Artistic Director Josie Rourke and Executive Producer Kate Pakenham announce today three new productions at the Donmar Warehouse for late 2017 and through to 2018: a new play by Amy Herzog, Belleville, a revival of Peter Gill's modern classic, The York Realist, and a new production of William Congreve's Restoration comedy The Way of the World.
The Donmar will host the UK premiere of American playwright Amy Herzog's acclaimed play Belleville (7 December-3 February 2018). The production will star James Norton and Imogen Poots as New York newlyweds living in Paris, opposite Faith Alabi and Malachi Kirby. Belleville is directed by the award-winning Michael Longhurst who is making his Donmar Warehouse debut.
Donmar Associate and Sheffield Theatres Artistic Director Robert Hastie returns after his hit productions of My Night with Reg and Splendour to direct a revival of Peter Gill's The York Realist (8 February-24 March 2018). Revived 50 years after the partial decriminalisation of homosexuality, The York Realist will star Ben Batt and Lesley Nicol, and will be a co-production with Sheffield Theatres.
The final production will be William Congreve's Restoration comedy The Way of the World (29 March-26 May 2018). James MacDonald returns to the Donmar after his acclaimed production of Arnold Wesker's Roots, directing Linda Bassett who will play Lady Wishfort.
Donmar Associate Artist Tom Scutt will curate Donmar on Design, a week-long festival celebrating the power of design in theatre, and the designers who make it happen.
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. YOUNG+FREE is funded through the generosity of audiences via the Donmar's PAY IT FORWARD scheme.
KLAXON tickets will also continue across the season. Starting from £10, KLAXON tickets are put on sale every Monday for performances in the following three weeks. Tickets will be available across the auditorium at every price band.
Artistic Director Josie Rourke said: "I am delighted to share with you the Donmar's new season: a premiere of an American play, a revival of a modern classic, and one of the great Restoration comedies.
"At the end of this year the Donmar will stage the UK premiere of American playwright Amy Herzog's dazzling play Belleville. Set at Christmas in a bohemian quarter of Paris, James Norton, Imogen Poots, Faith Alabi and Malachi Kirby will all make their Donmar debuts. I am also thrilled to welcome the director Michael Longhurst to the Donmar for the first time, after his acclaimed productions of Caroline, or Change, Amadeus and Constellations.
"Peter Gill's work as a playwright has been part of the Donmar's story for the past decade. We're proud to be reviving his influential play, The York Realist. Donmar Associate Robert Hastie, who delighted Donmar audiences with his celebrated productions of My Night with Reg and Splendour, will direct this delicate piece about love and family ties in rural Yorkshire. He has assembled another stunning cast which includes Ben Batt, Lucy Black, Lesley Nicol, Katie West and Matthew Wilson.
"Finally, we are transported back to 1700 with arguably the best comedy written in the English language: William Congreve's Restoration comedy The Way of the World. We welcome James MacDonald back to the Donmar, after his mesmerizing production of Roots to direct this hilarious classic treat of tricks, love and money. His cast includes Linda Bassett as the brilliant and witty Lady Wishfort.
With this season the Donmar aims to bring audiences world-class artists and essential stories for our times told within the intimate setting of our Covent Garden home."
Executive Producer Kate Pakenham said: "Sharing our work with as broad an audience as possible remains at the heart of the Donmar's mission, so we are delighted to be able to work with Sheffield Theatres on a co-production of The York Realist with our Associate and Sheffield's Artistic Director Robert Hastie. Following its run at the Donmar, The York Realist will play at Sheffield Crucible 27 March - 7 April, taking our work beyond our Covent Garden home.
"I am also thrilled to see KLAXON and YOUNG+FREE tickets continue to grow in popularity. I am proud that these ticket schemes ensure 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 to 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.
"After the very special experience of opening up our Dryden Street home for Rosalie Craig and Michelle Terry's Becoming earlier this year, we are delighted to continue this with the Donmar on Design festival. Curated by our Associate Tom Scutt, the week-long festival will be both an opportunity for audiences to have insight into the design process and for young people to meet and be inspired by world-class theatre designers."
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