Out of the Wings Collective returns next month for its annual festival of Ibero-American playwriting.
Celebrating their 10th anniversary, they present readings of plays from six different countries, all in English translation, and in the UK for the first time.
The plays of #OOTW2025 traverse continents and centuries, the real and the dreamed, the playful and the poignant.
Where: Omnibus Theatre
When: 15-19 Jul
Ticket link: https://www.omnibus-clapham.org/out-of-the-wings/
The team tell us more below.
Congratulations on your 10th anniversary at Out of the Wings! What’s been your proudest moment so far?
Thank you!
We’re all about platforming work so some of our proudest moments have been when the translations we’ve share as readings have gone on to have a later life as full productions at venues like Theatre503 or Barons Court here in London or Asylum Theatre in Las Vegas, or published by presses like Inti, Legenda or Bloomsbury.Â
Most of all, we’re proud of the community of theatre artists whom we have connected with and become part of. The festival and our year-round work is a way to celebrate writers, translators, and theatre makers across languages and cultures. We’re really proud of that.
This year you are presenting new play readings from Ibero-America. What might audiences expect to see?
Variety! The great thing about presenting a different play each night is that it can showcase just how diverse the playwriting of Spain, Portugal and Latin America is.
No two nights are the same, and there really is something for everyone. This year we have plays inspired by real events such as the Salem witch trials (Tituba) and by real people such as Tennessee Williams (Dr Feelgood), but we also have futuristic comedy (The Last Remaining Video Store is Still in Business) and even radio drama from the 1940s (The Ages of Man).
Every year is different, and over these past ten years we’ve presented plays from as far back as the 15th century, all the way up to today and our 2025 festival is just as eclectic as ever.
You are not just presenting staged readings, but also a whole programme of related events – so, what’s on offer?
We start the week with the annual Out of the Wings Forum on July 15. This is a space for anyone who is interested in international and cross-border theatre to come together to share ideas, through talks, panels, and discussion sessions.
The Forum takes place at King’s College London and ends just in time for everyone to head to Omnibus in the evening for the first reading of the week.
During the week, we also run theatre translation workshops aimed at translators and other practitioners who want to learn more about working in translation or honing a particular skill.
Last but not least, our pop-up bookstore in association with our publishing partner Inti Press will be open all week in the Omnibus bar.
What’s special about the Omnibus as a venue?
Quite simply, we really do feel at home at Omnibus. The whole team, under Marie McCarthy’s artistic directorship, made us feel welcome from the very beginning.
It’s important to us to be working in a venue that truly welcomes international work and has the imagination and curiosity to open its doors to plays and theatre artists from all over the world.
We’ve been at Omnibus six times now and have never looked back.
What is next for Out of the Wings?
We’re busy all year round! Every month, we gather to read and discuss a new translation (in English) of a play.
This is the backbone of our work together and, like the festival, is full of variety. These meetings take place on the last Friday of the month (except August) and are hybrid so that anyone can attend, in person or online.
There’s no need to speak Spanish or Portuguese to attend. The meetings are free, and all are welcome. For details, see our website and join our mailing list at ootwfestival.com.