The Rep Theatre Company was founded in 1996 by Ben Cavey, then a pupil at Repton School, and Guy Levesley, then Head of Drama at Foremarke Hall. Its aim is to create new challenges and give greater opportunities in theatre to young people.
For four successive years the company mounted elaborate and extensive site-specific outdoor promenade productions in the grounds of Foremarke Hall and Repton School before embarking on fringe productions in Repton, Edinburgh and London, enjoying a growing reputation and warm reviews.
Plans are well under way for an adapted production of 2008’s Repton School Play, Tom Stoppard’s On the Razzle, to be performed in August in Repton and at Edinburgh. The Rep Theatre Company will be introducing an entirely new group – the youngest yet - to the challenging opportunities of live theatre, working away from school and with people not connected with the School.
Yet, the company maintains a unique association with Repton School. It is a charitable company that has an independent board of directors and autonomous control over its own artistic output and casting. However, it enjoys enormous support from the School, benefiting from financial help, professional advice and use of rehearsal space, performance venues and technical equipment.
Over 200 people have worked as members of the company and some of the most well-known include actors Matt Horne (“Horne and Corden”, “Gavin and Stacey”, “Entertaining Mr. Sloane” – West End 2009), Olivia Poulet (“In the Loop” – feature film released April 2009, “Heroes and Villains”, “Charles and Camilla – Whatever Love Means”), Nicholas Burns (“Nathan Barley”, “Absolute Power”, “ManStrokeWoman”, “Benidorm”, “Fat Pig” – West End 2008) and Tom Chambers (“Holby City”, “Strictly Come Dancing”), directors Tom Daley (Associate Director Royal National Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company, Chichester Festival Theatre and Glasgow Citizens) and Tom Harper (“The Scouting Book for Boys” - feature film to be released in 2009, “Demons”, “Cherries”, “Cubs” - BAFTA nominated in 2007), Film and TV composer Jack Arnold (“Demons”, “The Beckoning Silence”) and TV producer Fiona McLaren.
Ben Cavey is now Creative Director of Comedy at Tiger Aspect and Guy Levesley joined Repton School’s Drama Department, from Foremarke, in 2003.