Sam Kenyon’s new musical Miss Littlewood, which charts the emotional highs and lows of Joan Littlewood’s journey from the East End to the West End, is to have its première at the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford.
“Anti-establishment, visionary, rude and glorious”, Joan Littlewood fired the imagination of a generation. She was the anarchic revolutionary of 20th century theatre.
Her unique Theatre Workshop was responsible for a raft of successes including Oh, What A Lovely War! and breathed new life into the Theatre Royal Stratford East.
Seven actors will play Joan at different parts of her life. Clare Burt will make her RSC debut as Joan. Her theatre credits include Ada in Flowers for Mrs Harris (based on the novel by Paul Gallico, book by Rachel Wagstaff, music and lyrics by Richard Taylor) at Sheffield Crucible in 2016 and Jan in Alecky Blythe’s London Road at the National Theatre in 2011.
Aretha Ayeh, Sandy Foster, Amanda Hadingue, Dawn Hope, Emily Johnstone and Sophia Nomvete will also play the part of Joan.
The cast also includes Daisy Badger (Rosalie), Greg Barnett (Jimmie Miller / Cedric Price), Laura Elsworthy (Shelagh Delaney), Solomon Israel (Gerry Raffles) and Tam Williams (Murray Melvin).
Miss Littlewood will be directed by the RSC’s deputy artistic director Erica Whyman. Book, music and lyrics are by Sam Kenyon. He composed the music for the RSC’s Vice Versa by Phil Porter in 2017 and A Midsummer Night’s Dream: A Play for the Nation in 2016. In 2010, Whyman and Kenyon directed Joan Littlewood's Oh! What a Lovely War for Northern Stage in Newcastle and on tour.
Miss Littlewood will be designed by Tom Piper. Lighting is by Charles Balfour, sound by Jonathan Ruddick, movement by Lucy Hind and video by Nina Dunn.
It runs in the Swan Theatre, Stratford from Friday 22 June until Saturday 4 August. Press night will be Tuesday 3 July.