Side/Step is a performing arts festival for new, bold work. 

Taking over an intimate restaurant space, we aim to bring together artists who are pushing the boundaries of their disciplines. With a non-traditional space we welcome work that steps out of whatever ‘traditional’ means to you. Whether that’s writing your first play or trying something different in your own practice. Side/Step is a laboratory for bold artists, a place for us to try something new, a place for us to gather and connect.

The Programme

We are mainly programming new pieces of theatre but we welcome other artistic disciplines too. We plan to have a night dedicated to short film screenings, workshops, pop up art installations, and a mixture of work in progress to finished performances.

Artists who are programmed for live performance will have access to the space before the festival for rehearsals. The amount of these rehearsals will depend on the programming.

The Space

102 Upper Street is a small restaurant that has doubled as a creative space for rehearsals and performances for the past couple of years. The space is being turned into a full time restaurant from March so we are giving it a creative send off. 

It has a capacity of around 30 and will act as a hybrid form of performance, social and bar space. We see the limitations of the space as a fun challenge and the perfect reason to try something that steps out of the usual. There is no light and sound desk (although additional lights may be hired based on the work we programme) but the light in the space is adaptable through multiple isolated dimmable pendant lights and there is a general sound system that connects via Bluetooth. Unfortunately the space is not wheelchair accessible.