THE ALMEIDA THEATRE ANNOUNCES A NEW SEASON FOR 2016 – 2017
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Ralph Fiennes takes the title role in Shakespeare’s RICHARD III, directed by Almeida Artistic Director Rupert Goold. Vanessa Redgrave makes her Almeida debut as Queen Margaret
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THEY DRINK IT IN THE CONGO, a provocative new play by Adam Brace will be directed by Michael Longhurst
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OIL, an explosive new play by Ella Hickson, directed by Carrie Cracknell drills deep into the world’s relationship with the finite resource
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Andrew Scott will play the title role in HAMLET in a production directed by Almeida Associate Director Robert Icke. Juliet Stevenson returns to the Almeida to play Gertrude
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The Almeida’s Participation department, led by new Director of Participation Dani Parr, will produce three major projects in the next year: PLAY ON in partnership with Arsenal in the Community, WE KNOW BEST: THE SMALL HUMANS’ GUIDE TO BIG HUMAN PROBLEMS with 5-14 year olds in Almeida Academy, and FROM THE GROUND UP with 16 – 25 year olds in Almeida Young Company, in association with Shoreditch Town Hall
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The Almeida embarks on a collaboration with photographer Miles Aldridge which will see him produce exclusive images for productions throughout the season
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The Almeida’s Olivier Award-winning production of KING CHARLES III, now seen by more than 350,000 people around the world, will be adapted as a television film for BBC Two, written by Mike Bartlett and directed by Rupert Goold
KING CHARLES III is currently playing at the Roslyn Packer Theatre, Sydney until 30 April
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AMERICAN PSYCHO: A NEW MUSICAL THRILLER, currently in previews at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre on Broadway, has its opening night on 21 April. The Original
London Cast Recording is now available to buy
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Robert Icke and Duncan MacMillan’s adaptation of George Orwell’s 1984, a co- production with Headlong and Nottingham Playhouse, will return to the West End in June for a 12 week run
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The Arts Council awards the Almeida a grant of £336,000 to contribute to making the theatre significantly more energy efficient, resilient and able to deliver a better audience and artist experience.
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The Almeida is awarded a three star Creative Industry Green (IG) certification, the highest IG rating by environmental sustainability charity Julie’s Bicycle
Rupert Goold said:
“We’re thrilled to present a season of plays which, whether classic drama or new writing, ask the big questions the Almeida is renowned for. How far will someone go for power? And what can one person do about global, international problems?
We’re reviving two of Shakespeare’s most potent and political tragedies with some of our greatest actors. We welcome Ralph Fiennes back to the Almeida as Richard III, a character at once Machiavellian and totally recognisable to a modern audience. To see the man who has played both Voldemort and Amon Göth in this role in our intimate space will be an extraordinary event. We’re delighted he will be joined by Vanessa Redgrave in her Almeida debut as Queen Margaret. Andrew Scott will provide a startlingly fresh take on Hamlet, a tragedy which needs no introduction to modern audiences: and with Juliet Stevenson as Gertrude, in a production directed by Robert Icke, we’ll see the latent theatricality of the play laid bare.
Adam Brace’s They Drink It In The Congo and Ella Hickson’s Oil are urgent and anarchic new plays about the increasingly small, fragmented world we live in. Playful in approach and epic in form, they take us on international journeys, exploring our dependency on limited resources and the costs of modern living.
Photographer Miles Aldridge will capture the vivid, subversive spirit of the characters that will be seen on the Almeida stage this year.
Our Participation team continues their work with more than 3,000 young people in the borough of Islington. Our partnerships with Arsenal in the Community and Shoreditch Town Hall ensure we reach the greatest number; opening up our theatre to anyone aged 5 to 25.
The Almeida’s work can now be seen around the world: in the West End, on Broadway, on tour in Australia and the USA, and now for the first time on television with King Charles III on BBC2.”
THE SEASON
RICHARD III
by William Shakespeare directed by Rupert Goold
Tuesday 7 June – Saturday 6 August Press Night: Tuesday 14 June at 7pm
Ralph Fiennes returns to the Almeida Theatre to play Shakespeare’s most notorious villain, RICHARD III, directed by Artistic Director Rupert Goold. Vanessa Redgrave makes her Almeida debut as Queen Margaret in a cast which includes David Annen, Tom Canton, James Garnon, Mark Hadfield, Scott Handy, Finbar Lynch, Aislίn McGuckin, Joseph Mydell, Joshua Riley, Lukas Rolfe and Joanna Vanderham.
A peaceful England. Family. Small children. But obstacles can be overcome.
RICHARD III will be designed by Hildegard Bechtler, with costume by Jon Morrell, sound and composition by Adam Cork, lighting by Jon Clark and fight direction by Terry King. Casting is by Joyce Nettles.
