inaugural Off Cut Festival for her play Closer To God and Best New Writing in the Lost One Act Festival for Just For Fun – Totally Random. In 2013 she directed Tomorrow I’ll Be Happy by Jonathan Harvey for Lost Theatre as part of National Theatre Connections. The production was one of ten plays out of 230 country-wide chosen to be performed at The National Theatre Shed.
Anna’s plays have been performed in the United States, Germany and Ireland and there are productions planned in New Zealand and Sweden.
Anna is represented by Camilla Young at Curtis Brown and published by Nick Hern Books. She is currently on the BBC Drama Production Writers’ Scheme. She is currently directing at Italia Conti and has previously taught at RADA, LAMDA, Arts Educational and Identity Drama School. She coaches privately and runs the WAP Weekly Workout for Professional Actors. She likes cats and wine.
Anna met the fabulous Charlie Swallow when she was Resident Director for Stand Up Drama – London Bites. Anna’s website.
Charlie Swallow - Creative Producer
Charlie trained at Central School of Speech and Drama on the BA Theatre Practice course. Since graduating Charlie has been working as a freelance producer and theatre director. For Stand up Drama she produced their monthly industry attended showcase called London Bites.
Whilst working with Artists Anonymous she produced a range of writing, network and workshop events. Currently Charlie is the Creative Co Producer at Without a Paddle Theatre. Her most recent directing credits include Bed of Foxgloves by Anna Jordan, one of the short plays in ShortStuff (Waterloo East Theatre). Nothing by Jasmin Howard, a piece in the Theatre 503 Rapid Write Response Beasts. Past credits include Love Tricks with Stand Not Amazed (Soho Studio). Like This, But Not This by Katie Jackson (The Cockpit) AD on Marianne by Anna Jordan (Wimbledon Studio Theatre).
Anna and Charlie have been joined in the organisation of WAP events and workshops by the delectable actor / director / producer Dilek Latif.
Anna & Charlie at WAP’s Big Fifth Birthday Bash