The theatre’s new Artistic Director Christopher Haydon has confirmed details of the Rose Theatre’s upcoming season.
Having been prevented from unveiling details of the season due to COVID, Christopher Haydon has now confirmed what audiences can expect at the Rose Theatre through the rest of 2021 into 2022.
This newly announced season will begin with the world premiere of Leopards, a new play by Alys Metcalf which will be directed by Christopher Haydon. Playing at the theatre from the 2nd to the 25th September, the play is a thriller which explores the image we construct of ourselves and what it truly means to be good.
It will then be followed by The Seven Pomegranate Seeds, playing at the theatre from the 4th to the 20th November. Written by Colin Teevan and directed by Melly Still, it is another original production created by the Rose Theatre and sees the stories Persephone, Hypsipyle, Medea, Alcestis, Phaedra, Creusa and Demeter: the women of Euripides’ plays reimagined for a contemporary audience.
For its Christmas production, the Rose Theatre will present Beauty and the Beast. Featuring a cast made up of Rose Youth Theatre members and professional actors, the production will be presented from the 3rd December until the 3rd January. The fairytale has been adapted for this production by Ciaran McConville.
Heading into 2022, a stage adaptation of Jane Austen’s Persuasion will be taking to the stage from the 22nd February until the 19th March. This version of the story has been adapted for the stage by Jeff James along with James Yeatman and is directed by Jeff James. This production was first seen at the Royal Exchange Theatre in 2017.
A new adaptation of Bertolt Brecht’s The Caucasian Chalk Circle will be heading to the Rose from the 23rd April until the 14th May 2022. Directed by Christopher Haydon, the production brings Brecht’s play into the present day through this new version created by Steve Waters (The Last King of Scotland, Limehouse, Temple) with original songs by Michael Henry (Barber Shop Chronicles, Mr Burns, They Drink it in the Congo).
The season will also see the world premiere of The Smeds and the Smoos, The Old Vic and Bristol Old Vic production of A Monster Calls and the return of hit musical SIX.
Talking of the news of the season, Christopher Haydon said: “I have been hugely proud to work with the amazing Rose team to devise my first season, in spite of the extraordinary challenges presented by the past year. These shows combine uplifting stories which bring some much needed joy, with plays that ask provocative, searching questions about the society we live in. Alongside the productions, we are expanding the creative family that surrounds the Rose with our new group of associates. I am delighted to be working with both experienced artists who will help guide the vision of the theatre and emerging talent whom we will mentor and support in every way we can. I’m also really excited to have some of the UK’s best playwrights under commission.”
For more information and to book tickets visit: https://rosetheatre.org/