About Ashrow Theatre
Current
Ashrow are currently working to revive the longer version of Troublesome People by Jill Haas following fringe success in 2015. Information packs are available by contacting Rowan on ashrow2@hotmail.com or visiting our industry page http://www.ashrowtheatre.com/contact/industry-details/
Street Theatre
Towards the end of 2014, Ashrow were approached to produce street theatre throughout summer 2015 in Derby’s Cathedral Quarter. Three of the team took to the streets in Edwardian dress and entertained shoppers with snippets from Oscar Wilde’s the Importance of Being Earnest, adapting it with a local historical twist to a wonderful response! We were then recommissioned to continue the street theatre entertainment in Derby for summer 2016.
Brief Biog
Ashrow was set up in 2011. Our first play, Being Nice by Mark Niel was nominated for ‘Best Theatre Production’ Award receiving a ‘Recognition of Excellence’ at Buxton Fringe. It was revived for a 2012 tour as well as an open-air tour of The Taming of The Shrew. We also toured a new adaptation of Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya in 2012/13. In 2014, The Importance of Being Earnest and The Merchant of Venice were produced in rep-style at the Guildhall in Derby. After this they were approached to produce war-time drama Troublesome People by Jill Haas which they then workshopped into a festival-friendly length and toured to great acclaim. It was nominated for the IYAF General Award at Brighton Fringe. Oxford and Buxton Fringes saw fantastic reviews and an award nomination for ‘Best Actor’. The show then went to Edinburgh Fringe where it pulled in large audiences, had wonderful reviews, and was long-listed for the Freedom of Expression Award. Following this success, the longer version of Troublesome People by Jill Haas was performed at Derby’s Guildhall Theatre in September 2015. The play continues to have legs by being preliminarily booked in The Isle of Man’s Gaiety Theatre in 2017. Since finishing TP, we produced Declining the Future another play by Jill Haas on a smaller scale in Oxford, Nottingham and Buxton this year.
Meet our team
Rowan Scarborough
Company Director
Rowan set up the company in 2011 and, is enjoying her role as Producer and Artistic Director. She has produced all of Ashrow’s plays to date. She also Assisted Guy Evans in his Directing on Merchant of Venice. Rowan has starred in most of Ashrow Theatre’s productions so far – Alison in Being Nice, Kate in Taming of the Shrew, Yelena in Uncle Vanya, Gwendolyn in The Importance of Being Earnest and played Leni in the 2015 Troublesome People tour. Rowan directed Declining the Future early on in 2016, thoroughly enjoying her directorial debut.
Rowan was handpicked to play in a series of short films for the Cambridge Diet in 2014 – There Are Easier Ways to Lose Weight. She played Joanna Dennehey in a reconstruction for the BBC’s Inside Out. Film credits include Sophie in Award winning Happy New Year, Danielle in Award winning Love and Other Chairs, Helen in Nothing To Say, Officer Trent in Best Laid Plans and Tiffany in Vacation Hunter. She has done several commercials including Little Moments for Birmingham Adoption Agency, Air Hostess in Tresemme Ident for Britain’s Next Top Model, mum in Go Outdoors and in the Spring Ronseal Ads. Rowan also presents on occasion and is currently the face of The University of Derby Online Learning. Rowan has also worked hard to forge relationships with local theatres and helped workshop Stella Duffy’s new play The Matilda Effect directed by Lucy Pitman-Wallace at the Nottingham Playhouse in 2016.
Frank Simms
Company Director
Frank first joined Ashrow as an Actor playing the roles of Biondello and Curtis in The Taming of the Shrew and Telegin in Uncle Vanya as well as providing choreography where required and assisting in pre-production for the company. Frank became a Co-Producer and Creative Director in an official capacity for Ashrow prior to the productions of The Importance of Being Earnest and The Merchant of Venice in autumn 2014 while playing the roles of Jack and Bassanio respectively. Following ‘Earnest’ and ‘Merchant’ Frank led the script development and workshop direction for Troublesome People and has continued in his role as Director for the production. Frank played Jacob Ralston/ Aiden Gallgher and Andrew Leeson in Declining the Future.
Frank trained in Musical Theatre at ArtsEd London following 15 years at the Rollo Academy of Performing Arts in Nottingham. Screen credits include; Gordon in Amelia’s Letter (Stella Vision); Simon French in The K Initiatve (Dimension2) and Daniel Truman in Elder Jackson (Box Productions Switzerland). Theatre credits also include; She Loves Me (All Star Productions); Elegies (Language Laid Bare); PC Ping Pong in Aladdin (Blue Genie) and Pirates of Penzance (Union Theatre). Frank has also worked as a dancer for The Milo Miles Dance Company; recorded voice over for Clapham South Productions; directed and choreographed for a number of children’s groups and has recently launched new environmental drama and film projects into schools in London.