Croft announces final play for Nottingham Playhouse

Published: 11 February 2017
Reporter: Steve Orme

Valedictory production: Giles Croft Credit: Alan Fletcher

Giles Croft’s last play for Nottingham Playhouse where he has been artistic director for 18 years will be Anton Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard.

As previously announced, Croft will leave the theatre in November 2017 and will be replaced by Adam Penford.

Croft said, “during my time at Nottingham Playhouse, I’ve been fortunate enough to direct work by writers as varied as Robert Lepage, Henrik Ibsen and Noël Coward, so when thinking about what would be my final production I was unsure where to begin. I knew it had to be a play that I love, it should be connected with the theme of change and would also present me with a new challenge.

“I’ve never directed Chekhov, I love The Cherry Orchard and is there a better play about change? I‘m also delighted to be using Simon Stephen’s sharp, bright and lucid version which connects me to another important strand of work during my time at Nottingham Playhouse: living playwrights. All in all, the perfect valedictory production.”

Anton Chekhov’s final play tells the story of a family on the edge of ruin and a country on the brink of revolution. When Ranevskaya returns to her country home—with its famous orchard—she is torn between its past and the future. The Cherry Orchard runs at the Playhouse from 3 until 18 November.

The Playhouse’s first show of the autumn 2017 season will be Pride and Prejudice, a co-production with York Theatre Royal. Comedian Sara Pascoe will present a “truthful and occasionally disrespectful take” on Jane Austen’s novel which will be directed by Susannah Tresilian. It runs from 15 until 30 September.

Playhouse chief executive Stephanie Sirr said, “as ever Giles has put together a really compelling season for us to enjoy. Finishing his tenure as artistic director with one of the world’s greatest plays, The Cherry Orchard, feels both ambitious and very fitting. I can’t wait to see it.”

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