Supporting Wall

{{Short description|Theatre production company}}

{{about|the theatre company|the structure in construction|Load-bearing wall}}

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{{notability|Companies|date=October 2012}}

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Supporting Wall was an award-winning London-based theatre and general arts production, promotion and management company, founded in 2008 by producers Ben Monks and Will Young and operated for nine years until 2017.{{cite web|url=http://www.supportingwall.com/about_supportingwall.html |title=supporting wall |publisher=supporting wall |date= |accessdate=2012-10-27}} The company's own productions primarily focused on new writing and contemporary theatre, while management and publicity work has included projects across theatre, comedy, film, festivals, live music and dance - including work at the BFI Southbank, Royal National Theatre and many others.{{cite web|url=https://www.stageone.uk.com/all-interviews/producer-profile-ben-qasim-monks |title=Producer Profile: Ben Qasim Monks |publisher=Stage One |date= |accessdate=2020-09-16}} During most of this time, Ben Monks and Will Young were also based at the Actors Centre as creative producers for the Tristan Bates Theatre.{{cite web|url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/west-end-theatre/news/year-of-the-producer-defining-and-debating-the-cre_5710.html |title=Year of the Producer |publisher=WhatsonStage| date= 17 January 2012|accessdate=2020-09-16}}{{cite web|url=https://www.actorscentre.co.uk/news/new-tbt-producer |title=New TBT Producer |publisher=The Actors Centre | date= |accessdate=2020-09-16}} In November 2023 Will Young was appointed executive director of London's Royal Court Theatre.{{cite web |url=https://www.thestage.co.uk/news/appointments/new-dioramas-will-young-to-join-artistic-director-david-byrne-at-royal-court |title=New Diorama's Will Young to join artistic director David Byrne at Royal Court }}

Productions

Supporting Wall's original productions include:

class="wikitable"
ProductionWriterDirectorVenueYear
Blue HeavenTennessee WilliamsAbigail GrahamFinborough Theatre, London{{cite web|url=http://www.finboroughtheatre.co.uk/transition-archive/2009/blueheaven.php|title = Blue Heaven – Finborough Theatre}}2009
Big Breath InOscar Wood & CompanyMatthew EvansTour, London & South East2009
Three Shit Hot ShortsDean StalhamSam Miller, Emily Lim, Pam BrightonCamden Fringe2009
MoonfleecePhilip RidleyDavid MercataliLondon & UK Tour2010
Election DramaVariousVariousNew Players Theatre2010
The Jewish Wife (JMK Award Winner{{cite web|url=http://www.jmktrust.org/alumni/winner-2010/|title = Winner 2010}})Bertolt BrechtMatthew EvansBattersea Arts Centre2010
Tender NapalmPhilip RidleyDavid MercataliSouthwark Playhouse{{cite web|url=http://southwarkplayhouse.co.uk/archives/tender-napalm/|title = Tender Napalm|date = 19 April 2011}}2011
YellowDaniel SaleebDaniel SaleebTete a Tete Festival / Riverside Studios2011
Shallow SlumberChris LeeMary NighySoho Theatre{{cite web |url=http://www.sohotheatre.com/whats-on/shallow-slumber/ |title=Shallow Slumber - Soho Theatre |website=www.sohotheatre.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111010053814/http://www.sohotheatre.com/whats-on/shallow-slumber/ |archive-date=2011-10-10}}2012
Tender NapalmPhilip RidleyDavid MercataliUK Tour{{cite web |url=http://www.tendernapalm.co.uk/ |title=Tender Napalm |website=www.tendernapalm.co.uk |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120329191230/http://www.tendernapalm.co.uk/ |archive-date=2012-03-29}}2012
Dark Vanilla Jungle (Fringe First Award winner{{cite web|url=http://www.whatsonstage.com/edinburgh-theatre/news/08-2013/latest-fringe-firsts-include-waller-bridges-fleaba_31666.html|title=Latest Fringe Firsts include Waller-Bridge's Fleabag and Ridley's Dark Vanilla Jungle | WhatsOnStage|date=16 August 2013 }})Philip RidleyDavid MercataliSoho Theatre, London; Royal Exchange, Manchester and Pleasance, Edinburgh Festival2013
Our AjaxTimberlake WertenbakerDavid MercataliSouthwark Playhouse{{cite web|url=http://southwarkplayhouse.co.uk/the-large/our-ajax/|title=Our Ajax|date=6 November 2013}}2013
Jonny & the Baptists: The Stop UKIP TourJonny Donahoe & Paddy GerversThe companyUK Tour / Soho Theatre {{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2014/mar/28/this-weeks-new-live-comedy|title=This week's new live comedy|website=TheGuardian.com|date=28 March 2014}}2014
Dark Vanilla JunglePhilip RidleyDavid MercataliUK Tour & Soho Theatre http://www.scotsman.com/what-s-on/theatre-comedy-dance/philip-ridley-on-the-return-of-dark-vanilla-jungle-1-3316034 {{Dead link|date=February 2022}}2014
Jonny & the Baptists: The Satiric VersesJonny Donahoe & Paddy GerversThe companyThe Pleasance, Edinburgh Festival {{cite web|url=http://exeuntmagazine.com/reviews/jonny-the-baptists-the-satiric-verses/|title=Jonny & the Baptists: The Satiric Verses}}2014
Bull (Olivier Award Winner{{cite news| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-32277613 | work=BBC News | title=Olivier Awards success for Angela Lansbury and Sunny Afternoon | date=2015-04-13}})Mike Bartlett (playwright)Clare LizzimoreYoung Vic Theatre {{cite web|url=http://www.youngvic.org/whats-on/bull|title = Bull| date=11 December 2015 }}2015
Radiant VerminPhilip RidleyDavid MercataliTobacco Factory Theatre, Bristol / Soho Theatre, London {{cite web |url=http://www.sohotheatre.com/whats-on/radiant-vermin |title=Radiant Vermin - Soho Theatre |website=www.sohotheatre.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150202051747/http://sohotheatre.com/whats-on/radiant-vermin |archive-date=2015-02-02}}2015
Jonny & the Baptists Rock The VoteJonny Donahoe & Paddy GerversThe companyUK Tour & Soho Theatre {{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2015/apr/27/jonny-and-the-baptists-rock-the-vote-review-comedy-songs|title=Jonny and the Baptists review – jokes about the election, equality ... And willies|website=TheGuardian.com|date=27 April 2015}}2015
You Look Tasty (A Play By A Tiger)Stewart PringleDavid MercataliThe Pleasance, Edinburgh Festival https://www.pleasance.co.uk/event/you-look-tasty-play-tiger#overview {{Dead link|date=August 2022}}2015
Tonight with Donny StixxPhilip RidleyDavid MercataliPleasance, Edinburgh Festival https://www.pleasance.co.uk/event/tonight-donny-stixx#overview {{Dead link|date=August 2022}}2015
Jonny & the Baptists: The End Is NighJonny Donahoe & Paddy GerversThe companyPaines Plough Roundabout Theatre (Southbank Centre / Summerhall, Edinburgh Festival) & UK Tour {{cite web| url = http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/jonny-the-baptists-92495| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150911221434/http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/jonny-the-baptists-92495| archive-date = 2015-09-11| title = Jonny & The Baptists {{!}} Southbank Centre}}2015-16
OctagonKristiana ColonNadia LatifArcola Theatre, London {{cite web |url=https://www.arcolatheatre.com/production/arcola/octagon |title=Arcola Theatre |website=www.arcolatheatre.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150920135649/https://www.arcolatheatre.com/production/arcola/octagon |archive-date=2015-09-20}}2015
Jonny & the Baptists: Eat the PoorJonny Donahoe & Paddy GerversThe companyPaines Plough Roundabout Theatre (Summerhall, Edinburgh Festival) & UK Tour {{cite web|url=https://festival16.summerhall.co.uk/event/jonny-the-baptists-eat-the-poor/|title = Jonny & the Baptists: Eat the Poor - Summerhall August Festival 2016Summerhall August Festival 2016}}2016-17
Radiant VerminPhilip RidleyDavid Mercatali59E59 Theaters, New York{{cite web|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/off-off-broadway/article/Philip-Ridleys-RADIANT-VERMIN-to-Receive-US-Premiere-as-Part-of-Brits-Off-Broadway-at-59E59-Theaters-20160505|title = Philip Ridley's RADIANT VERMIN to Receive US Premiere as Part of Brits off Broadway at 59E59 Theaters}}2016
Thirty ChristmasesJonny Donahoe, with Paddy GerversAlice HamiltonOld Fire Station, Oxford & New Diorama Theatre, London {{cite web|url=https://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/thirty-christmases-review-at-the-old-fire-station-oxford--warm-touching-and-funny|title = Thirty Christmases review, Old Fire Station, Oxford, 2016}}2017-18

