Matchstick Theatre Company is a group of 11 South London theatre-makers looking to create provocative, entertaining, unusual theatre. With a focus on new writing and original voices, we’re all about creating theatre that feels energetic and alive. When you walk into one of our shows, we want you to be walking into a new place – hopefully one you’ve never seen on stage before.

We put on most of our productions at The Matchstick Piehouse in Deptford, but we’re open to working with other venues too. Writers, directors, venues, artists, performers, anyone interested in collaborating with us, get in touch, so we can invite you over for tea and biscuits.

Julia Baxter started writing escapist snippets, aged 6. It gave her control. At 8 she entered a London Zoo writing comp….and came second…she got an inkling that words could do things…even though it was decades before she understood them as a continuous adventure, or a pain, if used unwisely. She is 62.

Annette Brook is a playwright. She is an alumna of the Royal Court’s Young Writers' Programme and their Invitation Group; in 2015-16 she was a Jerwood/Arvon mentee. Her plays include how we love (Arcola, 2021; VAULT Festival, 2020); Gala Mae (Matchstick Piehouse, 2019); Cold Blow Lane (Matchstick Piehouse, 2018) and The Marriage of Lady Mede (Ledbury Poetry Festival/Shoreditch Town Hall, 2017).

Mark Daniels is a South-East Londoner through and through, now living in Deptford. As well as his work with Matchstick Theatre Company, he’s had plays produced in several theatres across England, sketches aired by BBC Radio 4 and is in pre-pro for his second short film. He writes weird comedy, that’s sometimes a bit gay, and always very London.

Tyreke Leslie is artist from Lewisham who has trained at the BRIT School and is currently in his final year at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He creates and love work that is explosive, inspiring and that forces its viewers/audience to think deeply and offer alternative perspectives on things. He wishes to develop into a more detailed versatile performer and writer.

Sarah Teale is a playwright, poet and facilitator, migrated to Deptford from Manchester. Most recently she’s created work with the Royal Exchange, and been performed at Pleasance, The Other Palace, and Southwark Playhouse. She also produces new work across the country with No Door Theatre, championing emerging female and non-binary voices.

Aysha Scott born and raised in Deptford, is a writer, producer, director, and owner of A Scott Productions and A Scott Academy. Since embarking on her filmmaking career in 2014, she has written and produced a series of films under her company slate. Her recent directorial debut anti-bullying short film Dismissed has reached over 1 million views on YouTube, winning the juror's prize for Outstanding Achievement in Filmmaking and a monetary award from the Women of African Descent Festival (WADFF).

Mark Rothwell was born in Lewisham and has deep roots in Deptford and Bermondsey. He left London in his late teens to save his life and travelled the world, spending the last 20 years in the US. He has returned to London for the same reason he left. Funny how life turns out! A carpenter by trade, a writer at heart, a lot of his work explores how the physical and mental geography of our early lives influences who we become later in life.

Chukwudi Onwere is an actor and playwright, born in Peckham, currently living in Forest Hill. Writing credits include the online teen drama Casino 52 for National Youth Theatre and one of three writers who wrote for 'Past Present Future' with the Jack Studio. Acting credits include TV Footballers (Sky), Street Girl (The Albany), Blue/Orange (Upstairs at the Gatehouse), and Othello (Mary Wallace Theatre).