The Donmar Warehouse’s outgoing Artistic Director Josie Rourke has today announced two new productions as part of her final season at the theatre, both with rising directorial talents at the helm.
Running from 7 December 2018 to 26 January 2019, former Donmar Resident Assistant Director Lynette Linton will direct the UK premiere of Lynn Nottage’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play, Sweat.
Sweat is a powerful account of Nottage’s time spent with the inhabitants of Reading, Pennsylvania – one of the poorest cities in America – chronicling the story of how the USA has reached its current political and cultural situation.
The creative team include Designer Frankie Bradshaw, Lighting Designer Oliver Fenwick, Sound Designer and Composer George Dennis, Movement Director Polly Bennett, and Casting Director Amy Ball CDG.
SWEAT Donmar Warehouse © Spencer Platt (Getty Images)
Following that, Donmar Associate Artist Tom Scutt will make his directorial debut 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.
Tom Brooke will play the central role of Gilderoy. Further casting includes Enzo Cilenti and Tom Espiner.
The creative team includes: Designer Anna Yates and Tom Scutt, Lighting Designer Lee Curran, Sound Designer and Composer Ben and Max Ringham, Movement Director Sasha Milavic Davies, and Casting Director Amy Ball CDG.
Berberian Sound Studio runs from 8 February 2019 to 30 March 2019.
BERBERIAN SOUND STUDIO Donmar Warehouse © Damien Frost
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.”
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