Birmingham REP’s spring and summer 2019 season will reflect the “determined, bold, progressive spirit” that is evident in the city as it goes through major changes.
Artistic director Roxana Silbert said, “revolution is something Birmingham was founded upon and over the years it has become more diverse, adaptable and robust as a result.
“The city is currently experiencing a significant and exciting renaissance and has a gritty determination to improve the living and working environment for future generations. I wanted this season to reflect that determined, bold, progressive spirit.
“Across our three stages we’ll be presenting stories from far-flung cultures and those borne out of the hopelessness of war as well as bold, theatrical responses to injustice and we’ll also explore our instinct to fight passionately for what we believe in.”
The “French theatre phenomenon” Edmond de Bergerac will have its UK première at the REP from 15 until 30 March. Alexis Michalik’s comedy, which won five Molière Awards, has been translated by Jeremy Sams. Silbert directs.
Freddie Fox, who takes the role of playwright Edmond Rostand, was nominated for best supporting actor in the 2017 Olivier Awards for his performance as Tristan Tzara in Tom Stoppard’s Travesties at the Apollo Theatre in 2017. Earlier this year he played Viscount Goring in Oscar Wilde’s An Ideal Husband at the Vaudeville Theatre.
Silbert will also direct the UK première of Khaled Hosseini’s novel A Thousand Splendid Suns which runs from 2 until 18 May. This Birmingham REP and Northern Stage co-production is “the powerful story of three generations of women discovering strength in unity and finding hope in the unlikeliest of places”. It has been adapted by Ursula Rani Sarma.
Based on the best-selling novel by Louis de Bernières, Captain Corelli’s Mandolin (29 May until 15 June) comes to the stage for the first time. Rona Munro’s adaptation is directed by Melly Still in a co-production with Rose Theatre Kingston.
Inua Ellams’s latest play The Half God of Rainfall (13 until 20 April) is presented in a co-production with Fuel and Kiln Theatre. Ellams’s contemporary saga weaves poetry with storytelling in a “majestic, chaotic journey across mythologies”.
Elsewhere in the season REP-supported productions by local writers and performers include Amahra Spence’s Concubine (26 February until 2 March), Bon Jovi-inspired We’ve Got Each Other by Paul O’Donnell (23 until 27 April) and Graeme Rose’s investigative thriller Fred Jeffs: The Sweet Shop Murder (15 until 18 May).
Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre’s production of Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird (25 February until 2 March) visits the REP as part of a UK tour.
In the Studio, The Life I Lead (11 until 13 March), a new play by James Kettle, features comedian and actor Miles Jupp who brings to life the story of David Tomlinson, renowned for playing Mr Banks in the Disney classic Mary Poppins.
The full programme is available at the Birmingham REP web site.