Fellini's Oscar-winning LA STRADA Comes to the Stage
By: Liz Cearns Oct. 07, 2016
Based on the subject and script work by Federico Fellini, Ennio Flaiano and Tullio Pinelli Directed by Sally Cookson, Composed by Benji Bower.
UK TOUR 11 Feb - 27 May 2017
THE OTHER PALACE, LONDON 30 May - 8 Jul 2017
One of the true masterpieces of modern cinema, Federico Fellini's 1957 Oscar-winning film, LA STRADA (The Road), will be brought to life on stage in a brand new adaptation directed by Olivier Award nominee Sally Cookson with music composed by Benji Bower. The production will receive its world premiere at the Belgrade Theatre, Coventry on 11 February 2017 where it opens for the start of a 16-week national tour, prior to its London transfer. On 30 May LA STRADA will receive its London premiere at The Other Palace, the newest addition to Andrew Lloyd Webber's Really Useful Theatre Group, where it will run for 6 weeks until 8 July 2017. Tickets are now on sale.*
Awarded the honorary Oscar for Lifetime Achievement in 1993, Italian director Federico Fellini changed the face of film-making forever with his seminal films such as La Strada, La Dolce Vita, 8½, Nights of Cabiria and Satyricon. Marking 60 years since La Strada, starring Anthony Quinn, won the 'Best Foreign Language Film' Academy award, Fellini's cinematic masterpiece, hailed as "one of the most influential films ever made" (the American Film Institute), sees its first ever UK stage adaptation.
A soul-searching story filled with beauty, sadness, humour and acute observation, LA STRADA tells the tragic and tender tale of wide-eyed Gelsomina who is sold by her impoverished mother to the brutish strongman Zampano, a travelling sideshow performer. Their journey through the Italian countryside leads them to a ragtag touring circus where they meet Il Matto the free-spirited tightrope walker, who tries to rekindle Gelsomina's broken spirit.
Director Sally Cookson says: "Felini's iconic film has always fascinated me and the thought of using it as a starting point to make a piece of theatre was one I couldn't resist. A folk-tale like odyssey - this story sees three lost souls travelling 'the road' and searching in different ways to find meaning in their lives. Using physical story telling, music and movement, we will be attempting to find a theatricality to re imagine this story of human suffering, longing and redemption."
Featuring live music and original songs, LA STRADA brings together a multi-skilled cast of performers and musicians. Audrey Brisson (Cirque de Soleil's Quidam, Kneehigh's The Cast of the Flying Lovers of Vitebsk, Dead Dog in a Suitcase, The Wild Bride and National Theatre's The Elephantom) plays Gelsomina, Stuart Goodwin (Sally Cookson's Sleeping Beauty; Kneehigh's Tristan & Yseult) plays Zampano and Bart Soroczynski (Cirque de Loin's The Fool & The Princess; ENO's Benvenuto Cellini; RSC's The Merry Wives of Windsor) plays Il Matto. The ensemble cast includes: Matt Costain, Fabrizio Matteini, Sofie Lybäck, Niv Petel, Niccolo Curradi, Tatiana Santini, Luke Potter and Tee Jay Holmes. Further casting to be announced.
LA STRADA is directed by Sally Cookson, with musical direction and music by Benji Bower, 'writer in the room' Mike Akers, set and costume design by Katie Sykes, lighting design by Aideen Malone and sound design by Mike Beer.
Director Sally Cookson is an associate artist of Bristol Old Vic. Together with long-time creative collaborator, composer and musical director Benji Bower, their many productions include: Jane Eyre (Bristol Old Vic and National Theatre), the Olivier Award nominated Hetty Feather (West End, National Tour & Florida USA), Peter Pan (National Theatre), Treasure Island (Bristol Old Vic), the Olivier Award nominated Cinderella: A Fairytale (Tobacco Factory Theatre) and Varmints (Sadler's Wells).
