Leicester’s Curve unveils three new productions

Published: 15 January 2020
Reporter: Steve Orme

Curve’s chief executive Chris Stafford and artistic director Nikolai Foster Credit: Ellie Kurttz
Anthony Almeida who will direct Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
Curve’s new dance commission Samsara

A new production of the musical Roman Holiday, Tennessee Williams’s Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and a new dance commission will take to the stage at Leicester’s Curve theatre during 2020.

Curve’s chief executive Chris Stafford and artistic director Nikolai Foster said, “diversity and eclecticism sit at the heart of our theatre and city and we’re excited to present a new slate of projects stretching across 2020.

“Musicals continue to play a huge part in our journey and Kirsten Guenther and Paul Blake’s adaptation of Roman Holiday will bring Italian chic, the great songs of Cole Porter and a bit of la dolce vita to our stage this summer.

“We’re delighted to be working with rising star director Anthony Almeida on his bold reimagining of Williams’s magnificent play Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.

“We’re also thrilled to announce the return of associate artist Aakash Odedra with a new Curve co-commission Samsara. It’s made all the more exciting by Aakash’s collaboration with Chinese artist Hu Shenyuan.”

Foster will direct Roman Holiday, which features songs including “Just One of Those Things” and “Night and Day”, from 15 July until 1 August.

The book is written by Paul Blake and Kirsten Guenther. Blake said, “I’m so honoured that the UK première of Roman Holiday will be at Curve and that it will be directed by Nikolai Foster.

“Years ago, I co-wrote Irving Berlin’s White Christmas and this Christmas I got to see first hand the loving care and joy Nikolai’s direction brought to that show. I’m sure Roman Holiday is in the hands of one of England’s best directors and theatres. I couldn’t be happier.”

Anthony Almeida, director of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, won the 2019 Royal Theatrical Support Trust Sir Peter Hall director award. A Made at Curve, Rose Theatre Kingston, English Touring Theatre and Alexandra Palace co-production, the drama will run at Curve from 11 until 26 September. The production will then visit Alexandra Palace and Rose Theatre Kingston before a UK tour.

The international tour of Samsara from the Aakash Odedra Company and Bagri Foundation, co-commissioned with Birmingham Hippodrome, begins in Melbourne, Australia in March and visits Curve on 20 and 21 October.

Curve has also revealed that its 2017 production of Hairspray will return to the theatre from 20 until 29 August to open a new UK tour.

Further details are available at the Curve web site.

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