In this episode of All Things Business – The Podcast, Ben is out of the studio and on the stage at the Derngate auditorium. He is joined by Jesse Jones, Holly Gladwell and Jo Gordon from the Royal & Derngate theatre.
Jesse is the Artistic Director and directs many original plays at the theatres. Holly Gladwell is the Deputy Chief Executive and the Director of Programming and Producing. Jo Gordon is the Chief Executive of the Royal & Derngate and the Corby Cube.
A theatre with a legacy
Ben asks the guests about the importance of the Royal & Derngate within the local community. As well as housing many touring productions and their own original plays, the Royal & Derngate host the Food and Drink Awards, GenFest, community events, films, live concerts and more.
The Derngate has existed since 1983, and the Royal theatre has a long history stretching back to 1885. Inside the Royal you can feel the echoes of the hundreds of plays that have come before, and it continues to be a staple of the local community. One of Jo’s favourite things is seeing young people perform in that same theatre and helping to further that rich legacy.
The post-COVID industry
While the shadow of COVID seems to have left the theatre industry, it is far from stable. Changing audience attitudes due to the economic climate, reduced funding locally and nationally, and the nature of the business model makes it a very challenging industry to succeed in.
Theatres are evolving all the time, creating new revenue sources and trying to fill a need that is ever-expanding. Many people are unaware that the Royal & Derngate is a charity, and they do vital work within the local area. Business partnerships contribute significantly to their income, and they benefit greatly from the generous support of the business community.
Top Gs Like Me
The conversation turns towards the Royal & Derngate’s new original play called ‘Top Gs Like Me’, written by Samson Hawkins. This satirical comedy explores the dangers of online culture and social media for young men. With an innovative traverse set which resembles a skatepark, the play is pushing borders and spreading awareness about a very important and relevant subject.
‘Top Gs Like Me’ will be running from 21st February to 7th March 2026, and the team are keen to have as many young people attend as they can, as they see it as a form of cultural intervention to drive social change.
Watch and listen to the episode here:
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