Ralph Fiennes returns to the Almeida for the first time in 16 years, having previously played the title roles in Ivanov, Hamlet (Hackney Empire), Richard II and Coriolanus (Gainsborough Studios). Other theatre work includes The Master Builder for The Old Vic; Man and Superman, Oedipus, The Talking Cure, Six Characters in Search of an Author for the National Theatre; Brand, The Plantaganets, Love’s Labour’s Lost, Troilus and Cressida for the RSC; The Tempest, God of Carnage in the West End; First Love at Lincoln Centre Festival and Sydney Festival; The Faith Healer at the Gate Theatre Dublin and on Broadway; Julius Caesar at the Barbican. His films include A Bigger Splash, Hail Caesar! Spectre, Two Women, The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Invisible Woman, Skyfall, Great Expectations, Coriolanus, Harry Potter, The Constant Gardener, The Reader, Hurt Locker, In Bruges, Schindler’s List and The English Patient. His television credits include Page Eight, Turks & Caicos and A Dangerous Man: Lawrence After Arabia.
This is Vanessa Redgrave’s Almeida debut. Her many stage credits include The Aspern Papers (Olivier Award for Best Actress), Lady Windermere’s Fan, Daniel Deronda, The Threepenny Opera, Design for Living and The Lady from the Sea in the West End; The Year of Magical Thinking (also on Broadway), The Cherry Orchard and Not About Nightingales at The National Theatre; Driving Miss Daisy, Long Day’s Journey into Night (Tony Award for Best Actress) and Vita and Virginia on Broadway; The Tempest, As You Like It and A Midsummer Night’s Dream for the RSC; and Much Ado About Nothing at the Old Vic. Notable film appearances include Coriolanus opposite Ralph Fiennes, Evening, Venus, Howard’s End, Mrs Dalloway, Atonement, The Whistleblower, A Man for
All Seasons and Camelot. Her television appearances include Nip/Tuck, The Day of the Tiffid and Call the Midwife. She is a six-time Oscar nominee and won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for Julia. During her career Vanessa has also won the Emmy, BAFTA, Cannes, Golden Globe, and the Screen Actors Guild awards. She received the 2010 BAFTA Fellowship, is a 2003 American Theatre Hall of Fame inductee and was made CBE in 1967.
Rupert Goold is the Almeida’s Artistic Director where he has previously directed Medea, The Merchant of Venice, King Charles III and American Psycho, which will open on Broadway on 21 April. He was Artistic Director of Headlong from 2005 until 2013 where his work included The Effect, ENRON, Earthquakes in London and Decade. Other theatre credits include Made in Dagenham in the West End; The Last Days of Judas Iscariot at the Almeida; Macbeth at Chichester Festival Theatre, in the West End and on Broadway; and No Man’s Land at The Gate, Dublin and in the West End. He has twice been the recipient of the Laurence Olivier, Critics’ Circle and Evening Standard Awards for Best Director. He was Associate Director at the Royal Shakespeare Company from 2009 to 2012 and was Artistic Director of Northampton Theatres from 2002 to 2005. On film he directed the BAFTA nominated Richard II, part of The Hollow Crown, and Macbeth for the BBC and the feature, True Story, starring James Franco and Jonah Hill. He will direct an adaptation of his production of Mike Bartlett’s King Charles III for BBC Two later this year.
Every day during the production’s run the Almeida will offer an allocation of £20 tickets for that evening’s performance via theatre ticket app, TodayTix.
World Premiere
THEY DRINK IT IN THE CONGO
a new play by Adam Brace directed by Michael Longhurst
Friday 12 August – Saturday 1 October Press Night: Friday 19 August at 7pm
The World Premiere of THEY DRINK IT IN THE CONGO, an anarchic, provocative new play by Adam Brace is directed by Michael Longhurst. Michael returns to the Almeida following his critically acclaimed production of Simon Stephens’ Carmen Disruption last year.
What can we do for the worst thing in the world?
The Congo. Home to the deadliest conflict since World War II. London. Home to a festival to raise awareness of the Congo. (That is, if Stef can get the festival off the ground.)
THEY DRINK IT IN THE CONGO unpacks the problems of doing something good about something bad.
The production will be designed by Jon Bauser with lighting by Jack Knowles, sound by Giles Thomas and composition by Michael Henry. Casting is by Anna Cooper.
THEY DRINK IT IN THE CONGO follows Adam and Michael’s collaboration on Stovepipe, which transferred to London in collaboration with the National Theatre from HighTide Festival. Stovepipe was shortlisted for the George Devine Award, named Best Political Theatre of the year by Time Out Magazine and listed in the Sunday Times Best 10 Theatre Events of the Decade.
This is Adam Brace’s second full length play. Shorter plays include Midnight Your Time, a one woman play for Diana Quick, directed by Michael Longhurst. His first script for film, Best, won the 2013 Sundance London Short Film contest and was officially selected for Sundance Festival 2014 in Utah. Adam is Associate Dramaturg at Nuffield Theatre, Southampton and lectures in Southampton University’s English Department; he regularly works in live comedy as a director and script editor.
Michael Longhurst previously directed Carmen Disruption for the Almeida. His production of Nick Payne’s Constellations opened at the Royal Court before transferring to the West End and Broadway, and won the Evening Standard Award for Best Play in 2012. His other credits include The Winter’s Tale at Shakespeare’s Globe; Linda at the Royal Court; Bad Jews at the Theatre Royal Bath, St James Theatre and Arts Theatre, London; ‘Tis Pity She’s a Whore at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse; A Number for Nuffield Theatre; The Art of Dying and Remembrance Day for the Royal Court; Dealer’s Choice for The Royal and Derngate; The World of Extreme Happiness for the National Theatre; The History Boys for Sheffield Crucible; If There Is I Haven’t Found It Yet starring Jake Gyllenhaal on Broadway; and dirty butterfly for the Young Vic, where he was recipient of the Jerwood Directors Award.
A Relaxed Performance will take place on Wednesday 21 September at 1.30pm. Relaxed Performances are specifically designed to welcome people who will benefit from a more relaxed performance environment, including people with an Autism Spectrum Condition, sensory and communication disorders, or a learning disability. People have the freedom to come and go as necessary, and a chill-out area is provided for those who need a quiet space. There is a relaxed attitude to noise and movement and some small changes are made to light and sound effects.
World Premiere
OIL
a new play by Ella Hickson directed by Carrie Cracknell
Friday 7 October – Saturday 26 November Press Night: Friday 14 October, 7pm
Playwright Ella Hickson and director Carrie Cracknell make their Almeida debuts with the world premiere of OIL, an explosive new play which drills deep into the world’s relationship with this finite resource.
The Stone Age. The Bronze Age. The Iron Age. The Age of Oil. The Stone Age didn’t end for want of stones.
One woman and her daughter.
What do you do when you know it’s going to run out?
An epic, hurtling crash of empire, history and family – OIL drives our imaginations from 1889 to 2016 and beyond.
OIL will be designed by Vicki Mortimer, with movement by Joseph Alford, lighting by Lucy Carter, composition by Stuart Earl and sound by Peter Rice. Casting is by Julia Horan.
Ella Hickson’s previous plays include Wendy and Peter Pan for the RSC; Boys for Headlong, Nuffield Theatre, Southampton and HighTide Festival, which subsequently transferred to Soho Theatre; The Authorised Kate Bane at the Traverse Theatre; Gift as part of Decade for Headlong, Hot Mess at the Arcola, Precious Little Talent at Trafalgar Studios; and Eight which played at Bedlam Theatre, P.S. 122 New York and Trafalgar Studios, and won the 2008 Fringe First Award. In 2011 Ella was the Pearson writer in residence at the Lyric Hammersmith. She was the recipient of the 2013 Catherine Johnson Award.
Carrie Cracknell’s production of Rattigan’s The Deep Blue Sea will open in June at the National Theatre where her past work includes Medea and Blurred Lines. She has directed Macbeth and A Doll’s House at the Young Vic, which transferred to the West End and Broadway. Other credits include Birdland, Pigeons and Searched for the Royal Court, and Wozzeck at ENO. Carrie was Artistic Director of the Gate Theatre, London from 2007 to 2012. She has also previously been Associate Director at both the Young Vic and the Royal Court.
HAMLET
by William Shakespeare directed by Robert Icke
February 2017. Performance dates to be announced, tickets on sale Autumn 2016
Andrew Scott will make his Almeida Theatre debut in the title role in HAMLET. Juliet Stevenson returns to the Almeida to play Gertrude in a production directed by Associate Director Robert Icke which will open in February 2017. Further casting and performance dates will be announced in Autumn 2016 when tickets for HAMLET go on sale.
ghost / devil acting / madness be / not be
HAMLET is designed by Hildegard Bechtler, lighting by Natasha Chivers and sound by Tom Gibbons.
Andrew Scott most recently appeared in The Dazzle at Found111. His other theatre credits include Olivier Award-winning performances in Cock and A Girl in a Car with a Man, as well
as Birdland, Dying City, Crave and Playing The Victim at the Royal Court; 50 Years on Stage, Sea Wall, Emperor and Galilean and Aristocrats at the National Theatre; Design for Living and Dublin Carol at the Old Vic; and The Vertical Hour on Broadway. His recent films include Spectre, Jimmy’s Hall, Victor Frankenstein, Locke, Pride (BIFA Award for Best Supporting Actor). Forthcoming films include Denial, Handsome Devil, Swallows and Amazons and Alice in Wonderland: Through the Looking Glass. Television credits include his BAFTA winning role as Moriarty in the
BBC’s Sherlock, The Hollow Crown, The Town, The Hour, John Adams and Band of Brothers. He has twice won the BBC Audio Drama award for his work on Radio.
Juliet Stevenson returns to the Almeida Theatre having previously appeared in Duet for
One alongside Henry Goodman. Most recently she played Winnie in Beckett’s Happy Days at the Young Vic. Other theatre credits include The Seagull, Private Lives, Caucasian Chalk Circle, Hedda Gabler and Yerma for the National Theatre; Les Liaisons Dangereuses, As You Like It, Troilus and Cressida, Measure for Measure and A Midsummer Night’s Dream for the RSC; The Heretic,
Alice and Death and The Maiden (Olivier Award for Best Actress) at the Royal Court. Her film credits include Departure, Mona Lisa Smile, Bend it Like Beckham, Emma, Truly Madly Deeply and the upcoming Let Me Go. Her television credits include The Enfield Haunting, The Village, White
Heat, The Accused, The Road from Coorain, The Politican’s Wife and the forthcoming BBC drama
One of Us. She was awarded a CBE in 1999 for her services to drama.
Almeida Associate Director Robert Icke has adapted and directed Uncle Vanya, Oresteia (also West End; won the Critics’ Circle and Evening Standard Awards for Best Director) and the multi-award
winning 1984 with Duncan Macmillan (also West End as well as playing several UK and international tours) at the Almeida. His work as a director includes The Fever at The May Fair Hotel, Mr Burns at the Almeida, Boys and Romeo and Juliet for Headlong. He will make his National Theatre debut directing The Red Barn, at the Lyttelton Theatre in October.
Tickets for the new season go on public sale on Thursday 12 May.
Priority Booking will open to Almeida Members at Designers’ Circle level and above on Tuesday 3 May.
Booking for Friends opens on Thursday 5 May.
Box Office: 020 7359 4404 (10am – 7.30pm) Online: almeida.co.uk
Tickets for HAMLET will go on sale in the Autumn with a Priority Booking period for members ahead of public booking.
Memberships start from £50.
For more information about memberships or to join at any level, call the Development Team on 020 7288 4930 or email: [email protected].
ALMEIDA ELSEWHERE
KING CHARLES III will be adapted as a television film for BBC Two, written by Mike Bartlett and directed by Rupert Goold, reuniting the original creative team behind the Almeida and Sonia Friedman Productions’ Olivier Award-winning production. Drama Republic, the company behind Doctor Foster and An Inspector Calls, will produce a 90 minute film of the critically acclaimed play, commissioned by the BBC.
Since it opened in 2014, KING CHARLES III has been seen by more than 350,000 people in three different continents; in the UK at the Almeida, in the West End and on tour, as well as in Sydney and on Broadway.
KING CHARLES III won Best New Play at the Olivier Awards and the Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards in 2015, and was awarded the South Bank Sky Arts Theatre Award. King Charles III was named as ‘Play of the Year’ by The Times, The Guardian, Mail On Sunday, and Time Out and chosen by the Guardian as one of the 101 greatest plays ever written.
After a tour of the UK, KING CHARLES III opened in Sydney on 31 March at the Roslyn Packer
Theatre. Robert Powell reprises the role of Charles as performed on the UK Tour. Directed by Rupert Goold with Whitney Mosery, KING CHARLES III will play until 30 April.
King Charles III is designed by Tom Scutt, with music composed by Jocelyn Pook, lighting by Jon Clark and sound by Paul Arditti.
King Charles III is produced in Sydney by Sonia Friedman Productions, Stuart Thompson Productions, Tulchin Bartner Productions, Charles Diamond and the Almeida Theatre in association with Birmingham Repertory and by arrangement with Lee Dean.
AMERICAN PSYCHO: A NEW MUSICAL THRILLER
a new musical based on the award-winning novel by Bret Easton Ellis music and lyrics by Duncan Sheik
book by Robert Aguirre-Sacasa directed by Rupert Goold Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre Now in previews
Press Night: Thursday 21 April
The Almeida Theatre and Headlong production of American Psycho is presented on Broadway by Act 4 Entertainment (David Johnson & Jesse Singer), Jeffrey Richards, and Jerry Frankel in cooperation with Edward R Pressman.
American Psycho had its world premiere at the Almeida on 3 December 2013 running until 1 February 2014 and was Rupert Goold’s first production as Artistic Director.
The Broadway production stars Benjamin Walker (Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson) as Patrick Bateman.
Living the high life in 1980s Manhattan, Patrick Bateman has it all – looks, money, style and status. He and his entourage buy the most expensive designer clothes, eat at the most exclusive restaurants and party at the hottest clubs. But privately, Patrick indulges in another kind of transgression. And people – including those closest to him – keep disappearing.