Multi Olivier award-winning producer Kenny Wax says: "I have been trying to mount a stage production of LA STRADA for many years. When Sally Cookson told me it was her favourite film, the stars seemed to align more perfectly than I could have ever dreamed. And that is only half the back story."
www.lastradalive.com
*COVENTRY The Belgrade Theatre Belgrade Square, Corporation Street, Coventry CV1 1GS Dates: Sat 11 - Sat 11 February Performance Times: Monday to Saturday at 7.45pm [exc Tuesday 14 Feb at 7.00pm] Saturday 10/17 Feb matinees at 2.30pm, Wednesday 14 Feb matinee at 2.30pm Box Office: 024 7655 3055 Website: www.belgrade.co.uk
*MILTON KEYNES Milton Keynes Theatre 500 Marlborough Gate, Milton Keynes MK9 3NZ Dates: Mon 20 - Sat 25 February Performance Times: Monday to Saturday at 7.30pm Wednesday & Saturday matinees at 2.30pm Box Office: 0844 871 7652 Website: www.atgtickets.com/miltonkeynes
*RICHMOND Richmond Theatre The Green, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1QJ Dates: Mon 27 Feb - Sat 4 March Performance Times: Monday to Saturday at 2.30pm Wednesday & Saturday matinees at 2.30pm Box Office: 0844 871 7651 Website: www.atgtickets.com/richmond
*CHELTENHAM Everyman Theatre Regent Street, Cheltenham GL50 1HQ Dates: Mon 6 - Sat 11 March Performance Times: Monday to Saturday at 7.45pm Thursday & Saturday matinees at 2.00pm Box Office: 01242 572573 Website: www.everymantheatre.org.uk
OXFORD Oxford Playhouse Beaumont Street, Oxford OX1 2LW Dates: Mon 20 - Sat 25 March Performance Times: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday at 7.30pm Friday at 8.00pm, Thursday matinee & Saturday matinee at 2.30pm Box Office: 01865 305305 Website: www.oxfordplayhouse.com
CAMBRIDGE Cambridge Arts Theatre 6 St Edward's Passage, Cambridge CB2 3PJ Date: Mon 27 March - Sat 8 April Performance Times: TBC Prices: TBC Box Office: 01223 503333 Website: www.cambridgeartstheatre.com
*BRISTOL Bristol Old Vic King Street, Bristol BS1 4ED Date: Tue 11 - Sat 22 April Performance Times: Tuesday to Saturday at 7.30pm Saturday matinees at 2.30pm Box Office: 0117 987 7877 Website: www.bristololdvic.org.uk
LEEDS West Yorkshire Playhouse Playhouse Square, Quarry Hill, Leeds LS2 7UP Dates: Mon 24 - Sat 29 April Performance Times: Monday - Saturday at 7.30pm Wednesday matinee at 1.30pm, Saturday matinee at 2.00pm Box Office: 0113 213 7700 Website: www.wyp.org.uk
EXETER Northcott Theatre Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QB Dates: Tue 2 - Sat 6 May Performance Times: Tuesday - Saturday at 7.30pm Wednesday & Saturday matinees at 2.30pm Box Office: 01392 726363 Website: www.exeternorthcott.co.uk
BIRMINGHAM The REP Broad Street, Birmingham B1 2EP Dates: Mon 8 - Sat 13 May Performance Times: Monday 7.00pm, Tuesday - Saturday at 7.30pm Wednesday & Saturday matinees at 2.30pm Box Office: 0121 236 4455 Website: www.birmingham-rep.co.uk
*SALFORD QUAYS The Lowry Pier 8, Salford Quays M50 3AZ Dates: Mon 15 - Sat 20 May Performance Times: Monday - Saturday evenings at 8.00pm Wednesday & Saturday matinees at 2.30pm Box Office: 0843 208 6000 Wesbite: www.thelowry.com
SHEFFIELD Lyceum Theatre 55 Norfolk Street, Sheffield S1 1DA Dates: Mon 22 - Sat 27 May Performance Times: Monday - Saturday evenings at 7.45pm Thursday matinee at 2.00pm, Saturday matinee at 3.00pm Box Office: 0114 249 6000 Wesbite: www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk
LONDON SEASON *The Other Palace 12 Palace Street, London SW1 E 5JA Dates: Tuesday 30 May - Saturday 8 July 2017 Performance Times: Monday - Saturday evenings at 7.30pm Thursday & Saturday matinees at 2.30pm Press night: Wednesday 31 May at 7pm Preview price: All tickets £20 Ticket prices: £20/£35/£39.50 Box Office: 0844 264 2121 Website: www.theotherpalace.co.uk
You can read more about new venue the Other Place's first season here.
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