Donmar Warehouse Announces Two New Productions As Part Of Josie Rourke's Final Season

Donmar Warehouse's outgoing Artistic Director Josie Rourke announces today two new productions as part of her final season, both with rising directorial talents at the helm: The UK premiere of Lynn Nottage's Pulitzer Prize-winning play Sweat, directed by former Donmar Resident Assistant Director Lynette Linton; and an original stage adaptation of Peter Strickland's chilling film Berberian Sound Studio, written for the stage by Joel Horwood, marking the directorial debut for Donmar Associate Artist Tom Scutt and starring actor Tom Brooke. Josie Rourke's final production at the Donmar will open in April 2019 and will be announced later this year.

Lynette Linton will make her Donmar debut as director in December with the UK premiere of Lynn Nottage's Pulitzer Prize-winning play Sweat. Nottage spent a number of years with the inhabitants of Reading, Pennsylvania - one of the poorest cities in America - to write Sweat. It powerfully chronicles the story of how the USA has reached its current political and cultural situation. Lynette was previously a Resident Assistant Director at the Donmar, working on productions including Belleville, The Lady from the Sea and The York Realist. The Resident Assistant Director scheme supports artists early in their career to develop their skills and alumni include Artistic Director Josie Rourke, Rupert Goold, Jamie Lloyd, Sacha Wares and Simon Evans.

Donmar Associate Artist Tom Scutt will make his directorial debut in February with an adaptation of Peter Strickland's chilling film Berberian Sound Studio, written for the stage by Joel Horwood. In this darkly comic visual and sonic feast, the company will recreate the world of an Italian sound studio on the Donmar stage each evening. Actor Tom Brooke, recently seen in the BBC's popular drama Bodyguard, will play the central role of Gilderoy. Further casting also includes Enzo Cilenti and Tom Espiner.

Donmar on Design will return to the Donmar's Dryden Street creative hub for a second year, featuring designers in residence within an Open Studio, workshops for schools, a new series of podcast interviews with designers, and a programme of talks and discussions. The 2018 edition will again be curated by Tom Scutt and include discussions on developing audiences through design, design and criticism, and design and identity.

Announced earlier this week - The Donmar Warehouse production of Conor McPherson's chilling play St Nicholas, starring Brendan Coyle and directed by Simon Evans, which is currently being performed at the Donmar's Dryden Street studio space, will extend performances when it transfers to the Smock Alley Theatre as part of the Dublin Theatre Festival, playing until Saturday 20 October.

The Donmar's free ticket scheme for those aged 25 and under, YOUNG+FREE, will continue to offer seats for performances across the new season with tickets released on the final Friday of every month. YOUNG+FREE is funded through the generosity of audiences via the Donmar's PAY IT FORWARD scheme. These donations have allowed the Donmar to allocate more than 12,000 free tickets to those aged 25 and under.

KLAXON tickets will also continue across the season. Starting from £10, KLAXON tickets are released for sale every Monday for performances in the following three weeks. Tickets will be available across the auditorium at every price band. Audiences can sign up to receive information about tickets on the Donmar's website www.donmarwarehouse.com

Artistic Director Josie Rourke said:

"Sixteen years ago, I began my career as a director at the Donmar. I had trained under Sam Mendes, who was then Artistic Director. At the end of my year as the Resident Assistant, Sam then invited me to direct my first professional production at the Donmar. That's one of the reasons why this stage is - to me - the most special, and most memorable of all stages in London.

Within my final season at the Donmar, I wanted to reflect on the place it had at the start of my directing career. I have asked two people at the beginning of their own careers as directors to stage a production for the Donmar. They have both been instrumental in creating some of our recent work and love the Donmar's stage.

Former Resident Assistant Director Lynette Linton will make her debut in December with the UK premiere of Lynn Nottage's Pulitzer Prize-winning play Sweat. Lynn's play was crafted while spending a number of years with the inhabitants of Reading, Pennsylvania - one of the poorest cities in America - and powerfully chronicles the story of today's America.

Following Sweat, Donmar Associate Artist Tom Scutt will make his directorial debut in February with an adaptation of Peter Strickland's chilling film Berberian Sound Studio, written for the stage by Joel Horwood. Tom's stunning designs for previous Donmar productions, which have included Belleville, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, Elegy and The Weir, promise a visual and sonic feast each evening as the company recreate the world of an Italian sound studio on our stage. I am also delighted to welcome actor Tom Brooke who is making his Donmar debut in Berberian Sound Studio.

It is also wonderful to see the Donmar's KLAXON and YOUNG+FREE ticket schemes continue to grow in popularity, ensuring that our venue remains accessible to new audiences, particularly young people.

YOUNG+FREE is made possible by the generosity of the public through PAY IT FORWARD. We have been delighted by our audiences' ongoing support for PAY IT FORWARD and are excited to be working with them to prioritise young people's access to the arts. We are also grateful for the significant support we receive from corporate partners, individual philanthropists and the Arts Council which makes the Donmar's work possible, both on our stage and beyond."

Members Priority Booking for Sweat and Berberian Sound Studio: Steel members from 10am and Copper members from noon on 25 September 2018. Friends from 10am on 27 September 2018. Public Booking for Sweat and Berberian Sound Studio: From 10am on 2 October 2018

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