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!
Now properly funded and working non-stop all around the world, the Company bought its own premises in Bath with the help of a major National Lottery grant. 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 17 performers every day for the whole year.
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 economic 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.
The Natural Theatre Company was now on a precipice. So Andy Burden is appointed as the new Artistic & Executive Director. Once again Participation becomes central to the work alongside creating new scenarios and curating & reworking classic work. New performers are recruited alongside a new administrative team. Two Naturals performers at the Roman Baths every day becomes a long-term residency. The company rebuilds its appearances at festivals with new walkabout scenarios.
After the pandemic, the Naturals spring straight back to work with a major Heritage Lottery grant-funded project. From this (and from continuous work at The Roman Baths) we create more new work in heritage and tourism with residencies at Tyntesfield House and a four month residency for our indoor show at The London Transport Museum. This inspires more indoor shows and new immersive wandering plays. Clients have included The Jane Austen Festival, Bath Abbey and Canterbury City Council. We create a new community festival in the Somer Valley outside Bath and build our particpation work delivering a programme for The National Trust at The Assemby Rooms. We develop a programme of alternative provision for SEN pupils in education. At the same time, international touring returns with performances in Italy, Sweden, Germany, France, and Hungary. More exciting work will appear in the near future…
Creatives:
Anna Dixon – Costume Design and Making
Kirsty Milne – Prop Making
Elana Durston – Prop Making
Ashley Christmas – Dramaturgy
Toby Farrow – Creative Production & Dramaturgy
Bryn Holding – Directing
Matt Emeny – Directing
Netty Miles – Stage Management
Mark Dawson – Photography
Craig Fuller – Photography
Suppliers:
Bath Theatrical Costume Hire
Stephen Page – Management Coaching
Ricardson Swift Accountants
Brown & Brown Insurance Brokers
Fine Cleaning Company
Cleveland Construction
Associate Companies in our building:
Bath Philharmonic
Film Bath
Cinema For All
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