THEATR CLWYD ANNOUNCES HOMECOMING OF CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED HOME, I’M DARLING,
A MAJOR CO-PRODUCTION WITH MENIER CHOCOLATE FACTORY, AND TWO WORLD PREMIÈRES FOR 2019
Theatr Clwyd today announces new work for 2019. Following its previously announced West End transfer, Artistic Director Tamara Harvey’s smash hit production of Laura Wade’s Home, I’m Darling, will return home to Theatr Clwyd for the final week of April – in a co-production with the National Theatre and Fiery Angel. Also opening at the company’s home base is a major revival of Tennessee Williams’ Orpheus Descending – in a first-time co-production with London’s Menier Chocolate Factory. Following performances in Wales Tamara Harvey’s production transfers to the Menier Chocolate Factory.
April sees the world premiere of Jacqueline Wilson’s Wave Me Goodbye adapted for the stage by award-winning playwright Emma Reeves, following the huge success of her recent stage version of Hetty Feather. This also sees a homecoming for Reeves, who returns to the theatre having been a member of the Theatr Clwyd Youth Theatre in her childhood.
Later this year, to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Mold Riots, the company will re-create the story of the riots in a large-scale community production. The Mold Riots, written by Bethan Marlow and directed by Katie Posner, will lead its audience through the streets.
Highlights of the visiting programme include Malorie Blackman’s Noughts and Crosses adapted by Sabrina Mahfouz (19 – 23 February), Rain Man by Dan Gordon 25 February – 2 March), Marie Jones’ Stones in his Pockets (7 – 11 May) and John Brittain’s Rotterdam (3 – 5 June). Also Ian McKellen brings his solo show in celebration of his 80th birthday – Ian McKellen on Stage: with Tolkien, Shakespeare, Others and YOU – to Mold (18-19 March), with all proceeds being generously donated by McKellen to Theatr Clwyd. Further details of the 2019 season will be announced shortly
Artistic Director Tamara Harvey said today, “It has been an extraordinary and transformative year for the company, both in terms of ambition and reach – we have staged 15 own produced shows, 10 of which were world premières, culminating in a UK Theatre Award for The Assassination of Katie Hopkins, and now a West End transfer for Evening Standard Award-nominated Home, I’m Darling before it comes home to Wales. Next year will see us in a first-time collaboration with London’s award-winning Menier Chocolate Factory with Tennessee Williams’ Orpheus Descending; and as part of our commitment to younger audiences Emma Reeves comes home to adapt Jacqueline Wilson’s Wave Me Goodbye, their latest collaboration after the huge success of the stage version of Hetty Feather. Later this year sees our first large-scale community production with The Mold Riots during the 150th anniversary year. As we continue to build, it’s wonderful to see our homegrown work reach new audiences across the UK.”
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A Theatr Clwyd and Menier Chocolate Factory co-production
ORPHEUS DESCENDING
by Tennessee Williams
15 – 27 April 2019
9 May – 6 July Press Night 15 May at 8pm
Director: Tamara Harvey
Lady is trapped in a loveless marriage, surrounded by intolerant people, living a boring small-town life. But when a wild-eyed charismatic drifter appears a new life of love and passion suddenly seem possible. Everything will change as certainty, conformity and tradition are ripped apart.
Tennessee William’s Deep South American drama is directed by Theatr Clwyd’s Artistic Director Tamara Harvey.
Tennessee Williams (1911 – 1983) was one of the greatest American playwrights. His principal works include A Streetcar Named Desire (Pulitzer Prize), The Glass Menagerie (New York Critics’ Circle Award), The Rose Tattoo(Tony Award for Best Play), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (Pulitzer Prize), Suddenly Last Summer, Sweet Bird of Youth, Orpheus Descending and The Night of the Iguana (New York Critics’ Circle Award).
