ABOUT US​

Pins and Needles Productions is a female-led theatre company based in Bristol, with over a decade's experience in making award-winning work for audiences across the UK and internationally.  We are passionate about finding innovative ways to tell stories in theatre, film, events and with digital technology.

Over 12 years, we have created 22 productions and taken our work from Norwich to New York, Manchester to Malaysia, Harrogate to Hong Kong.

Our work is ever-changing and can live in a range of different spaces.  We've created interactive adventures online, pop-up installations, outdoor work for festivals, immersive events, West End shows, and workshops for schools. 

We like worlds that transform in front of the audience's eyes, creating new and unexpected images.  Our house style is defined by the close working relationship between Director Emma Earle and Designer Zoe Squire who met while training at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.

We are well known for our bold and imaginative adaptations of children’s books.  Our recent show OI FROG & FRIENDS! (produced by Kenny Wax Family Entertainment) was nominated for a 2020 Olivier Award for Best Family Show.  

In 2018, we won the UK Theatre Award for Best Show for Children and Young People with LITTLE MERMAID, co-produced with the egg, Theatre Royal Bath. 

We pride ourselves on the strength of our relationship with venues and producers, and have longstanding connections with partners throughout the UK, including Lyric Hammersmith, Les Enfants Terribles, Stornaway, Leeds Playhouse, Studio Giggle and Tobacco Factory Theatres.

“Pins and Needles deliver yet another piece of engaging and atmospheric theatre, which integrally combines writing, design, concept and performance as though they are one. This is their trademark – they do it well.” 

Kate Cross, Director of the egg

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Emma Earle

Emma is co-Artistic Director of Pins and Needles Productions and has worked in theatre, film, education and community arts for the past 20 years, as a director, teacher, mentor, producer and maker. She has worked across a range of genres including adaptations, musicals, Shakespeare, family theatre, new writing, immersive, outdoor performance, film and digital work. Her work has been presented all over the world including New York and the West End, and has won significant critical acclaim, including a 2020 Olivier nomination and a 2018 UK Theatre Award. She is an Associate Director of Les Enfants Terribles Theatre Company and an Associate Artist of the egg, Theatre Royal Bath.

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Zoe Squire

Zoe is co-Artistic Director of Pins and Needles Productions and is passionate about embracing a multidisciplinary approach to storytelling. She has designed set and costumes for projects spanning theatre, dance, immersive events and digital experiences for Pins and Needles and as a freelancer. 

Her Pins and Needles highlights include seeing their adaptation MR POPPER’S PENGUINS travel to the New Victory Theatre (New York) and the Criterion (London's West End); developing a long-standing relationship with author and illustrator Raymond Briggs through FATHER CHRISTMAS (Lyric Hammersmith) and THE BEAR (UK and Malaysia); winning a UK Theatre award for LITTLE MERMAID (the egg, Theatre Royal Bath) and receiving an Olivier Nomination for OI FROG & FRIENDS (West End and UK tour).

Zoe is a founding member of Bristol Design Assembly and an Associate Artist of the egg, Theatre Royal Bath.

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Emma Bettridge

Emma is Senior Producer for Pins and Needles and works as a theatre Producer, Director, Festival curator, and a children’s picture book writer. She works as a consultant producer for Vic Llewellyn, Bea Roberts, Laila Diallo, Elizabeth Westcott, Katy Owen and Jen Bell. She is an associate lecturer at Bath Spa University (Creative Producing Post Graduate course), a resident at the Pervasive Media Studio at the Watershed, the chair of Wiveliscombe Town Hall Trust and an Artist Advisor for Jerwood Arts.

Prior to this she was an associate producer for Kneehigh Theatre, ran Bristol Old Vic Ferment for six years, Pulse festival at the New Wolsey Theatre for three years, was part of the curatorial group for Caravan2014 (Farnham Maltings/Brighton Festival) and head of programming for Pleasance Theatre (London & Edinburgh). 

Emma loves animals, children and stories. She is currently adapting a stage version of the Great Dog Bottom Swap with Emma Williams and Vic Llewellyn. 

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COLLABORATORS

Pins and Needles’ aim is to work as collaboratively as possible, and one of our biggest strengths is the diverse range of artists with whom we have worked.  From actors, animators, composers and lyricists, to lighting and sound designers, to movement directors and projection mappers, we are endlessly amazed by the talent in our sector.

Over the past year and a half, alongside surviving the pandemic, we've been developing new ideas through various R&D processes. Recent collaborators include Stornaway, Studio Giggle, Matt Grinter, Bea Roberts, Sefi Carmel, Stephanie Kempson, Lizzie Morris, Benjamin Thapa and Prime Theatre.

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