The Original London Cast Recording of American Psycho is now available to buy, priced £11.50, from the Almeida, at the Box Office and online via: http://tickets.almeida.co.uk/peo/merchandise_list.asp
1984
by George Orwell
a new adaptation by Robert Icke and Duncan Macmillan from June, full details to be announced
1984 returns to the West End for the third time for a limited season in June. Following an international tour George Orwell’s classic dystopian masterpiece, in an acclaimed new adaptation by Robert Icke and Duncan Macmillan, who will also direct with Daniel Raggett, and will run for 12 weeks. Full details will be announced soon.
1984 is a co-production between Headlong and Nottingham Playhouse and the Almeida Theatre, and produced in the West End by Sonia Friedman Productions and Eleanor Lloyd Productions. The production has set and costume designs by Chloe Lamford, lighting designs by Natasha Chivers, sound designs by Tom Gibbons and video designs by Tim Reid.
Robert Icke is Associate Director at the Almeida where his plays include Uncle Vanya, Oresteia, The Fever and Mr Burns.
Duncan Macmillan’s plays include People, Places and Things at the National Theatre and in the West End; Every Brilliant Thing for Paines Plough on tour in the UK, New York, Australia and New Zealand; and Lungs for Paines Plough and at Schaubühne in Berlin, directed by Katie Mitchell.
Robert and Duncan won Best Director at the 2014 UK Theatre Awards for 1984.
1984 is currently on tour in the USA, playing at the Harman theatre for the Arts, Washington until 10 April and has been seen by over 320,000 people worldwide since 2013.
NOW AT THE ALMEIDA
World Premiere
BOY
a new play by Leo Butler directed by Sacha Wares
Tuesday 5 April – Saturday 28 May Press Night: Tuesday 12 April
A boy.
At a bus stop. Easily missed.
Master of observation, Leo Butler casts a sharp eye over contemporary London and picks out someone for us to follow. Someone easily missed amongst the crowd.
Following last year’s ground breaking production of Game, the innovative director-designer team Sacha Wares and Miriam Buether return to the Almeida to bring this ambitious exploration of austerity era London to life. They are joined by an award-winning creative team and an exciting company of young actors, as well as supernumeraries recruited from the borough of Islington. For many of the cast BOY will mark their stage debut.
Written by Leo Butler, who has quietly established himself as one of the UK’s most talented political playwrights, BOY is an important new play about coming of age in twenty first century London.
For BOY, Sacha Wares is joined by a formidable creative team, including two powerhouse contemporary designers, Miriam Buether for set design (Game, Wild Swans, Sucker Punch, My Child, Generations), and Ultz for costume (Jerusalem, Hobson’s Choice, Fallout, Pied Piper), who will be collaborating with each other for the first time. Further creative credits include movement by Leon Baugh, lighting by Jack Knowles and sound by Gareth Fry.
The cast is Mohammad Amiri, Osman Baig, Ruby Bridle, Emilio Doorgasingh, Terina Drayton, Rubie Fearfield, Aeran Fitzgerald, Frankie Fox, Ellie Mai Gallagher, Bayleigh Gray, Zainab Hasan, Duramaney Kamara, Asiatu Koroma, Wendy Kweh, Lev Levermore, Georgie Lord, Angel Loren, Teann McDonnell, Eugenie-Alexia Mulumba, Sarah Niles, Demi Papaminas, Imogen Roberts, Abdul Salis, Morgane Tapia, Peter Temple, Jenny Walters and Matthew Wellard.
ALMEIDA PARTICIPATION
BOY playwright Leo Butler is joined by Steven Camden (Polarbear), Charlotte Josephine and Somalia Seaton to lead a project called PLAY ON, a complementary outreach programme funded by the Arsenal Foundation. PLAY ON sees the Almeida partner with Arsenal in the Community to further engage with young people in the London borough of Islington, alongside the Almeida’s production of BOY.
The partners will work together to reach young people who haven’t previously been involved in theatre, encouraging them to create and share their stories and experiences. These four professional playwrights will work with 40 young people recruited through Arsenal in the Community networks over the course of six weeks to encourage them to develop ideas for short plays and monologues responding to the themes in BOY. The resulting plays will then be presented by professional directors and actors on Monday 2 and Tuesday 3 May, on the set of BOY in the Almeida Theatre. Young people will also be invited via a variety of partner organisations, including Tomorrow’s People and Arsenal in the Community, to participate in Answers Back, a panel discussion led by young people for young people. The panel will explore their views on the world they live in and debate these issues
with an audience of their peers.
Arsène Wenger, Arsenal Manager, said: “Football can be a little bit the same as the theatre, because it has the power to bring happiness to young people and make them dream of what is possible. We are proud to be involved in this special project, and to be a positive force in our local community too.”
Alan Sefton, Head of Arsenal in the Community, said: “We’re delighted that Arsenal in the Community has partnered with the Almeida Theatre on the Play On project. We have been working with young people in Islington for over 30 years to engage them in sport and education, and this is an exciting new chapter in our work. Along with the Almeida, we will give the individuals involved the chance to get to know the theatre and to speak about things that mean a lot to them. That will be very positive.”
