The announcement comes as Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) opens at the theatre.
Indhu Rubasingham has confirmed the productions forming her final season as the Artistic Director of the Kiln Theatre.
The newly announced season will begin with Spymonkey’s The Frogs, playing at the theatre from the 8th February until the 2nd March 2024. Based on Aristophanes’s comedy, the show will follow the story of Toby Park and Aitor Basauri who having reached the end of the road following the departure of the other Spymonkeys until a mega-rich philanthropist and her theatrically inclined niece make them an offer they can’t refuse, the duo are given one last chance – can they perform the classic Greek comedy? Further information about the production has yet to be announced.
This will then be followed by the world premiere of Samuel Adamson’s new play The Ballad of Hattie and James about friendship, music and the moments that change our lives. This new play (directed by Richard Twyman) marks a return to the Kiln Theatre for the playwright, having previously worked with Rubasingham on his most recent play, Wife. This new play will run at the theatre from the 11th April until the 18th May 2024.
The third production announced as part of the season will be a production of Peanut Butter & Blueberries. It is the debut play by writer, poet and educator Suhaiymah Manzoor-Khan and will be performed at the theatre from the 8th to the 31st August 2024. It follows the story of Hafsah and Bilal both of whom aren’t looking for love but find common ground peanut butter and blueberry sandwich – but just as their bond is growing the past and social realities become harder to ignore and questions about how to love when the weight of the world is on your shoulders begin to emerge. More information about the production has yet to be announced.
Indhu Rubasingham said: “Tinged with many emotions, I am proud to share my final season at Kiln Theatre.
“Opening the season is a glorious comedy from the brilliant company Spymonkey, in a co-production with Royal & Derngate, based on Aristophanes’ The Frogs. The Kiln will then enter a really exciting collaboration with the RSC, which will be a part of Daniel Evans and Tamara Harvey’s inaugural season announcement early next year. It’s wonderful that Kiln can be a part of this pivotal moment, and I can’t wait for you to hear more about it when Daniel and Tamara share their plans for the RSC.
“Then completing the season are two world premières of Kiln commissions by two extraordinary voices – Samuel Adamson and Suhaiymah Mansoor Khan. The first of these being The Ballad of Hattie and James by Samuel, to be directed by Richard Twyman in a co-production with ETT, and the final show is a debut play by Suhaiymah – Peanut Butter & Blueberries. She is a truly unique voice, and I cannot wait for the world to know of this play and embrace her work. It feels fitting that I end my tenure as I stared – with debut plays. The bedrock of my programming and passion at Kiln has been giving platform to different voices expressing their perspectives, concerns and insights of the world around them, speaking to the different communities around Kilburn and beyond.
“I want to thank you for your support and encouragement during my time as Artistic Director here and I cannot wait to for you to experience these different worlds as you enter Kiln Theatre.”
Tickets for the season are on sale now.