Birmingham Repertory Theatre Sets New Programme for Autumn, Winter 2015-16

Birmingham Repertory Theatre today announces its new season of work for Autumn and Winter 2015/16. The announcement comes on the back of a hugely successful year for the theatre, with a 43% increase in audiences during 2014/15 - giving the highest attendance at the theatre for over 20 years.

The success of the past year has not been limited to audience figures. The REP has also premiered nine new plays from a wide range of voices, worked with 138 writers, over 600 local artists, and engaged with nearly 4500 young people and 2600 adults through its learning and participation programme equating to 30,000 individual educational sessions. The REP's work has also reached beyond the city of Birmingham with six REP productions embarking on major tours to other UK theatres and venues.

The REP's Artistic Director, Roxana Silbert said: "The past year has been tremendously successful for The REP, both in terms of audiences and the work we've created. We took a bold decision to make our programme more diverse and I'm so pleased to say that has been embraced by audiences. We've supported local and national writers and theatre makers and we now have a building that is a hub of creativity bursting with exciting work and talented people.

"All the new work we have premiered and the fantastic range of participation work we've offered to the city's communities have only been possible thanks to the ongoing support of Arts Council England and Birmingham City Council. Their support means we have been able to take risks and invest in quality, which in turn has found an audience.

"For the autumn season ahead, I'm particularly proud to be premiering Meera Syal's Anita And Me and to be producing the first UK tour of Mike Bartlett's hugely successful King Charles III. We're also working with established talent Carrie Cracknell and Lucy Guerin on Macbeth and welcome two of the UK's finest actors Paterson Joseph and Ruby Wax with their one person shows."

Opening the season in the main auditorium will be Mike Bartlett's Olivier Award-winning new future history play, King Charles III, following its critically acclaimed West End run. Co-produced by The REP and The Almeida Theatre and directed by Rupert Goold, King Charles III (4 to 19 September) explores the people underneath the crowns, the unwritten rules of our democracy, and the conscience of Britain's most famous family.

Meera Syal's much-loved novel bursts on to the stage for the very first time. Anita And Me (9 to 24 October) premieres at The REP in a stage adaptation by the multi-award-winning Tanika Gupta. This poignant coming-of-age story, directed by Roxana Silbert and commissioned and produced by The REP, follows Meena, a young girl growing up in the only Punjabi family in a 1970s Black Country mining village.

Based on The Beggar's Opera, Kneehigh Theatre's Dead Dog In A Suitcase (And Other Love Songs) (29 September to 3 October) comes to The REP. Echoing John Gay's classic musical satire this production plunders the sounds of our times with folk, ska, grime and dubstep in a twisted morality tale of our times.

One in four people experience some kind of mental health problem each year. The REP once again collaborates with Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust to put mental health centre stage. BEDLAM - The Festival of Divine Madness (19 to 25 October) will demonstrate how the arts can play an important role in reducing stigma around mental health and promote recovery and wellbeing. Ruby Wax will appear for one night only as part of the festival with her show Sane New World plus there'll be new plays Cracked by Mike Kenny and Julie Boden and Jump! We'll Catch You by Charlene James alongside a programme of workshops and discussions.

Britain's national dance company, Rambert, makes its long-awaited return to Birmingham, bringing the rock 'n roll swagger of the Rolling Stones to life in Rooster (28 to 31 October) - one of Rambert's all-time best loved works by Christopher Bruce - plus Alexander Whitley's Frames and the world premiere of two-time Olivier Award-winner Kim Brandstrup's Transfigured Night.

The timeless classic tale The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe (19 November to 16 January) will be brought vividly to life on stage in a brand new production by The REP's Associate Director, Tessa Walker. The Christmas season also sees the return of The REP's ever-popular and magical stage show, The Snowman (20 to 24 January).

William Golding's 20th Century classic Lord Of The Flies (3 to 7 November) explodes onto the stage in a remarkable production direct from London's award-winning Regent's Park Theatre. This struggle for survival in a darkly sinister world of superstition and immorality is directed by Timothy Sheader and is guaranteed to grip from start to finish.

Following their acclaimed collaboration on Medea at the National Theatre, Carrie Cracknell and Lucy Guerin reunite to present Shakespeare's tragedy Macbeth (26 to 30 January). Beginning with Shakespeare's text, choreography weaves its way through the story in this co-production between The REP, the Young Vic and HOME in Manchester.

February will see the return of The REP's successful production 2014 production of, Of Mice And Men (4 to 13 February) directed by Roxana Silbert. The production will open at The REP before it embarks on a 15 week UK tour.

The story of a group of Muslim female boxers comes under the spotlight in No Guts, No Heart, No Glory (8 to 12 September) - a powerful and award-winning production by Common Wealth and Contact devised in collaboration with five young Muslim women and former national boxing champion, Ambreen Sadiq.

One of the UK's finest actors, Paterson Joseph, brings to life the true story of Charles Ignatius Sancho - fellow actor and friend of David Garrick and the first black person of African origin to vote in Britain - in Sancho - An Act Of Remembrance (22 to 25 September).

A new play inspired by the phenomena of real life vigilantes and stories of heroism from Birmingham and beyond premieres in The Door. How To Be A Hero (29 September to 3 October) is the latest show from the team who created 366 Day Of Kindness - Bernadette Russell and Gareth Brierley of White Rabbit in a co-production with The REP. Also premiering in The Door is In The Motherhood (3 to 4 November); local writer Hayley Peplar's insight into the competitive world of the school PTA.

Little Bulb Theatre's musical re-imagining of the Greek myth, Orpheus (28 to 31 October) will transport audiences to 1930s Paris where legendary musician, Django Reinhardt, has been cast as the lead.

Maxine Peake's critically acclaimed play Beryl (24 to 28 November) celebrates the life of unsung sporting legend Beryl Burton - the greatest woman on two wheels who cycled her way into the record books.

Season highlights in The DOOR includes Stan's Cafe with A Translation of Shadows (21 to 23 September), Corey Baker Dance Company's Kapa Haka Tale (25 to 26 September) coincides with the Rugby World Cup, Sarah Wood's The Roadless Trip (7 November), Selina Thompson's Dark And Lovely (9 to 14 November), The Butch Monologues (20 to 21 November), Strictly Balti by Saikat Ahamed (26 to 28 November) and Confirmation by Chris Thorpe (1 to 5 December).

For Christmas The REP will produce a saucy alternative Christmas night-out in The DOOR; Dirty Grotto (10 - 19 December). Curated by Kiln Ensemble and hosted by Mother Christmas and her fabulous elves, Dirty Grotto will offer a range of interactive experiences that blur the boundaries between theatre, burlesque and the Christmas party.

Tickets for The REP's Autumn and Winter 2015/16 Season are on sale to the general public from Friday 24 April.

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