John Webber
A versatile and experienced actor, John writes exciting, moving stories about people who struggle to be heard by those they love - and those that govern them.
About John Webber
John is a working-class artist who grew up on a council estate in Thurrock, Essex. He received a First Class Honours degree in Drama from Bangor University and before studying acting at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. His acting career started in theatre for young people, working on new plays and devised pieces which then toured. As an actor he has worked at the Royal National Theatre and at regional theatres around the UK. Television credits include EastEnders, Coronation Street, A Touch of Frost and Doctor Foster. His play Spiderfly was selected for the Park Theatre’s Script Accelerator Scheme and had the support of Old Vic New Voices before being produced by Metal Rabbit at Theatre503 and then nominated for an OFFIE. It is published by Nick Hern Books. John was a BRIT Program Guest Artist at the University of South Florida, where his commissioned adaptation of Emma by Jane Austen was performed. He was part of the High Tide Supported Artist cohort during the pandemic and his play, Wake Up People, was a Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch commission. He was a Colchester Mercury Playwright 2022-23, a recipient of a Peggy Ramsey Foundation Grant in 2023 and currently part of the Adopt A Playwright Scheme. He will be touring Fire Fire, his play about climate protest, in the East of England in 2026 in association with High Tide and Harlow Playhouse.
Spiderfly
Produced by Metal Rabbit at Theatre503
Cast Lia Burge
Matt Whitchurch
Venue Theatre503, London
Director Kirsty Patrick Ward
Designer Lizzie Leech
Sound Dominic Brennan
Stage Manager Rose Hockaday
Ass. Director Lucy Grace McCann
Casting Christopher Worrall
Producers George Warren & Sofi Berenger
Ass. Producer Oliver Seymour
Published by Nick Hern Books:
Spiderfly began its life as a short ten-minute Rapid Write Response play that was performed at Theatre503 before being expanded and developed through the Park Theatre's Script Accelerator Programme and with some support from Old Vic New Voices.
The story focusses on Esther, a woman grieving the death of her sister, who decides to visit in prison the man who was convicted of her sister's murder but who denies responsibility - Keith. But over a number of meetings Esther's stated reason for coming becomes unpicked as does Keith's denials and justifications for his view of the world, meaning their relationship turns into a twisty, dark power struggle for supremacy.
The play is for two actors (1 female, 1 male) and would suit a studio space.
"There’s actually quite a lot of humour, but it’s always jarring; absurd laughs crop up at totally inappropriate moments. Webber has shown here he can create something distinctive and involving from a relatively straightforward concept, and he has the potential to write brilliant stuff." Exuent Magazine.
Fire Fire
Fire Fire is a play set in the world of climate protest and looks at how class can affect attitudes to climate change.
Paige is a passionate middle-class climate activist from Colchester. Eddie is a retired oil worker from Thurrock and a ‘gammon’. Needless to say, when they meet after Paige’s climate protest has disrupted Eddie’s memorial for his brother, it isn’t a happy first meeting. However, when Paige’s girlfriend dumps her when she refuses to have a child in a climate crisis and Eddie discovers that like his brother he has a work related illness, an unlikely alliance forms, resulting in a monumental - and explosive - protest deep inside the Dartford Tunnel.
Written when John was part of Colchester Mercury Playwrights scheme, the play had an Arts Council England funded R&D at the Mercury in February 2025. It is being developed in association with High Tide and will tour in May/June 2026 with their support as well as the backing of Harlow Playhouse.
John is currently producing the show with Jennifer Tang attached as director and George Warren as Executive Producer. Fire Fire will visit venues in the East of England and include Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds, Eastern Angles Centre, Mercury Colchester and Dixon Studio Southend before a run in London.
The play is for three actors (1 male, 2 female) and is designed for studio spaces and touring.
An Arts Council England funded R&D was held at the Mercury Theatre Colchester in February 2025, finishing with a sharing on Valentine's Day.
Pictured is writer John Webber and director Jenifer Tang with actors Akiya Henry (Paige), Jay Simpson (Eddie) and Amy Cudden (Mel).
Acting
After graduating from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, John worked with theatre outreach companies and young people's theatre around the UK. He devised and developed numerous shows before taking them to non-theatre venues in local communities.
His first main house show was Romeo and Juliet at Sheffield Crucible directed by Michael Rudman and he has gone on to work at a number of other regional theatres as well as the Royal National Theatre under the direction of Jeremy Herrin, Thea Sharrock and Howard Davies.
TV credits include: A Touch of Frost, Hollyoaks, Coronation Street, EastEnders, Doctor Foster, Bombshell, The Bill and Birds of a Feather.
He is represented by The Narrow Road Company.
Connect with John
Contact Information
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