The Almeida Participation team aims to work with 3,000 young people a year to create opportunities and pathways for children and young people aged 5 to 25 in the London borough of Islington to engage in a key relationship with theatre and become part of the Almeida.
Almeida Participation, led by Director of Participation Dani Parr, have created a programme structured to inspire, challenge and engage young people as audience members, participants and theatre makers in line with the artistic values of the Almeida Theatre. The projects run by Almeida Participation invite young people to respond to the questions asked by Almeida productions, and to create their own work in a professional environment.
The Almeida Academy is a group for young people aged 5-14. The Academy’s first ever production,
WE KNOW BEST: THE SMALL HUMANS’ GUIDE TO BIG HUMAN PROBLEMS, will be performed
at the Almeida on 3 July. WE KNOW BEST explores the notion that children have a lot to teach adults about how the world works. The production will be participatory and will put the children in role as experts, encouraging curiosity and examining big philosophical questions. WE KNOW BEST sees the Academy take over the entire building for a day, culminating in a performance on stage involving all 60 members. Tickets will be £5.
The newly created Almeida Young Company is for young people aged 14 to 25 recruited from local schools and existing Almeida Academy members. The Almeida Young Company aims to create an inclusive opportunity for young people to explore and enhance their creativity, with opportunities to make work and perform on stage in the Almeida Theatre, as well as access to artists and technical staff working at the Almeida. The Young Company gives young people the opportunity to explore the different career options available within theatre.
In August, Almeida Young Company members aged between 16 and 25 will present a production at Shoreditch Town Hall. FROM THE GROUND UP is entirely conceived, produced and performed by young people. FROM THE GROUND UP will be an immersive site specific show performed underground in The Ditch at Shoreditch Town Hall.
Booking details for WE KNOW BEST and FROM THE GROUND UP will be announced shortly.
Dani Parr joined the Almeida in October 2015 as Director of Participation. She was previously Associate Director at Royal and Derngate, Northampton. She specialises in directing work for children and young people and managing and running creative projects with people of all ages. Dani previously worked at Pentabus and Birmingham Rep and as a freelance director and workshop leader. Directing work includes I Believe in Unicorns, which has been seen by over 50,000 people at the Vaudeville Theatre, the Orange Tree Theatre, Richmond, and as part of Imagine Children’s Festival 2016 at Royal Festival Hall on the Southbank; Moominsummer Madness, a co-production between Polka Theatre, Royal and Derngate and Little Angel Theatre; and Flathampton which won the Argus Angel Award at Brighton Festival 2013. She programmed the Take Off Festival 2013, an international festival of theatre work for children and young people based in Durham; and she directed Dream Space for Shakespeare’s Globe, a family version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
COLLABORATION WITH MILES ALDRIDGE
The Almeida has collaborated with photographer Miles Aldridge to produce exclusive images for productions throughout the season, beginning with Richard III. Miles will document the rehearsal and production process, as well as creating the main season images.
Miles Aldridge was born in London in 1964, where he continues to live and work today. He studied at Central St. Martin’s and after graduating worked briefly as an illustrator before finding his way to photography in 1993. His photographs have appeared regularly in international publications such
as American Vogue, The New Yorker, The New York Times, and most notably Vogue Italia, who he has worked closely with throughout his career. In 2014 he was invited by Tate Britain to create a temporary installation entitled Carousel II, as a response to Mark Gertler’s 1916 painting, Merry-go- Round. There are several books devoted to his work, including Pictures for
Photographs (2009); Other Pictures (2012); and I Only Want You to Love Me (2013) – an extensive monograph of his photographs and drawings that accompanied a major retrospective of his work at Somerset House by the same title. His forthcoming book Please Return Polaroid, to be published in Summer 2016 by Steidl’s Edition 7L, chronicles his creative process through an analysis of his preparatory studies.
ALMEIDA TICKETS
Two accessible ticketing initiatives are introduced for Almeida audiences.
The TodayTix RICHARD III mobile lottery will offer £20 tickets for that evening’s performance every day during the run of Richard III via theatre ticket app, TodayTix.
£5 Monday for BOY will offer £5 tickets to anyone aged 25 and under on 11 April, with tickets including the performance and a post-show discussion with the creative team and actors.
The existing Under 30’s offer of £19 tickets for best available seats for anyone aged 29 and under on every Monday continues.
ARTS COUNCIL FUNDING AND AWARDS
The Arts Council England has awarded the Almeida a grant of £336,000 to cut energy usage significantly by upgrading key components of the theatre’s Building Management System and introducing new theatre lights. Audiences will also benefit from updated theatre seating for greater comfort and flexibility to change the auditorium configuration. New sound equipment and high quality in-house video equipment will also be purchased.
