A Samuel Beckett trilogy of plays, each performed by Lisa Dwan, is to transfer to London's West End in February for a two week run, with a national and international tour later in the year.
Directed by the playwright's long-time collaborator Walter Asmus, the Royal Court Theatre run of Not I, Footfalls and Rockaby (a Royal Court and Mighty Mouth Ltd co-production with Cusack Projects Ltd) has sold out prior to its January opening. Not I has previously enjoyed a sell–out season at the Royal Court.
Other productions in the theatre's new programme include plays from John Donnelly, who looks at sex and fame through the experiences of two footballers, Simon Stephens, who penned the Olivier award-winning adaptation of Mark Haddon’s The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, who looks at empathy, money and fame in Birdland, and Tim Crouch who in Adler & Gibb examines the legacy of New York–based conceptual artists Janet Adler and Margaret Gibb.
In collaboration with other venues, The Royal Court hosts runs of Pests by Vivienne Franzmann commissioned by Clean Break and Royal Exchange Theatre Manchester, Jennifer Haley's The Nether, an intricate crime drama and a haunting sci-fi thriller which won her the 2012 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, and from Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti a warm and funny new play about tradition and ambition, Khandan.
Vicky Featherstone, Artistic Director, said, “I am thrilled to be announcing the Royal Court Season from January to July 2014.
"With six fantastic new plays from Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti, Tim Crouch, John Donnelly, Vivienne Franzmann, Jennifer Haley and Simon Stephens—each pushing the boundaries of storytelling and theatre to ask the vital question of what it means to be alive today—the range and subject of these plays will hopefully challenge, thrill and delight audiences.
"As well as three homegrown commissions the Royal Court is beginning its new commitment to significant co-productions with several wonderful partners outside London as well as Clean Break. This means that for the writers and audiences the work will have as wide a reach as possible.”
The Big Idea continues through next year with events and debates inspired by Abi Morgan’s The Mistress Contract, Birdland, and The Nether. Details of The Big Idea and Theatre Local, the initiative that sees the Royal Court’s work at alternative spaces are yet to be announced.
And finally, further afield, Caryl Churchill’s Love and Information, which premièred at the Royal Court in 2012, plays New York Theatre Workshop, opening in February. This will be the writer's seventh American première at the venue.
Not I, Footfalls and Rockaby by Samuel Beckett play the Duchess Theatre London from 3 to 15 February.
The September tour takes in Cambridge Arts Theatre, The Studio at Birmingham Repertory Theatre and The Lowry Salford. Tickets are not yet on sale for these venues.
- The Pass by John Donnelly plays 13 January to 1 March. Age Guidance 14+
- Birdland by Simon Stephens plays 3 April-24 May. Age Guidance 14+
- Adler & Gibb written and directed by Tim Crouch (a co-commission with Center Theatre Group, Los Angeles) plays 13 June to 5 July. Age Guidance 14+
- Pests by Vivienne Franzmann (a co-production with Clean Break and Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester) plays 27 March to 3 May. Age Guidance 16+
- The Nether by Jennifer Haley (a co-production with Headlong) plays 17 July to 9 August. Age Guidance 18+
- Khandan (Family) by Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti (a co-production with Birmingham Repertory Theatre) plays 11 to 28 June. Age Guidance 14+
Refer to the box office for details of captioned performance and audio described performances.