GREENWICH Theatre’s reputation for supporting emerging theatre companies has led to a formal partnership with the flourishing Sell A Door Theatre Company that made its home in the Royal Borough of Greenwich because of the special welcome it received.

Originally a small group of artists from the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts co-founded by Paul McCartney, Sell A Door now has four full-timers and three part-timers at its base in Athelney House on Greenwich High Road.

“We are delighted to have been made partner Theatre Company of such a renowned theatre with a history of producing high quality, diverse productions for local audiences,” said Sell A Door’s artistic director David Hutchinson.

“We started in 2008 and came down here because Greenwich had a really good reputation and in 2011 we did the first of 10 productions at the theatre with A Taste of Honey. We also work with local groups and schools, and the whole thing is really exciting. It would not have happened without Greenwich Theatre. They’ve helped us not only with our work there but also with our wider ambitions.”

Their three collaborative productions with Greenwich Theatre this year will include Robert Louis Stevenson’s Kidnapped (April 7-9), followed by a major revival of Robert Lopez, Jeff Marx and Jeff Whitty’s Avenue Q at the theatre from April 23 to May 11.

Then, from May 24 to June 1, the theatre will stage an exciting new adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland with community performers alongside the professional cast.

“The theatre always has time for us and allows us to be innovative, including one-off concerts,” said David. “Not many theatres are like that, especially during a period of cuts. We are only in the position to build audiences because we were given the chance in the first place.”

Greenwich Theatre director James Haddrell said: “Sell A Door is a great example of the work we do in supporting the development of some of this country’s finest young companies. The work they produce is infectious and we are delighted to be launching a formal partnership with this Greenwich-based company.

"With three productions lined up for 2014 this is a strong partnership with a great future.”