The History of Galleon Theatre Company

GALLEON THEATRE COMPANY was founded in 1988 by ALICE de SOUSA and BRUCE JAMIESON. The company toured with many critically acclaimed theatre productions until December 1995 when it became resident at THE PRINCE THEATRE, renamed as the GREENWICH PLAYHOUSE. From December 1995 to September 1998, THE PRINCE THEATRE presented thirty eight highly successful theatre productions which provided work for hundreds of practitioners and entertained thousands of people.

At the end of 1998, Alice de Sousa, the theatre's artistic director, began a prolific campaign to prevent Greenwich's only producing theatre from being closed. On Friday, 7th April 2000 Alice De Sousa and Bruce Jamieson secured the future of Greenwich's only surviving studio theatre and the home of GALLEON THEATRE COMPANY. The GREENWICH PLAYHOUSE re-opened on the 30th May 2000 as London's newest state-of-the-art studio theatre.

The legacy and impact of GALLEON'S work is remarkable to regular theatre goers, particularly as they find in the theatre programmes of the country's best venues and shows GALLEON THEATRE COMPANY repeatedly credited in our many actor's biographies.

• GALLEON has over the years, established itself as a leading London theatre company which excels in the sumptuous presentation of full scale revivals and premiéres of British and European classics.
• GALLEON has also received much acclaim for its productions of contemporary works and quality new writing.
• GALLEON productions are presented with large casts of actors and with the highest of production values which have characterised the company's work since 1988. With the standards often being compared by media and audiences to those of the Royal National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company.
• GALLEON's productions have provided a platform of work for many established name actors together with training and experience gaining opportunities for many young artists.
• GALLEON is a leading employer of theatre practitioners on London's small to middle scale theatre circuit.
• GALLEON's work is uniquely diverse and the company enjoys a vast theatrical repertoire.

Galleon Theatre Company - A Chronology - 1996-2008

‘HEDDA GABLER by Henrik Ibsen; THE MERCHANT OF VENICE by William Shakespeare.’ THANKFULLY THERE IS MOONLIGHT! by Sttau Monteiro, translated by Alice de Sousa; THE CRIME OF THE OLD VILLAGE by Alice de Sousa; THE HEIRESS OF THE CANE FIELDS by Alice de Sousa; THE SEAGULL by Anton Chekhov; A DOLL'S HOUSE BY Henrik Ibsen; ABSENT FRIENDS by Alan Ayckbourn; KING LEAR by William Shakespeare; INÊS DE CASTRO by Alice de Sousa; CRIMES OF PASSION by Joe Orton; THE MAIAS by de Queirós; 'TIS PITY SHE'S A WHORE by John Ford; THE WHITE DEVIL by John Webster; 3 SISTERS by Anton Chekhov; IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST by Oscar Wilde; SHADOWS ON THE SUN by Barrie Keeffe; COUSIN BASÍLIO by de Queirós; HEDDA GABLER by Henrik Ibsen; YOU'RE GONNA LOVE TOMORROW by Stephen Sondheim; RICHARD III by William Shakespeare; PYGMALION by Bernard Shaw; COMPANY by Stephen Sondheim; HAMLET by William Shakespeare; THE TAMING OF THE SHREW by William Shakespeare; THE TEMPEST by William Shakespeare; THE PILGRIM by Almeida Garrett; THE GIRL'S CONSENT by L.F De Moratin; THE CONFIDENTIAL CLERK by T.S Elliot; MACBETH by William Shakespeare; DOCTOR FAUSTUS by Christopher Marlowe; A BILL OF DIVORCEMENT by Clemence Dane; LAVENDER SONG by Patricia Wood; THE CHERRY ORCHARD by Anton Chekhov; CROSS PURPOSE by Albert Camus; JULIUS CAESAR by William Shakespeare; ROMEO and JULIET by William Shakespeare; BAAL by Bertolt Brecht; THE SEAGULL by Anton Chekhov; THE DUCHESS OF MALFI by John Webster; CYMBELINE by William Shakespeare; The MERCHANT OF VENICE by William Shakespeare; ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL by William Shakespeare; THE INCA OF PERUSALEM by Bernard Shaw; THE DARK LADY OF THE SONNETS by Bernard Shaw; CELESTINA by Fernando de Rojas; THE SHEWING-UP BLANCO POSNET by Bernard Shaw; THE ZOO STORY by Edward Albee: PERICLES by William Shakespeare; ANNE OF THE THOUSAND DAYS by Maxwell Anderson.

Galleon Theatre Company - Artistic Policy

• To specialise in intelligent,relevant and audacious revivals of the classics;
• To present a repertoire which thrives on theatrical diversity and accessability;
• To actively encourage the integration of theatre school graduates into the profession;
• To provide high quality theatre productions, comfort and an atmosphere conducive to theatre for both actors and audiences
• To create a balanced, entertaining, affordable, educational and accessible theatrical programme throughout the year, which is multicultural in focus and has no political or religious affiliation;
• To create opportunities to stage Iberian neglected texts and quality new writing.