The Jack Studio Theatre's first playwright-in-residence, Howard Colyer, has two productions of his work there this spring.
Colyer's appointment to this post, which he will hold until the spring of 2016, continues the venue’s strong association with this writer, who has had nine plays produced at the venue.
First up this month is Boris Godunov adapted by Howard Colyer from Alexander Pushkin's 1825 epic play about the titular 16th century Russian Tsar.
Boris Godunov is directed by long–time Colyer collaborator Scott Le Crass; casting has not yet been announced.
Le Crass also directs one play in an evening of three original pieces by Colyer which opens in February, You Take The 321. Avita Jay performs this monologue about a woman who takes on a flat and a tenant more mysterious than any she had imagined.
The other two works in the evening, Without Reluctance And Without Relief, are the title piece in which a man seeks to cope when the world shifts beyond his understanding and Again in which a man tries to recover once more from an attempt to help his girlfriend’s career.
Richard Callanan directs Warren Taylor in Again and David Bromley in Without Reluctance. Bromley was seen at The Jack in Colyer's adaptation of Diary of a Madman which also had a run at the Omnibus in Clapham.
The two Colyer works bookend Fourth Monkey Ensemble's production of Elephant Man by Steve Green which opens on 3 February.
Inspired by the iconic David Lynch film based on the true story of Joseph Merrick, this stage adaptation and has received numerous award nominations, including being shortlisted for the Amnesty International Freedom of Expression award.
Daniel Chrisostomou stars as Merrick in this London première of the Edinburgh Fringe hit which forms part of its tour.
Fourth Monkey Ensemble brought The Peculiar Tale of Pablo Picasso and the Mona Lisa to the Jack in 2014 and had success with One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest at the previous year's Edinburgh Fringe.
After playing the Jack, Elephant Man tours to Marlowe Studio Canterbury, Arena Theatre Wolverhampton, Courtyard Theatre Hereford, Arts Centre Dorchester and Arts Centre, Bridport.
Lazarus Theatre Company's production of Thomas Middleton classic The Revenger’s Tragedy is one of the shows in the run–up to The Jack's new writing festival Write Now 6 that will open in May and run for four weeks.
This festival is at the core of the venue's established reputation for supporting new writing and this year's event will see one play receive a full production and two others will have week–long workshops.
There will also be three staged readings and the performance of six new short plays in addition to writing workshops and audience discussions.
There are still a few weeks left for writers with a connection to south east London to submit their un–produced scripts to The Jack for consideration. Full guidelines and the application form are available on The Jack's web site.
- Boris Godunov – 13 to 31 January
- Elephant Man – 3 to 21 February
- Without Reluctance And Without Relief – 24 February to 28 February
- The Revenger’s Tragedy – 3 to 21 March