City News

Birmingham Repertory Theatre’s Artistic Director Rachel Kavanaugh, today unveils the theatre’s new season for Spring And Summer 2009, following a hugely successful Autumn and Winter 2008 season which saw a remarkable 52% increase in ticket sales.

And, with more than 48,000 tickets already sold for the theatre’s family-friendly Christmas production of The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe that figure is set to increase even further.

March – June 2009 offers a rich and diverse programme with highlights to appeal to families, children and serious theatre-goers alike.

The season opens with a new staging of Philip Pullman’s epic fantasy His Dark Materials (13 March – 11 April). Daemons, armoured bears, witches, gyptians and cliff-ghasts are just some of the magical creations from Pullman’s best-selling and award-winning trilogy. The riveting story has been adapted for the stage into two plays by Nicholas Wright and directed by Rachel Kavanaugh, who is working with specialist puppet company Blind Summit, designer Ruari Murchison and a company of 27 actors to bring Pullman’s magical worlds to life. Following its run in Birmingham, The REP will tour His Dark Materials to Salford, Oxford, Bromley, Northampton, Edinburgh and Leeds.
 
For Summer The REP will stage the jubilant Caribbean musical, Once On This Island by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty (5 – 20 June). Based on the story of The Little Mermaid, it is a vibrant and moving musical telling the story of a beautiful peasant girl who falls in love with a wealthy Creole planter. The musical received its European premiere at The REP in 1994 and went on to the West End and to win the Oliver Award for Best New Musical. The musical will star Sharon D Clarke (Holby City, Last Choir Standing), who appeared in the original REP production.

As part of the theatre’s commitment to new writing and work for children, The REP presents an international collaboration between writers and actors from the UK, Japan and Korea to create a new play for children. Looking For Yoghurt (15 - 30 May) is a funny and touching play inspired by the imagination and wisdom of children. It tells the story of a young girl Norang who has lost her friend – a stray cat called Yoghurt. Following its world premiere at The REP, the play will tour to Korea and Japan.

Other highlights of the 2009 season include the critically-acclaimed comedy Boeing Boeing (21 - 25 April), which touches down at The REP as part of a UK tour with a cast staring The Marquez Brothers, Susie Blake and Sarah Jayne Dunn. For young audiences, Roald Dahl’s much-loved story The BFG presented by the Royal & Derngate Northampton comes to The REP in June (23- 27 June). The programme of work in The Door will feature the latest shows from the very best touring companies including the internationally acclaimed Unlimited Theatre with their haunting production The Moon, The Moon (1- 4 April), Foursight Theatre’s Can Any Mother Help Me? (18 – 21 March), adapted from Jenna Bailey’s book based on the Cooperative Correspondence Club and leading spoken word artist Zena Edwards with her comical and moving show, Security (22 – 24 April).

Rachel Kavanaugh, who now celebrates 2 years as The REP’s Artistic Director, believes that the new season continues to demonstrate what the theatre does best.

“It’s impossible to express just how rewarding it is to see generations of families packing out our theatre,” says Artistic Director Rachel Kavanaugh. “Theatre can be an enriching, educational and enjoyable experience, and our programme for 2009 shows just how The REP offers the very best theatre for people of all ages and tastes.

“These are tough times for everyone and people are tightening their belts. We can’t take success for granted, but I want us to continue to bring people a chance to escape for an evening, and we can do that by continuing to offer world class theatre that is affordable.”