- REGENT’S PARK OPEN AIR THEATRE ANNOUNCES ITS 2016 SEASON
- MICHAEL MORPURGO’s RUNNING WILD GIVEN FULL STAGING IN A CO-PRODUCTION WITH CHICHESTER FESTIVAL THEATRE FROM 13 MAY – 12 JUNE
- DONMAR ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, ROBERT HASTIE, DIRECTS HENRY V FROM 17 JUNE – 9 JULY
- TIM RICE AND ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER DEBUT AT THE OPEN AIR THEATRE WITH JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR FROM 15 JULY – 27 AUGUST
- 2013’s SOLD OUT PRODUCTION OF PRIDE AND PREJUDICE RETURNS PRIOR TO A UK TOUR FROM 2 – 17 SEPTEMBER
- PRIORITY BOOKING FOR MEMBERS OPENS 11AM 12 NOVEMBER; PUBLIC BOOKING OPENS 11AM 8 DECEMBER
Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre has confirmed that Michael Morpurgo’s Running Wild will open its 2016 season in an adaptation by Samuel Adamson, running from 13 May – 12 June. In a co-production with Chichester Festival Theatre, who originally created the piece with their youth theatre, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre will fully develop the play to launch its professional premiere. Timothy Sheader and original Chichester director Dale Rooks direct with puppetry design and direction by Finn Caldwell and Toby Olié, both previous Associate Puppetry Directors on War Horse.
Running Wild is a story of love, loss, loyalty and of living for the moment. For Will and his mother, going to Indonesia isn’t just a holiday. It’s a new start, and the chance for Will to ride an elephant called Oona. But then the tsunami hit. Charging deep into the jungle Oona escapes the beach, but with her rider still clinging on, Will must now learn to survive the rainforest – and he is not alone.
To commemorate the legacy of Shakespeare, 400 years since the playwright’s death, Robert Hastie will direct Henry V from 17 June – 9 July. Currently an Associate Director for the Donmar Warehouse, Robert recently received critical acclaim for Splendour by Abi Morgan andMy Night With Reg, which subsequently transferred to the Apollo Theatre.
Celebrating 45 years since Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s seminal musical first hit the stage, Timothy Sheader will direct Jesus Christ Superstar from 15 July – 27 August. With a legendary score including ‘I Don’t Know How to Love Him’, ‘Gethsemane’ and ‘Superstar’, this epic story with choreography by Drew McConie will find a new resonance in the unique surroundings of Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre.
The 2013 sell-out production of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, adapted for the stage by Simon Reade and directed by Deborah Bruce, will conclude the 2016 season (2 – 17 September). Following the success of To Kill a Mockingbird and Lord of the Flies, Pride and Prejudice will then embark on a major UK tour.
Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre’s critically acclaimed production of Lord of the Flies continues to tour the UK through to March 2016.
Artistic Director Timothy Sheader says:
‘In a year when the world celebrates the life and work of Shakespeare, our 2016 season champions British writing. Whilst giving classics a new voice through outdoor production, I am delighted to be bringing a new play, Running Wild, to the stage this season. I am passionate about storytelling and of creating work that enhances the shared experience of theatregoing, and I look forward to sharing these productions with our audiences.’
Full cast and creative team for all 2016 productions will be announced in due course.
Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre Memberships are on sale now and priority booking for Members will open at 11am, 12 November. Visit www.openairtheatre.com/membership for more information. Public booking opens at 11am, 8 December.
LISTINGS
Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre 2016 season:
Online Bookings: www.openairtheatre.com
Box Office: 0844 826 4242
Lines open from 9am – 9pm. £1.50 per ticket telephone booking fee applies. Calls cost 7p per minute plus your telephone company’s access charge.
