Penford’s new season
NOTTINGHAM Playhouse has announced Adam Penford’s second season as artistic director, including the return of Wonderland among the four main productions.
“We’ve been thrilled with the response to Adam’s fantastic first year as artistic director. A really creative and very ambitious season has truly paid off – we’ve loved audiences’ reactions to the work,” said chief executive Stephanie Sirr.
“2019 is already looking like it will have the same high-profile potential and we can’t wait to get started.”
Penford’s first season culminates with Alan Bennett’s The Madness Of George III, which will also be broadcast across the world through National Theatre Live.
He said: “I’m excited our plans for the first half of next year includes four varied main stage shows; a revival, an adaptation of a family novel, a modern classic and a regional premiere.
“We’re also excited to confirm directors for all four shows too; including the return of Matthew Xia – who directed Shebeen for us earlier this year – and two of the most innovative directors in the industry at the moment; Lisa Blair and Adele Thomas.
“I hope to always keep the work fresh and innovative, balancing offering a great night out at the theatre, while challenging the artists we collaborate with to be bolder and more inventive, attracting the highest quality theatre-makers.”
In February, his first production of 2019 is will be the returning Wonderland by Beth Steel, based on the 1984-85 miners’ strike.
Then there’s an adaptation of David Almond’s adaption of his novel Skellig, about a 12-year-old boy who discovers a creature in the garage. Lisa Blair will direct.
Next will be The Memory Of Water; Shelagh Stephenson’s comedy drama directed by National Theatre, Royal Court and Globe regular Adele Thomas. Completing the spring line-up is the regional premiere of American play One Night in Miami…, which will see the return of director Matthew Xia with Olivier awardwinning Kinky Boots star Matt Henry.
■■ For more information visit nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk