Who we are
We believe the arts make a town richer, and we want the young people of Rugby to get in on the act.
We are In the Round Theatre – a brand new theatre group focused specifically on actor training.
Rugby, in the county of Warwickshire, is a rich melting pot of theatre groups, often with a focus on musicals and dance. If you’re someone who’s interested in plays (rather than musicals) and you want to learn how to act, without having to sing and dance, then you have found the perfect place.
In the Round Theatre is a non-profit making organisation, set up in 2021 to focus purely on stage craft and acting skills, run by volunteers Robert Sloan and Darren Pratt. In the Round Theatre is a member the National Association of Youth Theatres.
Meet the team
Passing on the magic of theatre to the actors of tomorrow
Robert Sloan / Co-Founder
As the former Artistic Director or Rugby Theatre, Rob developed his love of drama at the Oast Youth Theatre in his hometown of Tonbridge in Kent. It was here where at the age of 17, Rob directed his first show. Rob went on to study drama at Stratford-Upon-Avon College, where he was exposed to a range of industry professionals from the nearby RSC and then at Middlesex University, where he developed a passion for devising theatre, working alongside John Wright, one of the forefathers of modern theatre.
Moving to Rugby in 2005, Rob immediately joined Rugby Theatre where he acted in a number of plays including the tragic comedy, Stones in his Pockets and the madcap Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) and more recently, in Arthur Miller’s A View from the Bridge, playing Eddie Carbone.
As a director , his credits include three NODA award-winning plays (Tom, Dick and Harry, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Little Shop of Horrors), the hilarious farce Noises Off, the commedia dell’arte inspired One Man, Two Guvnors, James and the Giant Peach, as well as an innovative English/Polish version of Romeo and Juliet, which was performed at the Royal Shakespeare Company. Rob is also the creator behind the Rugby-Festival-of-Culture-favourite Story in the Park, a family focussed show set in Rugby’s beautiful Caldecott Park.
In 2016 Rob became the Artistic Director of Rugby Theatre where his role included training new directors, curating the programme of shows and even judging Rugby’s Got Talent.
Rob balances his love of theatre with his day job of creating interactive immersive experiences within the brand creative team at Disney.
Darren Pratt / Co-Founder
Darren has been involved in theatre from the moment he was introduced to acting in secondary school. His early fascination for the craft was fuelled by youth productions produced written and directed by local teachers.
Darren continued to pursue his early passion for acting through productions at Rugby Theatre before studying and obtaining a Diploma in Theatre Training from Coventry Centre for the Performing Arts. Darren worked in a number of productions for professional Theatre companies performing at theatres such as the Belgrade and the Midlands Art Centre in Birmingham and toured various venues with a children’s theatre company across the British Isles.
Darren continued to pursue his passion for acting whilst studying for his computer science degree and, as one of the leaders running the Aston University drama society, he and his future wife where awarded the chancellors award for outstanding contribution to student life.
Darren returned to Rugby and has worked in the computer industry, using the skills gained gained from acting in presenting cloud based solutions to senior executives for global blue chip companies whilst continuing to act in his spare time in numerous productions at Rugby Theatre including: Neville's Island, The Madness of King George, It Can Damage Your Health, One for the Road, The Hollow, The Crucible,
A Midsummers Nights Dream, Much Ado About Nothing, An Inspector Calls, Travels with My Aunt, Hairspray, One Man Two Guvnors and Little Shop of Horrors.
Our affiliations
In the Round Theatre is affiliated with a number of organisations, on a local and national level.
Warwickshire County Council
We are working with Warwickshire County Council to ensure we have excellent child safeguarding practises in place, including enhanced DBS checks for all adults working with young people.
National Association of Youth Theatres
We are delighted to be members of the National Association of Youth Theatres (NAYT), an educational charity working with over 1,300 groups and individuals to support the development of young people through excellent youth theatre.
