5×5 is an immediate theatre night that brings together five writers to create five brand-new short plays, each sparked by a singular provocation and performed live for the very first time. No recordings. No second chances. Pure creative electricity in a room. Curated by actors Charity Wakefield and Florence Keith-Roach, it is a biannual roaming event — a cultural institution and creative community in the making.

After two sold-out events, built entirely by word of mouth, with incredible talent and beautiful results — our first ever public launch night is on Friday 15 May 2026 at The Conduit Club, Covent Garden. The theme is Nature — and the night will close with a live panel discussion on the stage as a change-making space and climate activism in storytelling, in association with Green Rider. We are bringing together writers, directors, actors, thinkers and audiences to ask urgent questions, facilitate real collaboration and create a space that London's arts community desperately needs.

London has always been one of the great theatre cities of the world — and yet the spaces where artists are supported to truly experiment, collaborate and create are vanishing. Budgets are shrinking, programming is growing cautious, and the industry is losing the breathing room it needs to make work that matters. We started 5×5 because we felt this acutely ourselves — as artists who craved a space free from hierarchy, free from commercial pressure, where only the work matters.

What we've built is more than a night of theatre. It's a community. A fertile space for making, experimenting and nurturing. A place where BAFTA-nominated directors work alongside fresh graduates, Tony Award-winning actors share a stage with emerging voices, and documentary makers, songwriters and live performance artists are all equally welcome to try new roles. It's a launchpad for some, a creative home for others, and a reminder for everyone that we need time together — offline, in a room, making something real.

A project like this — with so many moving parts, extraordinary talent and a genuine commitment to doing things properly — requires significant time and resource. Right now, everyone involved is giving their time freely and generously, and while that spirit is at the very heart of what 5×5 is, the reality is that putting on a night of this ambition is not without cost. Any support — however large or small — helps us keep the lights on, look after our artists fairly, and continue to ensure that creatives from all economic backgrounds can participate fully. Together we can ensure that 5×5 grows into something that truly serves and sustains the arts community it was built for. We are so grateful for every contribution.