About Us
Janus is the Roman God of gates and doors, beginnings and endings.
Janus Theatre Company was the beginning of a new and exciting theatre company. Formed in 2004 by the amalgamation of Debut Theatre Company and Rose Tinted Productions, Janus Theatre's membership spanned London and the South East, with their base in Surrey.
Debut and Rose Tinted Productions had previously amassed critical acclaim for their award-winning innovative shows. Debut produced 'Calamity Jane' and 'Big, The Musical' at the Rhoda McGaw Theatre Woking during 2002/2003, receiving NODA critical acclaim. Rose Tinted Productions took ground breaking eastern block shock-rock musical 'Hedwig And The Angry Inch' to Brighton and Edinburgh Fringe Festivals in 2004, which was followed by an invitation to premiere the show in Italy. The production received five star reviews, awards and standing ovations throughout.
Janus merged the experience of these two groups with the aim of providing a bridge between non-professional and professional theatre, attracting both Equity card holders and amateur enthusiasts alike.
Janus Productions
Janus’ inaugural production was a reworking of the much acclaimed ‘Hedwig And The Angry Inch’, which toured in 2005. In response to public demand following packed houses and rave reviews, we were invited to return to Guildford's Yvonne Arnaud Theatre main stage in 2006 - the pinnacle to an amazing journey with 'Hedwig' and a fantastic experience for everyone involved. A website for the show, which includes an archive of the making of the Rose Tinted Productions 2004 version, is at www.hedwigandtheangryinch.co.uk
In May 2006 we returned to the Brighton Fringe Festival with outrageous futuristic high energy disco extraveganza 'Saucy Jack And The Space Vixens', receiving numerous positive comments from press and audience - including the original writers and former West End cast members. The production ended in three explosive nights at Reading’s South Street Theatre, playing to packed houses. The show's website is at www.saucyjackandthespacevixens.co.uk
During 2007, Janus Theatre were the first UK theatre group ever to re-stage 'Mephistopheles Smith' - a hedonistic musical masterpiece by Rocky Horror creator Richard O'Brien, last staged in 1996 in London's West End. The show was performed at Brighton Fringe, Edinburgh Fringe, Guilfest, Reading South Street and Guildford Electric Theatre. Check out the website at www.mephistophelessmith.co.uk
Janus Partners
Janus was affiliated with Woking based dance school, Leanne Edwards School of Theatre Arts which offers tuition in Ballet, Modern, Tap, Street Jazz, Drama and Singing for pupils aged 2 to 21, regularly entering regional and national dance festivals.
We also collaborated with many other groups, including Cambridge University’s ‘Velvet Undergrowth’, with whom we produced another award winning production of 'Hedwig' at the 2005 Edinburgh Fringe, and Paris based Freres Poussiere Company, who premiered ‘Hedwig’ in France in association with Janus in 2006, winning the ‘Coup de Coeur’ (Blow to the Heart) Award, see www.hedwigfrance.com
Our main partner was Morpheus Theatre in Berkshire, which provided opportunities for the creative development of people with learning disabilities, their families, young people with and without disabilities, local community, families, teachers, care workers and artists.
Further Information
Details of our shows can be found on the Productions page above. Further details on the two original groups, Rose Tinted Productions and
The Debut Theatre Company, is found below.
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