Out The Bag Productions, based in Wallasey on the Wirral, Merseyside was formed in November 2005 by local actress and playwright Paula Rowlands for just £140!!

The idea was to raise funds to produce an original play Paula had written called "Twisted Angels" a comedy-drama about 5 prostitutes working on the streets of Liverpool.

So, we set about creating our own comedy revue nights called "Funny Bunny." These one night shows were performed locally (even on a make-shift stage in a pub!) The money from these shows was then put towards "Twisted Angels."

We found a lot more like-minded people who soon joined our group.

A few months later in November 2006 (just a year after the company was first formed) we finaly produced "Twisted Angels" at The Little Theatre, Birkenhead. The reviews we received were excellent (Robin Blythe, critic with NODA said "All the performances were quite exceptional and deserves to be seen by a wider audience.")

This prompted even more interest in Out The Bag Productions - not just by audiences but by new members.

Out The Bag Productions was growing rapidly!!

At this time, Paula wanted to put something back into the local community. This was were we formed the ideas to create our Actors Workshops where members who were new to the world of theatre could come along and learn something new!! We encouraged members to take part and develop their acting skills, whilst at the same time keeping it fun - which is what theatre is all about!!!

As well as running these weekly Actors Workshops, we have also created our own competition called Actor Factor. This is a monthly competition where our members perform a monologue in front of a judging panel and are scored for their performance - a sort of X Factor for theatre!!

The winner of Actor Factor receives an engraved trophy, a certificate and their mug shot put on our website!

While all this has been going on we were invited back by the theatre where we premiered "Twisted Angels" so we ran the show again for 4 nights last June. Again, we sold out each night and stirred up more interest in our group.

Two months later, we were involved in the Liverpool 800th Birthday Pageant in August 2007. Our theme was Liverpool during the blitz in 1942, so we all dressed up as fighter planes and war costumes and paraded ourselves around the main streets of Liverpool!!!

The pageant was a huge success and gave the opportunity for our members to be involved in this once in a lifetime event (the next parade is planned in 100 years time, but I don't think many of us will be able to make that one!!)

So, since November 2005 our membership has grown rapidly to over 40 members and our work schedule has been a busy one, with a lot more yet to come!

We are currently rehearsing an original play about identity theft called "Stealing Me" which is to be staged at the Lord Leverhulme Festival in Port Sunlight, Wirral in April. Several other productions are also currently being planned for this season and next year we are hoping to take a play to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

So, from those humble beginnings we have become a successful group that produces new and original material and also encourages members of the community, from all walks of life, to take part in new things which they might not have had the opportunity to have tried before. We've found that this has raised levels of confidence and self awareness.

We plan to continue with our actors workshops and the Actor Factor competitions and are always looking for new and interesting ideas to keep our group fun!

Please check out our website for more information about us, what we've done so far and what's to come!!

Thank You

Andy Taylor
(Project Manager)