The Faction to Present REPTEMBER RELOADED at New Diorama Theatre, Jan 10-Feb 6

The Faction, pioneers of 21st Century repertory theatre and producers of critically acclaimed sell-out seasons as one of New Diorama's associate ensembles, will present a brand new edition of their Off West End award-nominated REPTEMBER RELOADED series of solo reinterpretations of classic and rarely-adapted plays in January 2016.

The epic rarely performed true story An Arab Woman Speaks will be seen in the England for the first time. Dario Fo -- the celebrated Italian playwright and Nobel Laureate who originally brought the story to stage in 1972 -- has given personal permission for the production to be staged after exploring The Faction's work.

As the Middle East continues to descend into chaos, this story of one woman's incredible struggle to define her place in society, and how the search leads her to be involved in the region's political upheaval, adds rich context to the region's 21st century turmoil.

Fullbright scholar, director and actor Sahar Assaf will be joining the company from Lebanon especially to play this role.

REPTEMBER RELOADED also sees acclaimed South African writer Jessica Siân write a new piece for The Faction, My Last Duchess, following her critically acclaimed debut with Klippies at the Southwark Playhouse for which she is an Off West End Award 'Most Promising New Playwright' nominee.

My Last Duchess explores the position of women in contemporary society, drawing influence from the tragedy of Reeva Steenkamp and Oscar Pistorius.

Giving a total of five new writers the opportunity to stand on the shoulders of literary giants, REPTEMBER RELOADED will also feature lucid, vivid revivals of works by Ibsen, Cervantes, Lorca, Goethe, Schiller (the company's acclaimed Joan of Arc) and Aeschylus.

The Faction's mission is to bridge the gap between classical theatre and new writing as Co-Artistic Director Rachel Valentine Smith, who is curating REPTEMBER RELOADED, explains, "These pieces celebrate the writer-actor-director alchemy. They speak of compelling, important and personal circumstances relating to the individual or a specific community. They are imperative pieces of theatre expressed through these exciting emerging talents, standing on the shoulders of literary giants. It's a unique theatrical event giving audiences the opportunity to affordably curate their own theatregoing experience."

All of this is part of The Faction's vision to deliver a European repertory theatre model in the UK. "From the very beginning of The Faction we were inspired by the ensembles of Berlin: the Schaubühne, the Deutsches Theater, the Maxim Gorki Theater, and Ivo Van Hove's Toneelgroep Amsterdam. We're running for seven days per week for the first time, with a mixed and varied programme presenting 12 different productions across a five week season" says Artistic Director Mark Leipacher who is quick to acknowledge New Diorama Theatre's role in the process. "They're the only organisation of which I'm aware placing ensembles at the centre of their vision. Without their continued support and partnership none of this would have been possible. Everyone at The Faction will always be grateful to David, Sophie, Helen, Sharon, Penny and the whole team for their guidance and generosity."

REPTEMBER RELOADED runs in rep with The Faction's dramatic new 21-strong production of the first ever play the company produced at New Diorama Theatre: Richard III.

IF YOU GO:

The Faction - Rep Season 2016

REPTEMBER RELOADED

Directed by Rachel Valentine Smith

New Diorama Theatre, 15-16 Triton Street, London NW1 3BF

Booking Information: newdiorama.com | 020 7383 9034

All Tickets: £5

Times vary

AN ARAB WOMAN SPEAKS by Dario Fo and Franca Rame

11 & 17 Jan @ 8pm, 27 Jan @ 6pm, 1 Feb @ 9pm

MY LAST DUCHESS by Jessica Siân after Robert Browning

18 Jan @ 6pm, 24 Jan @ 9pm, 31 Jan @8pm

Aeschylus' PROMETHEUS in a new version by Will Gore

25 Jan @ 10pm, 31 Jan @ 6pm

Cervantes' DOGS DIALOGUE in a new version by Gareth Jandrell

10 Jan @ 9pm, 24 Jan @ 8pm, 1 Feb @ 7pm

Euripides' MEDEA in a new version by Emily Juniper

18 & 24 Jan @ 7pm, 1 Feb @ 8pm

Ibsen's JOHN GABRIEL BORKMANN in a new version by Mark Leipacher

11 Jan @ 9pm, 18 Jan @ 10pm

Goethe's FAUST in a new version by Gareth Jandrell

10 & 25 Jan @ 8pm, 18 Jan @ 9pm

Kafka's METAMORPHOSIS in a new version by Gareth Jandrell

10 Jan @ 6pm, 18 Jan @ 8pm, 31 Jan @ 7pm

Lorca's DUENDE in a new version by Rachel Valentine Smith and Kate Sawyer

11 & 25 Jan @ 7pm, 17 Jan @ 9pm

Pirandello's THE MAN WITH THE FLOWER IN HIS MOUTH

10 Jan & 17 Jan @ 7pm, 31 Jan @ 9pm

Schiller's JOAN OF ARC in a new version by Daniel Millar and Mark Leipacher

11 Jan @ 10pm, 17 Jan @ 6pm, 25 Jan @ 9pm

Shakespeare's RICHARD III, directed by Mark Leipacher

5 Jan - 6 Feb 2016, Tues - Sat @ 7.30pm, Saturday matinees @ 3pm from 16 Jan, Captioned performance 28 Jan

Tickets: £17 full price, £14 concessions, £13 previews

The Faction is an ensemble interpreting classic texts with a contemporary aesthetic to engage and excite local, national and international audiences. Peter Brook Award and Off West End Award winners for Best Ensemble, they have a further 17 award nominations for individual actors, directors, designers and stage managers and productions from the Off West End Awards, London Theatre Awards and National Stage Management Awards. An Associate Ensemble of New Diorama Theatre since 2010, The Faction have presented four sell-out and critically acclaimed repertory seasons there garnering four-star reviews from Evening Standard, The Guardian, The Independent, The Telegraph, Time Out, The Times, and WhatsOnStage as well as many other outlets. Run by Artistic Directors Mark Leipacher and Rachel Valentine Smith the company has a vision for a permanent ensemble at a home venue with a European rolling repertoire of productions.

New Diorama Theatre is a pioneering new venue in the heart of London dedicated to providing a home for theatre ensembles, both emerging and established, from across the UK. Having opened in 2010, New Diorama has welcomed over 80,000 audience members and has developed productions that have toured both nationally and internationally. Having received two prestigious Peter Brook Awards for their programme, New Diormaa were also the recipients of the 2013/14 Les Enfant Terribles Prize and Artistic and Executive Director David Byrne was awarded the Off West End Award for Best Artistic Director in 2014. Supported by a strong community programme New Diorama were Mayor of Camden's Official Charity in 2012/13 and our proud of their work with Stagetext, being the only non-government funded small theatre to offer access performances throughout their season.

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