Ruth Sullivan, Simona Hughes and Angharad Ormond who jointly hold the artistic director role PHOTO: Alex Amorós

A VOLUNTEER-RUN fringe theatre which began life in Canonbury and retains a loyal follow­ing is planning to reopen with a festival exploring how people coped with the Covid crisis.

The Tower Theatre itself adapted to the lockdown closures by holding workshops, running a monthly magazine and podcast and producing weekly shows online.

In July, it will host a comeback festival called Love and Survival with plays about the hurdles thrown up by the coronavirus.

The theatre is fast approaching its 90th birthday, yet has only had three women artistic directors in that time. Now three are sharing the role.

Simona Hughes, one of the trio, said: “The three of us are ambitious and aligned otherwise it wouldn’t work, obviously. I think what we are doing is probably a full-time job, which has been made doable because there’s three of us, so it becomes a part-time job.”

Angharad Ormond, another of the artistic directors, said: “We are looking at equity, diversity, inclusion and how we as a company can be much better at that both in programming but also in all aspects of the company.

“That in itself is a big challenge.”

She added: “We are definitely trying to balance the scales all in one go by having three of us at once.

“Something we are really keen to bring in is a compassionate approach to the way we work with company members and directors.”

The upcoming festival has had 47 script submissions – all of which have been programmed and are taking place from June 25 to July 18.

It will be “pay as you feel” with tickets starting at £1.

Ruth Sullivan, who has been part of the Tower Theatre since 2007 before also becoming artistic director this year, said: “Love and Survival was conceived in isolation, created online and will be performed live.

“We’ve had so many Zoom calls over the last few months, talking about all our ideas for the festival. It is terrifying and thrilling to see the ideas being taken up by people and actually realising that the stuff we just have as ideas in discussion is real. People seem to be really loving the challenge.”

She added: “Collectively we have endured bereavement, loss, isolation, social disruption and financial hardship,” said Ms Ormond.

“The answer to collective trauma is collective healing. Love and Survival is our offering.”

Ms Hughes said: “It feels quite pioneering for any theatre company to be doing, let alone a nonprofessional, volunteer-run theatre company.”

The fringe theatre had been renting buildings across London since losing its lease on the Canonbury Tower in 2003, a problem blamed on an admin mix-up.

It can now be found in Stoke Newington.

The Love and Survival Festival will take place in and around the theatre including outdoor locations such as Clissold Park.

The theatre is also calling for members of the public to join the theatre company as members. Volunteer roles include acting, working backstage and front of house are also on offer.

For more info go to the theatre’s website at: www.towertheatre.org.uk