Leicester’s Curve theatre has announced plans to reopen to the public with 'socially distanced' concert performances of three Made at Curve productions using the building’s “unique” design.
By raising the walls between its theatre spaces, Curve will reopen as a 533-seat auditorium, with audiences experiencing live performances from all four sides of the stage, fully realising the ambition of architect Rafael Viñoly's original design. A triple-revolve, loaned by Sir Cameron Mackintosh, will help to transform the space.
Ria Jones and Danny Mac will return in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Sunset Boulevard while T'Shan Williams and Danielle Fiamanya, who won The Stage debut award for best supporting actress in a musical for her role as Nettie, will take to the stage in The Color Purple.
The season will officially launch on Thursday 12 November with an exclusive event which will be live-streamed from the theatre. Curve has been able to reopen thanks to £950,000 from the government’s Cultural Recovery Fund.
The Color Purple will return from Monday 23 November until Thursday 3 December in a concert staged by original production team members director Tinuke Craig, musical director Alex Parker and choreographer Mark Smith.
Sunset Boulevard will take to the stage from Monday 14 December until Sunday 3 January. The concert performances will be directed by Nikolai Foster and will also feature a 16-piece orchestra.
Curve will then revive its 2018 production of Riaz Khan’s Memoirs Of An Asian Football Casual, winner of the Asian media award for best stage production, from Monday 25 January until Saturday 6 February 2021.
Speaking about the plans, chief executive Chris Stafford and artistic director Nikolai Foster said, "although we have a long road to recovery ahead of us, we’re delighted to announce a new programme of work which will reopen our theatre after seven long months of closure.
“Curve's unique architecture has always demanded a bold response in whatever we do and we’re proud to present these performances in our newly configured, socially-distanced, in-the-round theatre which merges our Studio and theatre into one performance space.”