Returning Rep will Bring us sunshine!
THE REOPENING OF THEATRES WILL COME JUST IN TIME FOR THE BIRMINGHAM REP TO MARK A SPECIAL ANNIVERSARY WITH A SEASON OF POPULAR SHOWS. DIANE PARKES REPORTS
THE Birmingham Rep will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the opening of its Centenary Square theatre with an autumn programme packed with blockbuster shows.
Founded in 1913 in Station Street, The REP outgrew its former home and moved into its Broad Street site in October 1971.
Architect Graham Winteringham was challenged with recreating the democratic auditorium of the Old Rep but on a much larger scale. And he was so successful the theatre won a Royal Institute of British Architects Award for its fan-shaped, raked auditorium and epic-sized stage.
Full plans for the birthday celebrations have yet to be revealed but The Rep’s artistic director, Sean Foley, this week announced the first four shows to launch the anniversary season.
These include revivals of the hugely popular The Play What I Wrote and East is East plus two world premieres – What’s New Pussy Cat? set to songs by Sir Tom Jones, and Coming to England, a stage adaptation of Dame Floella Benjamin’s autobiography.
Despite the difficulties of the past year, in which the theatre has largely been closed due to the Covid-19 lockdowns, Sean has been determined to deliver a birthday with a bang.
“A 50th anniversary is significant and it’s a milestone in the life of The REP,” he says. “Birmingham Repertory Theatre Company has a long and illustrious history and we want to mark this moment.”
The new season sees Sean reviving the show which he co-wrote and starred in on the West End. The Play What I Wrote is a fun-filled homage to comedy duo Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise. The show won an Olivier Award for Best Comedy and toured the UK including Birmingham after a successful London run. “The Play What I Wrote is another anniversary because it will be 20 years ago come November when I first performed it in London’s glittering West End,” recalls Sean. “In many ways, this show changed my life so I always have a soft spot for it. But also, and more importantly, audiences have a soft spot for it too. “It’s never had a revival so there was always this opportunity to say we should do it again. I’m a bit older now and my knees are going so I’m taking a different role because I’m going to be directing.”
The Play What I Wrote, which will
be staged at The Rep between November 27 and January 1, gained a loyal following of audience members returning to see the show again and again – because of a surprise element.
Sean says: “Exactly like in the Morecombe and Wise Show, there’s a play within a play and there’s a guest star. When we first did it everyone from Ralph Fiennes to Dawn French to Sting to Ewan McGregor came as guest stars and people loved that.
“We will certainly invite some of our wonderful guest stars back to be
in the show but there’s also a whole new generation of talent now – including amazing people from Birmingham like Adrian Lester, David Harewood and Felicity Jones who could be incredible guest stars.”
The autumn season kicks off with another birthday – the 25th anniversary production of Ayub KhanDin’s comedy drama East is East from September 4-25. And it will be a special return to the theatre where it was first staged.
“East is East debuted in October 1996 at Birmingham Rep and went on to become this huge hit, then a successful film,” says Sean. “It’s an iconic piece of work in terms of the Pakistani British community but, because it’s essentially about a family drama, everyone can identify with the story. It’s an incredibly funny piece of theatre and it’s wonderful that we can mark the 25th anniversary production in our 50th anniversary season.”
Set in 1971, East is East was revived at The Rep in 2009, directed by Iqbal Khan, who returns to direct this 2021 production in his newly announced role as associate director.
Birmingham-born Iqbal has worked across the globe with previous shows including the criticallyacclaimed Tartuffe and Othello for the Royal Shakespeare Company and Macbeth at The Globe. Previously an associate artist at The Rep, he joins the team alongside associate director Madeleine Kludje and Sean.
“Iqbal is a son of Birmingham and one of the finest directors in the UK and internationally so we are absolutely thrilled that he’s joining the company as associate director,” says Sean. “He’s an incredibly sophisticated director who can handle comedy, drama and history plays and his wide connections across our industry are going to be invaluable to us in building The REP back up from this pandemic.”
