FIRE EXIT

Fire Exit theatre company closed in 2019. This website is an archive.

Fire Exit was a theatre company based in Glasgow, Scotland. Their multi-award winning work was shown all over the world from Boston to Buenos Aires, Sao Paulo to Santiago, Milan to the Isle of Mull. Prizes included the Edinburgh International Festival Fringe Award, a San Diego Critics’ Circle Award, two different Herald Angel Awards and a Fringe First Award.

Fire Exit was established in 2002 by Artistic Director David Leddy, who conceived, wrote and directed the company’s shows. He is much sought after as a mentor and leader of masterclasses at institutions worldwide including the Nucleo de Dramaturgia in Brazil and Yale University in the USA.

The company’s work took many theatrical forms including promenade, site responsive performances in unusual locations as well as small and mid scale theatre productions. Fire Exit was renowned for highly original digital works - including an outdoor piece experienced on headphones in a botanical gardens and an online thriller that could be downloaded to any smartphone or tablet.

The company collaborated with some of the most exciting performing arts practitioners and organisations including Anne Bogart, the Royal Shakespeare Company, Edinburgh International Book Festival, Sponsored by Nobody and Theatre Replacement.

Fire Exit supported other theatre artists in Scotland with a multi strand mentoring programme and a bursary to allow writers to develop their skills in experimental writing. The company also offered producing and production management workshops led by two of the most experienced practitioners in the UK.

Quotes

"Insight, intelligence and sheer explosive style."
The Scotsman

"David Leddy is a maverick theatre-maker... There are few writers so capable of mixing ideas with gaudy, glorious coups de théâtre, and few so capable of messing with your head."
Guardian

"One of Scotland's most innovative theatre makers"
Janice Forsyth, BBC Radio Scotland, The Culture Studio

"Theatrical iconoclast"
The List

"Site-specific genius."
Scotsman

“Edinburgh Fringe institution.”
Independent

"Theatrical maverick" with "a propensity for fearless experiment."
Financial Times

"Scotland's leading theatrical innovator"
Times

"Scotland’s king of site-specific theatre."
The Stage

"Scotland's hottest, edgiest young playwright."
Sunday Times

“Cool conceptualist David Leddy.”
The Skinny

“Star Scottish playwright David Leddy.”
Metro

“The rising star of Scottish theatre.”
Observer

“A star is born.”
Scotsman

"Leddy's work is compelling because it is able to touch an audience on an emotional level, while at the same time provoking a profound cultural commentary on much deeper issues."
The List