Inaugural Stephen Joseph Transfer Launches at The Cockpit

The Cockpit, in partnership with VAULT Creative Arts, are delighted to announce The Highgate Vampire has been selected as the inaugural Stephen Joseph Transfer in January 2026.

The Stephen Joseph Transfer, a new programme developed and delivered by both organisations, offers one company performing as part of The Glitch’s spring season 2025 a full week to develop and deliver their work at The Cockpit. The scheme is aimed at artists showing exceptional promise for making work in-the-round, and who would benefit from the opportunity to scale their work up to a much larger space.

Alongside a week’s programming slot, the company will also receive a week of free rehearsal space at The Glitch, support and mentorship from Dave Wybrow (Artistic Director at The Cockpit), and production support from Oli Savage (VAULT’s Artistic Director).

The Cockpit is London’s oldest and largest in-the-round theatre. With 220 seats, and a year-round programme of theatre, music, festivals, and dance, the venue has long been a trend-setter for supporting disruptive and exciting new work. At just 50 seats, The Glitch (run by VAULT Creative Arts, the former producers of VAULT Festival) might be London’s smallest in-the-round venue. With this programme, the organisations hope to encourage more early-career artists to make work in-the-round, supporting them to reach new audiences and develop their craft, at a time when many other venues are shying away from such work.

The programme is named after Stephen Joseph, a pioneer and champion of in-the-round theatre in the UK, and is supported by the Stephen Joseph Committee, a sub-committee of the Association of British Theatre Technicians.

Dave Wybrow, Artistic Director at The Cockpit, said:“Theatre in the round was the heart of Stephen Joseph's mission: the same goes for The Glitch and The Cockpit. As theatre in the round enjoys a new wave of popularity, we're two venues excited to offer a developmental opportunity focused on optimising the form and up-skilling practitioners. The Stephen Joseph Transfer will bring London more and better in-the-round shows. Verve and entertainment with the power to change lives and the world. Intimate in a big way. Amphitheatrical, but also a theatre of action.”

Alex Knott, Director of Bag of Beard, said:“Bag of Beard are beyond thrilled to have been selected for the first Stephen Joseph Transfer! The Highgate Vampire was our first experience working in the round, and to begin with we couldn't imagine how a play that is partially a ‘scientific lecture’ could work with the audience on all sides. But throughout rehearsals, working at The Glitch and trying the play in front of an audience, we discovered a love for the form and are absolutely delighted to be taking the show to The Cockpit! What a fantastic opportunity.”

The Highgate Vampire runs 28 January – 1 February 2026.

Performance dates:

28 January 7:30pm

29 January 7:30pm

30 January 7:30pm

31 January 2:30pm & 7:30pm1

February 2:30pm & 7:30pm

Tickets:Full price £15, Concessions £13 www.thecockpit.org.uk/show/the_highgate_vampire