The new show What’s New Pussycat? from October 8 to November 14 brings together two very different Tom Jones.
“Henry Fielding’s Tom Jones is one of the earliest novels in the English language. It’s a comic picaresque novel telling the capers of Tom Jones as he makes his way in life,” explains Sean. “And the team had the brilliant idea of setting those stories to the songs of the other Tom Jones.”
Produced by Kilimanjaro Theatricals and Donna Munday with choreography by former Strictly Come Dancing judge Arlene Phillips, the show features a string of Tom’s hits including Delilah, Sex Bomb, It’s Not Unusual and Mama Told Me Not To Come.
“The action has been moved from the 18th century to 1960s London and it’s going to be an absolutely wonderful night out with all of Tom Jones’ hits peppered throughout
the show. We are holding the world premiere and Tom Jones has promised to come. I can’t say which night though so everyone will be taking potluck when they buy their ticket on whether Tom Jones will be there.”
And a second world premiere, Coming to England from February 19 to March 6, tells the life story of television presenter, actress, writer and businesswoman Dame Floella Benjamin.
Arriving in England from Trinidad in 1960 at the age of ten, she became a household name fronting the children’s television series Play School and Play Away and is now a life peer in the House of Lords.
“The show focuses on Floella growing up and becoming the person that she is today. She’s overcome such challenges in her life – challenges a lot of people will still be familiar with like racism, poverty and being an immigrant in a land you don’t know.
‘‘All of the themes in this show are so relevant to us now and yet it’s wrapped in this incredible positivity and drive which comes from Floella and her generosity of spirit which embraces everyone.
“We’re thrilled to be producing this with Floella. It’s a big family show with music and Floella says, for her, family means ‘at least three generations’ so it will be for children, their parents and their grandparents.”
The new season aims to reflect and celebrate the rich diversity of Birmingham, says Sean.
“What makes Birmingham a great city is this amazing demographic and, as the city’s theatre, The Rep should reflect that. Birmingham is the epitome of a Commonwealth and global city and the arts and culture and the people on our stages should reflect that. “For us, it’s not just about these four shows, but our wider creative team who are part of this and reflect Birmingham’s diversity in all ways. It’s important for everyone in the city to be able to see a version of themselves on stage – that’s a huge part of what motivates me to create work here.”
October will see the first of a new kind of comedy festival at The Rep, the result of a partnership with Sky Studios to nurture future talent. Working with Anil Gupta, who produced television series The Office and Goodness Gracious Me, Sean and the team have devised a new initiative for upcoming comedic talent.
Sean explains: “We will select nine people a year to receive a bursary and they will be assigned a significant established comedy writer to work with them for six months and then we will put on their work in a three-day festival.”
After a year with The Rep staging very few live productions, Sean is looking forward to welcoming back audiences. Live shows begin again in May with Rosie Kay Dance Company’s Absolute Solo II and Lighthouse Theatre Company’s Constructed, followed by a Birmingham Royal Ballet double bill in June. The autumn then brings the fuller programme.
“We have been working on putting these shows together for a long time,” Sean says. “The last year has been a struggle but we are delighted that we are here and that people can come out and see live entertainment.
“Government guidelines mean that we should be able to operate at full capacity after June 21. However we have taken the precaution of making sure we can run all these shows at 50 per cent capacity if we need to.
‘‘We are also looking at keeping a couple of shows a week socially distanced because we know some people will still be nervous about coming out. But, as long as the health regulations allow, we will be open at 100 per cent and are aiming to sell every ticket.
“I can’t wait to see that auditorium full because when it is full The Rep is one of the most incredible theatres in the country.”
■ Tickets for the new shows go on sale to members from April 26 and general sale from April 30. See www.birmingham-rep.co.uk
We are holding the world premiere and Tom Jones has promised to come