Running Wild
By Michael Morpurgo
In an adaptation by Samuel Adamson
Directed by Timothy Sheader and Dale Rooks
13 May – 12 June
First Preview: 13 May
Press night: 19 May (7.45pm)
Performances: Tue – Sun (7.45pm); matinees Weds, Sat & Sun (2.15pm)
No matinee on 14, 18, 19 May
Henry V
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Robert Hastie
17 June – 9 July
First preview: 17 June
Press night: 22 June (7.45pm)
Performances: Mon – Sat (7.45pm); matinees Thurs & Sat (2.15pm)
No matinee on 18 June
Jesus Christ Superstar
Lyrics by Tim Rice | Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber
Directed by Timothy Sheader
15 July – 27 August
First preview: 15 July
Press night: 21 July (7.45pm)
Performances: Mon – Sat (7.45pm); matinees Thurs & Sat (2.15pm)
Additional matinees on Weds 17 and 24 August
No matinee on 16 or 21 July
Pride and Prejudice
By Jane Austen
In an adaptation by Simon Reade
Directed by Deborah Bruce
2 September – 17 September
Previews: 2 September – 6 September
Performances: Mon – Sat (7.45pm); matinees Thurs & Sat (2.15pm)
Tickets
Running Wild
£25 – £48.50
(Premium Seats £60, including best seat, programme and a glass of wine)
Family Ticket: £110.00 (4 tickets, of which at least 2 are for children). Valid only on Running Wild.
Henry V and Pride and Prejudice
£25 – £48.50
(Premium Seats £60, including best seat, programme and a glass of wine)
Jesus Christ Superstar
£25 – £52.50
(Premium Seats £65, including best seat, programme and a glass of wine)
Early Bird: £5 off price bands A – D during previews when booked before 30 April (previews £2 off thereafter).
Premium Seats and Band E tickets: £2 off all previews.
Groups 10+
£5 off price bands A – C. Valid all performances excluding Saturday Evening. A £4.50 transaction fee applies. This applies on top of the Preview and Early Bird Preview pricing, but excludes Premium Seats.
Senior Citizens Matinees
£22.50 best available (excluding Premium Seats), weekday matinees (cannot be combined with any other discount or concession).
U18
£25 best available (excluding Premium Seats), all performances excluding Saturday evening (cannot be combined with any other discount or concession).
A full performance schedule will be available from www.openairtheatre.com
Social Media
Twitter: @OpenAirTheatre / #OAT2016 / #OATrunningwild/ #OAThenryV / #OATsuperstar / #OATprideprej
Facebook, Google+, Pinterest: Regent’sParkOpenAirTheatre
UK Tours
Regent’s Park Theatre Ltd presents
Pride and Prejudice
By Jane Austen
In an adaptation by Simon Reade
2015/16 UK Tour dates to be announced
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Regent’s Park Theatre Ltd presents
William Golding’s
Lord of the Flies
Adapted for the stage by Nigel Williams
In an adaptation by Simon Reade
Tuesday 10 – Saturday 14 November 2015
SHEFFIELD Lyceum Theatre
Box Office 0114 249 6000 | www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk
Tuesday 17 – Saturday 21 November 2015
HIGH WYCOMBE Swan Theatre
Box Office 01494 512000 | www.wycombeswan.co.uk
Tuesday 24 – Saturday 28 November 2015
DUBLIN Bord Gais Theatre
Box Office +353 1 677 7999 | www.bordgaisenergytheatre.ie
Tuesday 1 – Saturday 5 December 2015
SALFORD The Lowry
Box Office 0843 208 6000 | www.thelowry.com
Tuesday 12 – Saturday 16 January
BATH Theatre Royal
Box Office 01225 448844 | www.theatreroyal.org.uk
Tuesday 19 – Saturday 23 January
RICHMOND Theatre
Box Office 0844 871 7651 | www.atgtickets.com/ richmond
Tuesday 26 – Saturday 30 January
GUILDFORD G Live
Box Office 01483 369350 | www.glive.co.uk
Tuesday 2 – Saturday 6 February
LIVERPOOL Playhouse
Box Office 0151 709 4776 | www.everymanplayhouse.com
Tuesday 9 – Saturday 13 February
LEICESTER Curve Theatre
Box Office 0116 242 3560 | www.curveonline.co.uk
Tuesday 23 – Saturday 27 February
WARWICK Arts Centre
Box Office 024 7652 4524 | www.warwickartscentre.co.uk
Tuesday 1 – Saturday 5 March
BRADFORD Alhambra Theatre
Box Office 01274 432000 | www.bradford-theatres.co.uk
Tuesday 8 – Saturday 12 March
NEWCASTLE Theatre Royal
Box Office 0844 811 2121 | www.theatreroyal.co.uk
Tuesday 15 – Saturday 19 March
BROMLEY Churchill Theatre
Box Office 0844 871 7620 | www.atgtickets.com/bromley