Penelope Lowder is a playwright, theatre artist, and novelist who creates work that disrupts complacency, challenges inherited ideologies, and awakens curiosity.

“Playwright Penelope Lowder has her finger firmly on the pulse of American culture, and this patient is in dire need of resuscitation.”

— F. Kathleen Foley, LA Times

Through provocative storytelling, I explore the intersections of race, sexism, misogynoir, trauma, memory, history, and power, inviting audiences to question the narratives they have been taught and examine the world around them more deeply. My work is rooted in a commitment to amplifying voices and experiences that have been marginalized, overlooked, or erased.

My artistic practice blends Afrofuturism, surrealism, horror, spoken word, multimedia, and music to create immersive theatrical experiences that engage audiences emotionally, intellectually, and viscerally. She is drawn to stories that blur the boundaries between reality and imagination, uncovering hidden truths, confronting historical wounds, and exposing systems that continue to shape contemporary life. Inspired by historical events and present-day social issues, her work seeks to reveal the ways the past continues to live within us.

“I create primarily for communities whose stories have not always been centered on stage, particularly Black communities and women, while also inviting broader audiences into conversations about justice, identity, and human connection. At the heart of my work is a belief in our shared humanity. I want audiences to move beyond fear, division, and passive acceptance of simplified narratives to engage with complexity, empathy, and critical thought.”

Penelope Lowder makes theatre because she believes it has the power to foster empathy, inspire critical thinking, and build community, creating transformative experiences that linger long after the curtain falls, encouraging audiences to question, connect, and imagine a more just and compassionate world.

Artist Statement

  • "A BRILLIANT debut that bodes well for the rest of the season. Playwright Penelope Lowder has her finger firmly ON THE PULSE of American culture. There are PLENTY OF LAUGHS to be had here — BEFORE THE HORROR SETS IN. Multiple award-winning director Michael A. Shepperd and a wonderful cast lift the rock off Lowder’s dishearteningly PERFECT PLAY and let the creepy-crawlies squiggle freely."

    —LA Times, CRITICS' CHOICE

  • “POWERFUL…smartly takes on privilege, race, and status.”

    —Broadway World

  • "MUST- SEE theatre at its finest and most relevant. A GREAT NEW PLAY...Searing, scorching look at timely issues in a highly entertaining way. West Adams announces the ARRIVAL OF A MAJOR VOICE."

    —Hollywood Progressive

  • "GO. A smart, powerful play."

    —Hollywood Revealed

  • "A SAVVY, SATISFYING PLAY, spotlighting the toxic ilk that still poisons our fractious American communities.”

    —Stage Raw

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