The Almeida has been awarded a three star Creative Industry Green (IG) certification, the highest IG rating by environmental sustainability charity Julie’s Bicycle. The award is in recognition of the Almeida’s efforts to minimise the environmental impact of employees and productions throughout 2014/15 and the company’s overarching commitment to sustainability.
OLIVIER AWARD NOMINATIONS
Robert Icke’s version of Aeschylus’ ORESTEIA, which opened at the Almeida Theatre in June 2015 and transferred to Trafalgar Studios as part of Almeida Greeks, has been nominated for four Olivier Awards. Robert Icke has been nominated for Best Director; Lia Williams has been nominated for Best Actress; Hildegard Bechtler has been nominated for the Blue-i Theatre Technology Award for Best Set Design; and Natasha Chivers has been nominated for the White Light Award for Best Lighting Design. The awards ceremony will take place at the Royal Opera House on Sunday 3 April.
ORESTEIA was produced at Trafalgar Studios by the Almeida Theatre, Sonia Friedman Productions and Ambassador Theatre Group.
ENDS
For all press enquiries and images, contact Susie Newbery, Press and Media Relations Manager, on 020 7288 4911 or [email protected]
NOTES TO EDITORS
DEVELOPMENT AND MEMBERSHIPS
By becoming a Member of the Almeida Theatre, supporters can access a range of benefits such as Priority Booking for each new season. Memberships start from £50.
The Almeida receives only 12 per cent of its income as public subsidy. Each year we must raise more than £1.6 million in addition to our Box Office income and Arts Council England grant.
For more information call the Development Team on 020 7288 4930 or email [email protected]
ACCESS
Following a Relaxed Performance of BOY on Wednesday 11 May at 1.30pm, a Relaxed Performance of THEY DRINK IT IN THE CONGO will take place on Wednesday 21 September at 1.30pm.
Relaxed Performances are specifically designed to welcome people who will benefit from a more relaxed performance environment, including people with an Autism Spectrum Condition, sensory and communication disorders, or a learning disability. People have the freedom to come and go as necessary and a chill-out area is provided for those who need a quiet space. There is a relaxed attitude to noise and movement and some small changes made to light and sound effects.
At least one Audio Described and Captioned performance is available for every production at the Almeida.
ARSENAL IN THE COMMUNITY AND THE ARSENAL FOUNDATION
Arsenal in the Community was established in 1985, when Arsenal became one the first clubs in the UK to set up a dedicated community team. Through the diverse programmes that have developed over time such as social inclusion, employability, education and sport initiatives, Arsenal in the Community has made a real, positive impact on the lives of over a million young people in its community.
The Arsenal Foundation was launched in May 2012 and uses the Arsenal name to change lives through the projects and causes it supports.
The Arsenal Foundation goes from strength to strength, expanding its local impact through a global partnership with Save the Children. Most recently, The Arsenal Foundation has worked with the charity to fund two football pitches in refugee camps in Iraq for displaced young people, giving them a safe place to play.
The Arsenal Foundation works hand in hand with Arsenal in the Community to inspire and support young people in its local community.
www.arsenal.com/thearsenalfoundation
ABOUT THE ALMEIDA THEATRE
The Almeida Theatre exists to launch the next generation of British artists onto the world stage. A small room with an international reputation, the Almeida began life as a literary and scientific society
– complete with library, lecture theatre and laboratory. From the beginning, the building existed to investigate the world. Today, the Almeida makes brave new work that asks big questions: of plays, of theatre and of the world around us.
The Almeida brings together the most exciting artists to take risks; to provoke, inspire and surprise audiences; to interrogate the present, dig up the past and imagine the future. Whether new work or reinvigorated classic, whether in the theatre, on the road or online, the Almeida makes live art to excite, enliven and entertain. The Almeida makes argument for theatre as an essential force in an increasingly fragmented society.
Founded by Pierre Audi in 1980, his successors were Jonathan Kent and Ian McDiarmid in 1990, and Michael Attenborough in 2002. Productions including Hamlet with Ralph Fiennes in 2005, Rufus Norris’ Festen, Ruined by Lynn Nottage and most recently Chimerica, Ghosts and King Charles III have given the theatre international renown.
In Summer 2013, Rupert Goold joined the Almeida as Artistic Director. His first production was American Psycho: A new musical thriller, which will open this month on Broadway. In 2014 the Almeida productions of Ghosts and Chimerica won eight Olivier Awards including Best Actress, Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Best New Play, Best Director and Best Revival and enjoyed transfers to the West End and Broadway respectively. This was followed by King Charles III, which transferred to the West End at the Wyndham’s Theatre and won the Olivier Award for Best New Play in 2015, transferred to Broadway, toured the UK, and is currently playing in Sydney. Other notable productions as Artistic Director include The Merchant of Venice and Medea.
