Royal Court Theatre - January to July 2014
Preview by Lizzie Guilfoyle
THE ROYAL Court Theatre has announced its programme for the first half of 2014 and it includes new plays from Simon Stephens, John Donnelly and Tim Crouch.
JERWOOD THEATRE DOWNSTAIRS
Simon Stephens’ Birdland, a piercing new play looking at empathy, money and fame, runs from April 3 to May 31.
The last week of a massive international tour and rock star Paul is at the height of his fame. Everybody knows his name. Whatever he wants he can have. He can screw anybody he wants to. He can buy anything he desires. He can eat anything. Drink anything. Smoke anything. Go anywhere.
As the inevitability of the end of the road looms closer, and a return home becomes a reality, for Paul, the music is starting to jar.
Carrie Cracknell, Associate Director at the Royal Court and an Associate Artist at the Young Vic, directs, with Andrew Scott (Cock, Royal Court) as Paul.
Read more about Birdland.
Tim Crouch’s Adler and Gibb, which tells the story of a raid – on a house, a life, a reality and a legacy – runs from June 13 to July 5.
Janet Adler and Margaret Gibb were conceptual artists working in New York at the end of the last century. They were described by art critic Dave Hickey as the ‘most ferociously uncompromising voice of their generation’. However, with Adler’s death in 2004, the compromise began.
Crouch also directs.
The Nether by Jennifer Haley runs from July 18 to August 9.
The play, which won the 2012 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, is described as both an intricate crime drama and a haunting sci-fi thriller that explores the consequences of making dreams a reality.
Jeremy Herrin directs his first play for Headlong since taking over as Artistic Director in September 2013. From 2009 until 2012, he was Deputy Artistic Director of the Royal Court Theatre, where his credits included No Quarter, Hero, Haunted Child, The Heretic, Kin, Spur of the Moment, Off the Endz, The Priory, Tusk Tusk, The Vertical Hour and That Face, which transferred to the West End.
JERWOOD THEATRE UPSTAIRS
John Donnelly’s The Pass, a new story about sex, fame and how much you’re willing to lose in order to win, runs from January 13 to March 1.
In a high end hotel room, rising football stars Jason and Ade are living the dream. Goals, girls and glory. Tomorrow they make their first team debut. But the game starts before they’ve even walked out the tunnel.
John Tiffany, new Associate Director of the Royal Court, directs a cast that includes Russell Tovey (The History Boys, What Remains) as Jason, Gary Carr (Downton Abbey, Death in Paradise) as Ade and Nico Mirallegro as Harry.
Vivienne Franzmann’s Pests runs from March 27 to May 3.
Directed by Lucy Morrison, Pests explores the class divide through the lives of two sisters.
Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti’s Khandan (Family), a warm and funny new play about tradition and ambition, runs from June 11 to June 28.
Widowed matriarch Jeeto has a strong sense of her past and principles. She’s spent her life working hard and making sacrifices for her children. But eldest son Pal, isn’t following in her footsteps.
He’s struggling with his role at the head of their expanding household. Crumbling under the weight of his father’s legacy, the family business is at risk and the last remaining link to their roots in the Punjab is in jeopardy.
Roxana Silbert directs.
This will be Vicky Featherstone’s second season as Artistic Director since taking over in the summer.