London Royal Court to Offer Churchill, Pinter, Witt, Etc.

Details for the closing months of London's Royal Court Theatre's 50th anniversary celebration have been finalized, with works by Caryl Churchill and Samuel Beckett, and performances by Harold Pinter, Kristin Scott Thomas and Alicia Witt among the highlights, according to Whatsonstage.com. 

Terry Johnson's Piano/Forte, starring Kelly Reilly (Sexual Perversity in Chicago, Miss Julie in London) and Witt ("Cybill," films such as The Upside of Anger, The Shape of Things in London), will run from September 20th through October 14th; previews begin on September 14th.  The play concerns a British prime minister and his unruly children.  Johnson also directs.

The world premiere of Drunk Enough to Say I Love You?, a world premiere play by Churchill (Cloud Nine, A Number) will begin previews on November 10th, open on November 14th and run through December 22nd.  Directed by Royal Court associate director James Macdonald, the play is described as "a searing exploration of transatlantic relations."

Royal Court artistic director Ian Rickson--who is departing his post after 8 years--will helm a production of Anton Chekhov's The Seagull, which will begin performances on January 18th, 2007, will star the previously-announced Kristin Scott Thomas (Oscar-nominee for The English Patient, The Three Sisters on the West End) and Mackenzie Crook ("The Office," Pirates of the Caribbean) as Arkadina and Konstantin, respectively.  Katherine Parkinson (Other Hands) will join them as Masha.

Rickson will also direct a production of Beckett's one-man play Krapp's Last Tape.  It will star Pinter, the Nobel Prize-winning playwright of works such as Betrayal and The Homecoming who is also known for his work as an actor.

Visit www.royalcourttheatre.com for more information.