Pioneering Theatre in the West Midlands
A Brief Production History
Zip Theatre was founded in Wolverhampton in 1980 and presents a wide range of productions. The company has an established reputation for presenting high quality theatre and music to a wide range of audiences, many of whom do not otherwise experience live theatre.
Much of Zip Theatre's original work has focused on local events and characters.
The Wolverhampton Mystery Cycle
2001 and 2004
This epic undertaking culminated in the first ever presentation of a mystery cycle in Wolverhampton, in celebration of our first year as a city in 2001.
Hundreds of local people of all ages and backgrounds joined with Zip to produce 2 different community plays in 2001 and 2004, based on the spirit and content of the original mystery plays.
The Wolverhampton Mystery Cycle included specially commissioned original music, contemporary dance and a multi-ethnic cast to reflect the strength and vibrancy of our modern community.
"The quality of Zip's original music is a testament to their high standards. The offerings of Wulfrunians great and small, proves Zip is worth all the grants and funding it needs - and sometimes gets."
More on The Wolverhampton Mystery Cycle
Wulfdance
The smash-hit production for Wolverhampton
in the Millennium Dome, July 2000,
featured 80 young people working alongside
Zip's team of professionals.
Out of darkness cometh the light
This is our town today
Wolverhampton is the town
We're all proud to call our home
Sharing, giving,
Loving, living,
In the furnace of life
That the people are tempered in!
Wind Dragons
Zip toured this brand new spectacular outdoor play, complete with live band and two Live Dragons 4 metres high, to villages around Staffordshire and Warwickshire during Summer 2002.
Wind Dragons was commissioned by Live and Local and audiences joined in with preparatory arts workshops to try something new and be part of the show.
Hold Back The Night
by Nick Pemberton
National tour of mid-scale theatres in 1996
Click here to read reviews of Hold Back The Night
Zip's venues vary widely in size and scale. For example, The Canterbury Tales toured to arts centres, schools, pubs and community venues, whereas Nick Pemberton's Hold Back The Night, produced in association with Wolverhampton's Grand Theatre, toured nationally to mid-scale theatre venues.
Zip Theatre's development has been characterised by an ability to progress into new areas of work, finding new audiences and developing new venues. Shout! was performed in fire stations throughout the West Midlands in '87. Some of those fire stations continue today as venues for other shows .
Zip Theatre is a company limited by guarantee (no. 2371185). The non profit-making company is a registered co-operative with charitable aims.
Zip achieves income from diverse sources, including:
box office income
commissioned work
grant-making bodies
sponsorship
In addition to the above, since 1982, Zip Theatre has enjoyed financial support from Wolverhampton City Council.
The company is consistently seeking additional and new sources of funding and much of its artistic development has been characterised by an ability to respond innovatively to funding opportunities which present themselves.