Hampstead Theatre announces the first two productions for 2018
Preview by Lizzie Guilfoyle
HAMPSTEAD Theatre has announced the first two productions for 2018 – the UK premiere of Sarah Burgess’ breathtakingly witty Dry Powder, directed by Anna Ledwich; and Tony Kushner’s and Jeanine Tesori’s celebrated musical Caroline, or Change, which transfers to Hampstead following its critically acclaimed sell-out run at Chichester Festival Theatre with Sharon D. Clarke reprising her role as Caroline Thibodeaux.
Dry Powder, which explores the vision, the vulnerability, and the vilification of those shaping – and skewing – the economy, runs from February 1 (previews from January 26) to March 3, 2018.
Do we work in public relations? Because I’m starting to feel like I accidentally work in public relations.
New York City – open for business 24/7.
In the same week his private equity firm forced massive layoffs at a supermarket chain, Rick threw himself a lavish engagement party – which even featured an elephant – setting off a Public Relations nightmare. However, all’s not lost when you’re the titan of high finance – there’s still an abundance of cash in reserve and Seth, one of Rick’s partners, spots an opportunity to salvage the company’s reputation with an investment that’s both sound and PR-friendly.
But Jenny, the third partner, and Seth’s nemesis, has other ideas: she’s not in business to make friends. If there’s money to be made, she’ll do whatever it takes to generate the maximum return, irrespective of what the critics might say…
Sarah Burgess’ play Dry Powder was a 2016 recipient of the Laurents/Hatcher Award and a 2016 finalist for the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize. Dry Powder premiered at the Public Theater directed by Thomas Kail and starring Claire Danes, John Krasinski, Hank Azaria, and Sanjit De Silva. Her newest play Kings will receive its world premiere at the Public Theater in 2018. Her other plays include Camdenside and FAIL: Failures.
Anna Ledwich returns to Hampstead Theatre following the critically acclaimed Labyrinth. Her other Hampstead productions include Kiss Me, Donny’s Brain, The Argument and the Olivier Award nominated Four Minutes Twelve Seconds. Her other credits include The Stick House (Raucous Collective/Bristol Old Vic) and Lulu (Gate Theatre/Headlong) for which she received the New Directions Award. She was also awarded the Michael and Morvern Heller Director’s Bursary at Chichester Festival and is an Associate Director at Theatre 503 and co-Artistic Director of Theatre on the Fly at Chichester Festival Theatre.
Also at Hampstead Theatre: the world premiere of Prism, starring Robert Lindsay, Claire Skinner, Rebecca Night and Barnaby Kay (until October 14, 2017).