Adaptations by Olivier Award-winning writers and radical new takes on classic texts are among the highlights of the spring 2015 season at Derby Theatre.
The theatre’s artistic director Sarah Brigham said, “we’re hoping the season inspires audiences to make a new year’s resolution to visit us even more in 2015.
“Our next home-grown show, Solace of the Road, is a world première—it’s a compelling new stage adaptation by Olivier-winning playwright Mike Kenny of Siobhan Dowd’s novel about a young girl in care, filled with all the passion and frustration of growing up and self-discovery.
“We join with Dundee Rep Ensemble and Graeae to produce a playful and provocative contemporary version of Lorca’s Blood Wedding, breathing new life into a classic text.
“Our studio programme continues to showcase the latest in innovative performance and new writing. This season it will host our critically acclaimed production of Penelope RETOLD, devised and performed by Caroline Horton. It premièred with us in February 2014 and returns as part of a national tour.”
She added, “as well as the shows we make here in the heart of Derby we’re bringing audiences the best of touring theatre. I’m really looking forward to Tara Arts’ Macbeth, situating Shakespeare’s text in a modern Asian family, and a magical show for children as Theatre Alibi adapts Michael Morpurgo’s I Believe in Unicorns.”
Solace of the Road which runs from 27 February until 14 March features Rebecca Ryan who appeared in A Taste of Honey at Derby Theatre in 2014. She has had lead roles in Shameless for Channel 4 and Waterloo Road for the BBC. The cast also includes Polly Lister who was in Cooking With Elvis at Derby Theatre in 2013.
Graeae, Derby Theatre and Dundee Rep Ensemble will present Lorca’s Blood Wedding from 17 until 28 March.
Touring productions will include Middleground Theatre’s Classic Ghosts—two “spine-tingling masterpieces”, The Signalman and Oh, Whistle, and I’ll Come To You My Lad, featuring Jack Shepherd—from 13 until 17 January, Playland by Nottingham-based New Perspectives on 13 and 14 February, Meeting Ground Theatre Company and Nottingham Lakeside Arts’ presentation of Inside Out Of Mind—a “darkly comic play which enters into the experience of dementia care”—from 18 until 21 February, The Secret Adversary presented by the Watermill Theatre in association with Eleanor Lloyd Productions from 14 until 18 April and Macbeth from 21 until Sat 25 April.
In the studio, Caroline Horton returns with Penelope RETOLD on 14 and 16 March.
The full programme is available at the Derby Theatre web site.