Founded by award-winning playwrights Ali Kemp and Deborah Klayman, Whoop ‘n’ Wail is an inclusive, innovative theatre company dedicated to producing high quality plays with a sense of humour and a social conscience. Ali and Deborah are Associate Performers at the Old Diorama Arts Centre (ODAC).

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Whoop ‘n’ Wail’s debut production, eXclusion, premièred in 2011 and was produced in association with UK charity Women in Prison. It opened at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, subsequently touring to Waterloo East Theatre, London, and South Hill Park Arts Centre, Bracknell.

 

Ali and Deborah have since written a number of plays including Cascade of Baubles, Heart's Desire, Losing Light, Madjesty, My Bloody Laundrette and Trapped.  These have been staged at Waterloo East Theatre, the Horsebridge Centre, the Canal Café and Rochester Literature Festival. My Bloody Laundrette subsequently won the Cambridge University Press "Channel the Bard" competition.

 

In 2014, Ali and Deborah launched Whoop ‘n’ Wail Represents…, gender-equal new writing showcases that provide a space for collaboration between playwrights and directors with all plays passing the Bechdel Test.

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Whoop 'n' Wail are currently developing their new full-length play, But For Us.

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RESTING

Anna Brooks-Beckman & Laura Garnier

Whoop 'n' Wail Represents...

HEART'S DESIRE

Jonathan Akingba

 

Whoop 'n' Wail Represents...

THE CLEARING

Chinwe A Nwokolo

 

Whoop 'n' Wail Represents...