James Dacre News

Royal & Derngate Northampton and York Theatre Royal, in association with Oxford Playhouse, today announced that they will be staging the world premiere of Alone in Berlin, adapted for the stage by Alistair Beaton from Hans Fallada's acclaimed novel. Directed by Royal & Derngate's Artistic Director James Dacre, the production will open in Northampton in February before transferring to York and Oxford.

Royal & Derngate Northampton has announced that Artistic Director James Dacre will direct the world premiere of The Pope this June as part of its Made in Northampton 2019 season. This new play from Anthony McCarten, the 2019 Golden Globe and BAFTA-winning, and 2019 Oscar nominated writer of Bohemian Rhapsody, The Theory Of Everything and Darkest Hour, will star Anton Lesser (Game Of Thrones, The Crown, Wolf Hall) as Pope Benedict and will feature original music composed by BRIT, Oscar and Grammy-winning composer Anne Dudley (Elle, American History X, The Full Monty, Poldark).

Royal & Derngate, Northampton, and New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich, have just announced their co-production of a new musical, The Season, by 2018 Stiles + Drewe Mentorship Award winners, Jim Barne and Kit Buchan, playing in Northampton and Ipswich in November.

English Touring Opera (ETO) return to Storyhouse in March with a cast that combines internationally celebrated stars and exciting young singers with local talent, supported by a full-scale live orchestra and large chorus.

Beautiful ballet, stirring opera and contemporary dance are part of an unmissable cultural programme at Storyhouse this spring.

Artistic Director of Northampton's Royal & Derngate, James Dacre today announced that the venue will stage the world premiere of a brand new version by Mike Poulton of Henrik Ibsen's masterpiece Ghosts in April 2019, directed by Lucy Bailey, starring Penny Downie and Pierro Niel-Mee.

Royal & Derngate Northampton have confirmed the cast and creative team for its UK premiere production of Katori Hall's Our Lady of Kibeho, which takes to its Royal stage in January. Directed by the venue's Artistic Director James Dacre (who directed Hall's 2010 Olivier Award winning production of The Mountaintop) and designed by 2018 Tony award nominee Jonathan Fensom, with original music by Orlando Gough, choreography by Diane Alison Mitchell, photography by Pulitzer Prize-winning war photographer Paul Watson and aerial direction by Vicki Amedume. The ensemble cast is led by Gabrielle Brooks, Michelle Asante and Ery Nzaramba. This UK premiere production promises to be an epic event, with its large professional cast complemented by the Royal & Derngate Community Ensemble and members of the theatre's Young Company.

Royal & Derngate Northampton in partnership with English Touring Theatre are delighted to announce that the winner of the 2018 RTST Sir Peter Hall Director Award, Nancy Medina, will premiere August Wilson's Pulitzer-Prize nominated, TONY and Lucille Lortel Award winning Two Trains Running in the Royal Theatre, Northampton next Autumn as the opening show of the venue's Made in Northampton Autumn season. The co-production costs will be supported by a grant from The Royal Theatrical Support Trust.

Improbable's 14th annual unconventional convention for performing arts people, Devoted & Disgruntled will take place on Saturday 26, Sunday 27 and Monday 28 January 2019 at Royal & Derngate, Northampton.

John Haidar directs Tom Mothersdale as Shakespeare's most notorious and complex villain, Richard III. This inventive new staging is a co-production between Headlong, Alexandra Palace and Bristol Old Vic, with Royal & Derngate Northampton and Oxford Playhouse.

The Royal Theatrical Support Trust (RTST) and Royal & Derngate Northampton have announced Nancy Medina as the winner of the 2018 RTST Sir Peter Hall Director Award and Josh Seymour as the runner-up. Now in its third year, and its second bearing the name of the RTST co-founder, Sir Peter Hall, the award is made to an up-and-coming director demonstrating exceptional directing skills in a rigorous competitive process.

Royal & Derngate Northampton today announced that it will be staging the UK premiere of Katori Hall's Our Lady of Kibeho, in January 2019, directed by Artistic Director James Dacre.

The Stephen Sondheim Society and Mercury Musical Developments today announce Welsh actress Di Botcher as the special guest performer at the 12th annual West End Gala for The Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year and the 11th anniversary of The Stiles + Drewe Prize.

The Stephen Sondheim Society and Mercury Musical Developments today announce the 12th annual West End Gala for The Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year and the 11th anniversary of The Stiles + Drewe Prize. The 2018 competition is being staged at the Savoy Theatre on Sunday 10 June at 3pm, hosted by Olivier Award winner Tracie Bennett. Chris Hocking returns to direct the annual gala, with musical direction by Mark Etherington and a special guest performer to be announced!

The Royal Theatrical Support Trust (RTST) and Royal & Derngate Northampton are delighted to announce that the 2018 RTST Sir Peter Hall Director Award Scheme is now open for entries.

Artistic Director of Northampton's Royal & Derngate, James Dacre today announced that Royal & Derngate's commission of Kazuo Ishiguro's The Remains of the Day, adapted by Barney Norris, will receive its world premiere in Northampton in February 2019 before a national Out of Joint tour.

Royal & Derngate announces Christmas double bill of world premieres for its Made in Northampton 2018 season

Musical Theatre Network and Mercury Musical Developments today announce Hannah Chissick, Adam Lenson, James Dacre, Peter Rowe, Josh Seymour, Tania Azevedo, Cressida Carre and Kate Golledge as directors for the eight 25-minute extracts from new musicals to be presented at BEAM2018.

Yesterday a major symposium was held at The RSA at which leading British playwrights discussed how theatre should respond to and reflect the changing international role of Great Britain, Northern Ireland and Europe over the next decade. Scroll down for photos and footage from the event!

Collaborating with three partner venues across the United Kingdom, Royal & Derngate Northampton is launching an epic cycle of new play commissions exploring Great Britain and Northern Ireland's changing relationship with Europe.