Tamara Harvey has been Artistic Director of Theatr Clwyd since August 2015. Her inaugural production for the company was Much Ado About Nothing, followed by the première of Elinor Cook’s award-winning play, Pilgrims, Skylight by David Hare and the première of Peter Gill’s version of Uncle Vanya (Best Production and Best Director in the English Language at the Wales Theatre Awards). Most recently she directed the première of Home I’m Darling by Laura Wade – which has been nominated for UK Theatre and Evening Standard Awards and transfers to the West End in 2019 before returning to Clwyd. Tamara has directed in the West End, throughout the UK and abroad, working on classic plays, new writing, musical theatre and in film. Her previous credits include the world premières of From Here To Eternity (Shaftesbury Theatre), Breeders(St James Theatre), The Kitchen Sink, The Contingency Plan, Sixty-Six Books and tHe dYsFUnCKshOnalZ! (Bush Theatre), In the Vale of Health (a cycle of four plays by Simon Gray), Elephants and Hello/Goodbye (Hampstead Theatre), and Plague Over England (Finborough Theatre & West End). Other theatre includes Kreutzer vs Kreutzer (Sam Wanamaker Playhouse/Royal Festival Hall), Bash (Trafalgar Studios), Whipping It Up (New Ambassadors), One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest (Gielgud & Garrick Theatres), Educating Rita (Menier Chocolate Factory & Theatre Royal Bath) and Pride and Prejudice (Sheffield Theatres).
Theatr Clwyd present the world première of
WAVE ME GOODBYE
By Jacqueline Wilson
Adapted by Emma Reeves
23 April – 4 May 2019
Press night: 25 April at 1pm
Director Christian Patterson
September, 1939. As the Second World War begins, ten-year-old Shirley is sent away on a train for ‘a little holiday’. Shirley is billeted in the country to live in the strange, deserted Red House with the mysterious and reclusive Mrs Waverley. Here, alongside two boys from Liverpool, Kevin and Archie, Shirley’s life will change forever.
A new adaptation of bestselling author Jacqueline Wilson’s moving story, directed by Christian Patterson.
Jacqueline Wilson is one of Britain’s most popular authors, selling over 38 million books in the UK alone. Her most successful and enduring creation is the Tracy Beaker series. In 2002 she was awarded the OBE for services to literacy in schools and in 2008 she became Dame Jacqueline Wilson. In the same year she became the Foundling Museum’s first Coram Foundling Fellow. From 2005 to 2007 she was the Children’s Laureate. Her recent titles include Opal Plumstead and Katy and My Mum Tracy Beaker.
Emma Reeves is an award-winning writer working across screen and stage. Her TV credits include The Worst Witch (Lead Writer), Eve (Lead Writer and co-creator), The Dumping Ground, Young Dracula, The Story of Tracy Beaker, Belonging, The Murder of Princess Diana (Lifetime Channel), Spirit Warriors and Doctors. Her stage work includes her acclaimed adaptation of Jacqueline Wilson’s Hetty Feather (national tour and West End 2014, and 2015-2016, Olivier nominated and CAMEO Award winner), Carrie’s War, Little Women, Cool Hand Luke and The Snow Child. Reeves has won Best Children’s TV Episode at The Writers Guild Awards twice – in 2016 for Eve and in 2017 for an episode of The Dumping Ground. Other awards include an RTS Best Children’s Drama for her Tracy Beaker Returns episode, an RTS North East award for Best Children’s Programme for her Dumping Ground episode, an RTS Scotland Award for Best Children’s Drama for Eve and Doctor Who Magazine Favourite Audio Drama awar2016 for Forgotten Lives. In October 2016 two of her episodes from the Dumping Ground and Hetty Feather were nominated for a Children’s BAFTA for Best Drama. In November 2017, her episode of Hetty Feather was nominated for a Broadcast Award for Best Children’s Programme. In 2018 she become one of 18 selected for BAFTA Elevate- a scheme made for advancing the career of experienced writers.
Christian Patterson directs. He scripts his debut panto Dick Whittington for Theatr Clwyd this year, having written award-winning pantomimes at other venues across the UK. As an actor his credits for the company include The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, Insignificance, All My Sons and Under Milk Wood. Other credits include The Way of the World (Donmar Warehouse), My Country (National Theatre), Blackbird (The Other Room) and Plays in a Bag – The Knowledge (Royal Court Theatre). His television credits include My Country, Ellen and Mr Selfridge; and for film, Pride and Malice in Wonderland. He won the Best Actor honour at the Wales Theatre Awards in 2016.
