The Royal Shakespeare Company and Good Chance have announced that Kyoto will transfer from Stratford to @sohoplace for a 16-week run in 2025.
Stephen Kunken will reprise his role as American oil lobbyist and master strategist Don Pearlman after making his RSC debut in the production when it ran in the Midlands.
Kyoto is a politically charged thriller which places audiences at the heart of the 1997 Kyoto climate summit, “a world where big oil, big money and big egos clash in the battle to secure the world’s first legally binding emissions targets”. Written by Good Chance co-founders Joe Murphy and Joe Robertson, Kyoto is directed by Stephen Daldry and Justin Martin.
RSC co-artistic directors Daniel Evans and Tamara Harvey said, “every so often a play comes along that speaks passionately and urgently to the world in which we live. Kyoto is one of those plays. Its resonance is testament to the creative might of its writers and their long-term collaborators Stephen Daldry and Justin Martin.
“Having seen it captivate audiences in Stratford earlier this year, we can’t think of a more perfect venue for London audiences to experience this high-octane political thriller.”
Murphy and Robertson added, "we’re delighted that Kyoto will continue its life in Nica Burns’s spectacular @sohoplace next year. We loved creating the show with Good Chance and the RSC in Stratford and the incredible conversations it inspired with audiences every night.
“In our current age of disagreement and amid the daily assault of news reports about climate catastrophe, we want Kyoto to be a story of hope that will thrill and inspire audiences to take a seat at the table and make that same leap of faith again."
Returning to the cast are Jenna Augen (Shirley), Olivia Barrowclough (Secretariat), Jorge Bosch (Raul Estrada-Oyuela), Nancy Crane (USA), Andrea Gatchalian (Kiribati, AOSIS), Togo Igawa (Japan, Ohki), Kwong Loke (China, Zhong), Dale Rapley (Bolin, Santer, Gore), Raad Rawi (Saudi Arabia, Al Sabban) and Ferdy Roberts (UK, Prescott, Houghton).
The creative team comprises Miriam Buether (set designer), Natalie Pryce (costume designer), Aideen Malone (lighting designer), Christopher Reid (sound designer), Akhila Krishnan (video designer), Paul Englishby (composer), Gemma Stockwood (dramaturg) and Julia Horan CDG (casting director).
Kyoto will run @sohoplace from Thursday 9 January until Saturday 3 May.