Iris Theatre’s 10th anniversary summer season - St Paul’s Church, Covent Garden
Preview by Lizzie Guilfoyle
IRIS Theatre’s 10th anniversary summer season of promenade theatre at St Paul’s Church, Covent Garden will feature new immersive productions of Macbeth and Hansel & Gretel and the Witch Baba Yaga.
Artistic director Daniel Winder will open the 2017 season by directing Shakespeare’s Macbeth, a terrifying journey into the mind of a murderer.
Inspired by the psychosexual imagery of Hieronymus Bosch, this production will weave its way around the grounds of St Paul’s Church; reflecting the play’s journey into the twisted mental landscape of Macbeth as he rises to be king.
Returning to Iris Theatre after three years, David Hywel Baynes takes on the title role, following his critically-acclaimed and Offie-nominated performance in the Iris production of Richard III.
David Hywel Baynes said: “Getting the chance to come back and work on my favourite play with the Iris family was a no-brainer. The environment surrounding Iris during the summer season is like no other. And it’s truly an honour to be back in London with them as they celebrate their 10th anniversary. May there be many more to come!”
Winder has also penned the family show, a new adaptation of Hansel & Gretel and the Witch Baba Yaga. Featuring a life-size, edible gingerbread house, this production will follow Hansel and Gretel as they travel deeper and deeper into a dark, forbidding forest. There, in the shadows, you might glimpse a figure in a red hood chased by a wolf, or a witch’s hut standing tall on chicken legs; all manner of magical beasts lurk in these woods…
Promenading round the grounds of St Paul’s Church, this immersive fairytale is guaranteed to fright and delight curious children and adventurous adults alike. Offie-nominated for her production of Much Ado About Nothing last year, Amy Draper returns to direct.
Winder said: “This anniversary year promises to be full of witches and wonder, magic and mayhem. Working across the two shows, as writer of one and director of the other, will mean digging deep into the morally ambiguous world of witches; agents of female power pushed to the boundaries of a patriarchal world.”
To help celebrate the 10th year, Iris is also welcoming back a number of creatives across the season, including Candida Caldicot (Composer), Benjamin Polya (Lighting Designer), Filipe Gomes (Sound Designer) and Roger Bartlett (Fight Director).
Other casting is still to be announced.
2016’s summer season saw almost 8,000 audience members experience Much Ado About Nothing and Treasure Island – which included a full-size galleon that held the entire audience. Working closely with Mousetrap Theatre Projects to widen access to the theatre, Iris also provided placements in design, producing and technical to a host of students studying theatre around the country, with a particular
emphasis on female technicians and producers.
The 2016 summer repertory season was nominated for five Offies, including Treasure Island being shortlisted as Best for Production for Young People (winner TBA February 27, 2017).
Dates: Macbeth runs from June 21 to July 29 and Hansel & Gretel and the Witch Baba Yaga from August 3 to September 3.
Tickets: On sale now at iristheatre.com/.