Age recommendation: 5 years +
Theatr Clwyd present the world première of
THE MOLD RIOTS
By Bethan Marlow
21 – 26 October
Director Katie Posner
One of Wales’ forgotten dark days is brought to life in this large-scale production with both a community and professional cast.
Summer, 1869. Seven miners stand trial for allegedly attacking the colliery manager after defending their right to use the Welsh language and protesting a pay cut. Now a crowd has assembled to hear the verdict, did they commit the crimes they’re accused of? A guilty verdict for all results in the quiet town of Mold erupting with violence. Stones will be thrown and blood will be shed but will this bring them any closer to winning their fight for justice?
More information will be released in early 2019.
Bethan Marlow’s site-specific interactive theatre productions, in collaboration with the LGBT community of Swansea, include “A Queer Christmas”, Mess Up The Mess, with the residents of a council estate in North Wales C’laen ta! (Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru), and her first verbatim play Sgint (Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru). Her other work includes From Land to Mouth (Pentabus), Cysgu’n Brysur (Arad Goch, Aberystwyth Arts Centre and WMC), Ar Waith ar Daith (Walk the Plank), PyC (S4C/BBC Wales), A Place Called Home (Birmingham Rep), The Beach (National Theatre Wales) and Such Tweet Sorrow (Royal Shakespeare Company). Marlowe was selected as one of four Welsh writers on the talent scheme ‘Y Labordy’. She received a Creative Wales Award to explore the possibility of the “audience as co-creators of theatre” and won the first “Straeon Iris” competition (an Iris Prize/S4C/Ffilm Cymru and Bfi Net.wok initiative) which culminated in the short film Afiach (Sick) which premièred at the Iris Prize Film Festival this year.
Katie Posner directs. She was the Associate Director of Pilot Theatre, York, for eight years, where she directed multiple national and international touring productions. Her 2017 national tour of Made in India (Tamasha, Belgrade Theatre, Pilot Theatre) was nominated for an Off West End award, and won the Eastern Eye Theatre and Culture Award for Best Production. Recent productions include Swallows and Amazons (new adaptation by Bryony Lavery) for Storyhouse Chester, Babe for Mercury Colchester, Bridget Foreman’s Everything is Possible: The York Suffragettes at York Theatre Royal and Finding Nana by Jane Upton for New Perspectives. Posner has also directed productions for Northern Stage, Tron Theatre, Live Theatre and Out of Joint amongst many others.
Listings
Theatr Clwyd
Raikes Lane, Mold CH7 1YA
Box Office: 01352 701521 www.theatrclwyd.com/en/
DICK WHITTINGTON – THE PURRRRRFECT ROCK ‘N’ ROLL PANTO
Anthony Hopkins Theatre
23 November 2018 – 19 January 2019
Press night: 27 November 7pm
HANSEL & GRETEL: FAIRYTALE DETECTIVES
Emlyn Williams Theatre
14 December – 6 January
Press night: 18 December 7pm
ORPHEUS DESCENDING
Anthony Hopkins Theatre
15 – 27 April 2019
WAVE ME GOODBYE
Emlyn Williams Theatre
23 April – 4 May 2019
Press night: 25 April at 1pm
HOME I’M DARLING
Anthony Hopkins Theatre
30 April to 4 May
THE MOLD RIOTS
21 – 26 October
LONDON
HOME, I’M DARLING
Duke of York’s Theatre
26 January – 13 April 2019
press night: 5 February
Box Office: 0844 871 7623
ORPHEUS DESCENDING
Menier Chocolate Fatory
9 May – 6 July
Press night: 15 May 8pm
Box Office: 020 7378 1713
www.menierchocolatefactory.com
HOME, I’M DARLING ON TOUR
Theatre Royal, Bath
Tuesday 16 – Saturday 20 April 2019
Box Office 01225 448844
Tickets on sale from: 29 November
The Lowry, Salford
Tuesday 23 – Saturday 27 April 2019
www.thelowry.com
Box Office: 0843 208 6000
Tickets on sale from: 16 November