Awards and nominations

Supporting Wall's productions won or were nominated for various awards, including for Bull the 2015 Olivier Award for Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre;{{cite news| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/theatre-news/11531416/olivier-award-winners-2015-list.html | location=London | work=The Daily Telegraph | title=Olivier Awards 2015: full list of winners | date=2015-04-12}} for Dark Vanilla Jungle a Fringe First Award and a nomination for lead actress Gemma Whelan for the Stage Award for Best Solo Performance;{{cite web|url=https://www.edfringe.com/media/award-winners#StageAward|title = Awards}} for Tender Napalm, winning the OffWestEnd.Com Award for Best Actress for Vinette Robinson{{cite web|url=http://exeuntmagazine.com/2012/02/the-2012-off-west-end-awards/|title=The 2012 off West End Awards|date=6 February 2012}} and a nomination for the Evening Standard Outstanding Newcomer Award for director David Mercatali;{{cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/goingout/theatre/london-evening-standard-theatre-awards-longlist-revealed-6359103.html|title = London Evening Standard Theatre Awards longlist revealed|date = 10 April 2012}} for Shallow Slumber, nominations for the OffWestEnd.Com Best Actress Award for both Amy Cudden and Alexandra Gilbreath, as well as for Best New Play at the same awards;{{cite web |url=http://www.offwestend.com/index.php/news/view/153 |title=Subscription |access-date=1 September 2013 |archive-date=24 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924055216/http://www.offwestend.com/index.php/news/view/153 |url-status=dead }} and for The Jewish Wife, winning the JMK director's award for Matthew Evans.

For Supporting Wall Ben Monks and Will Young were jointly nominated for the OffWestEnd.Com Best Producer Award twice consecutively in 2011{{cite web |url=https://www.offwestend.com/index.php/news/view/87 |title=Subscription |access-date=1 September 2013 |archive-date=8 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130508134843/http://www.offwestend.com/index.php/news/view/87 |url-status=dead }} & 2012.[https://archive.today/20130902173108/http://www.thestage.co.uk/news/2012/01/finborough-and-landor-lead-offies-nominations/]

References

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