Our Story

1969-1978

Bath Arts Workshop was founded in 1969 by Phil Sheppard as a “space where art and creativity could flourish”, concentrating on participation work and creating community festivals. From this evolved The Natural Theatre Company in late 1970, creating “happenings”, indoor shows, agitation reviews and irreverent walkabout. With Ralph Oswick as the Artistic Director, the company started touring Nationally and then internationally, forcing the hippy dream to become more of a professional outfit!

1979-1988

The Natural Theatre Company became regulars at street theatre festivals and in theatres around the world. They were regularly employed by the British Council and started receiving periodic Arts Council funding.

1989-2000

Now properly funded and working non-stop all around the world, the Company bought its own premise in Bath with the help of National lottery money. The Naturals walkabout characters were now being performed for corporate clients at conferences, product launches and parties! In 2000, The Naturals became the company in residence at the Millennium Dome, employing 6 performers ever day for the whole year and an additional 11 for the Skyscape exhibition.

2001-2013

After 2000, the company started to receive less bookings as much of the work had been seen at the Millennium Dome. Arts Council core funding was reduced and the 2008 crash wiped out much of the corporate engagements. In 2011, The Arts Council finally withdrew all of the funding. In 2013, Ralph Oswick retired as Artistic Director. On the upside, a new rehearsal studio was created and the company started work at The Roman Baths.

2013 – Present Day

The company now on the precipice, Andy Burden is appointed as the new Artistic & Executive Director for the company. Once again Participation becomes central to the work alongside creating new scenarios and curating & reworking classic work. New performers are recruited alongside a new admin team. Two Naturals performers at the Roman Baths every day becomes a long-term residency. This builds into more new work in heritage and tourism. The company returns for indoor shows and creates a new community festival in the Somer Valley outside Bath. More exciting work will appear in the near future…