In Summer 2015, the Almeida presented Almeida Greeks, which included three major new productions of Oresteia, Bakkhai and Medea, the latter of which was directed by Goold, with a festival of events, performances, talks and readings running alongside.
He co-directed The Iliad and The Odyssey with Almeida Associate Director Robert Icke. Involving more than 60 readers, The Iliad reached an audience of over 50,000 people across the world, watching online, or in person at the British Museum and the Almeida Theatre. The Odyssey followed the huge success of The Iliad, and involved an army of artists in various locations around London. As with The lliad, both theatrical events were live streamed throughout and achieved ground-breaking levels of online engagement.
The Almeida is grateful to its Principal Partner Aspen, in its second term as the Almeida’s most significant corporate supporter. Aspen has contributed specifically to the Almeida Participation programme since 2011. Aspen was established in 2002 and is a leading global insurance and reinsurance company.
The Almeida is supported using public funding by Arts Council England.
LISTINGS INFORMATION
Tuesday 5 April – Saturday 28 May 2016
World Premiere
BOY
a new play by Leo Butler directed by Sacha Wares
Press Night: Tuesday 12 April, 7pm
Tuesday 7 June – Saturday 6 August
RICHARD III
by William Shakespeare directed by Rupert Goold
Press Night: Tuesday 14 June, 7pm
Friday 12 August – Saturday 1 October
World Premiere
THEY DRINK IT IN THE CONGO
a new play by Adam Brace directed by Michael Longhurst
Press Night: Friday 19 August, 7pm
Friday 7 October – Saturday 26 November
World Premiere
OIL
a new play by Ella Hickson directed by Carrie Cracknell
Press Night: Friday 14 October, 7pm
HAMLET
by William Shakespeare directed by Robert Icke February 2017
Further details and performance dates to be announced, tickets on sale Autumn 2016
Address Almeida Theatre, Almeida Street, London, N1 1TA
Café Bar The Almeida Café Bar is open from 11.30am -11.00pm, Monday to Saturday
Box Office Online almeida.co.uk
Phone 020 7359 4404 (10am – 7.30pm Monday – Saturday)
In person 10am – 7.30pm, Monday – Saturday
Nearest Tube: Angel / Highbury & Islington
Boy performances
Tuesday 5 – Saturday 9 April Performances at 8pm
Monday 11 April – Saturday 28 May Performances at 7.30pm
Saturday matinees at 2.30pm from Saturday 16 April
Midweek matinees on Wednesdays at 2.30pm on 27 April and 18 May
Richard III performances
Tuesday 7 June – Saturday 6 August Performances at 7pm
Saturday matinees at 1.30pm from 18 June
Midweek matinees on Wednesdays at 1.30pm from 22 June
They Drink It In The Congo performances Friday 12 August – Saturday 1 October Performances at 7.30pm
Saturday matinees at 2.30pm from 24 August Midweek matinees on Wednesdays from 24 August
Oil performances
Friday 7 October – Saturday 26 November Performances at 7pm
Midweek matinees on Wednesday at 1.30pm from 19 October Saturday matinees at 1.30pm from 22 October
Website almeida.co.uk
Twitter @AlmeidaTheatre
Facebook facebook.com/almeidatheatre
Instagram @almeida_theatre
Access Boy Audio Described performance: Saturday 21 May at 2.30pm (Touch Tour at 12.30pm)
Boy Captioned performance: Monday 16 May at 7.30pm
Boy Relaxed performance: Wednesday 11 May at 1.30pm
Richard III Audio Described performances:
Saturday 23 July at 1.30pm (Touch Tour at 11.15am) Friday 29 July at 7pm (Touch Tour at 5.30pm)
Richard III Captioned performance: Monday 11 July at 7pm
They Drink It In The Congo Audio Described performances: Saturday 10 September at 2.30pm (Touch Tour at 12.30pm) Tuesday 20 September at 7.30pm (Touch Tour at 6.30pm)
They Drink It In The Congo Captioned performance: Thursday 15 September at 7.30pm
They Drink It In The Congo Relaxed Performance: Wednesday 21 September at 1.30pm
Oil Audio Described Performances:
Saturday 12 November at 1.30pm (Touch Tour at 11.15am) Friday 18 November at 7pm (Touch Tour at 5.30pm)
Oil Captioned Performance: Friday 11 November at 7pm
Talkback Post-show discussion with members of the company Free to same day ticket holders
Boy Monday 16 May *
*to include live speech to text transcription by Stagetext.
Richard III Monday 11 July
The Drink It In The Congo Monday 19 September
Oil Monday 24 October
Almeida Questions Boy Answers Back: Young People’s Panel Thursday 5 May at 6 pm
Boy: Dramatising Poverty Thursday 12 May at 6 pm
Richard III Thursday 14 July at 5.30pm
Play On Monday 2 and Tuesday 3 May at 6pm
Performance Tickets: Free, must be booked in advance
