Brits Off-Broadway News

New Perspectives has announced new casting for the return of their award-winning production of Chigozie Obioma's Booker Prize-shortlisted novel The Fishermen, with David Alade joining the cast in the role of Ben alongside Valentine Olukoga who will reprise the role of Obembe. David Alade has previously played the lead role of Thomas in Stormzy's short film Gang Signs & Prayer directed by Rollo Jackson for the BRIT Award winner's debut album release. Most recently, David has written and performed in Foxhunting (Courtyard Theatre), a verbatim drama drawing on transcripts of interviews with South Londoners about their experiences of knife crime.

Tony and Olivier Award winning playwright Alan Ayckbourn's Absurd Person Singular returns to New York this Christmas.

The NYC premiere of 'Handbagged,' written by Moira Buffini and directed by Indhu Rubasingham, is now on stage at 59E59 Theaters as part of Brits Off-Broadway. This unique, fascinating play captures elements of history and the stark differences between Queen Elizabeth and Margaret Thatcher

Following a Stage Award winning run at Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2018 and two sold-out runs at the Arcola, New Perspectives' adaptation of the Booker Prize-nominated novel by Chigozie Obioma will be part of the British Council's Edinburgh Showcase before a six-week run at Trafalgar Studios. Gbolahan Obisesan has adapted the story of four brothers torn apart by a prophecy. In a small Nigerian town, Ben and Obembe slip away to fish at a forbidden river along with their two older brothers. Risking the wrath of their father, who expects great things of them all, they continue unnoticed and carefree until one day the prophecy of a madman changes the course of their lives. Based on the Man Booker Prize-shortlisted novel by one of Africa's major new voices, New Perspectives present Chigozie Obioma's powerful allegory of brotherhood, vengeance and fate.

'Posting Letters to the Moon' is now making its U.S. premiere at 59E59 Theaters. The show features correspondences written during WWII by British actress, Celia Johnson and her husband, writer Peter Fleming. Their beautifully written letters to each other are full of affection, longing, honesty, and humor. Their daughter, Lucy Fleming who stars in the two-hander alongside her husband, Simon Williams compiled the letters.

The US premiere of Killing Time, written by Zoe Mills and directed by Antony Eden is now on stage at 59E59 Theaters as part of the Brits Off Broadway festival of shows. This well-crafted dark comedy keenly addresses end of life issues. It stars the playwright, Zoe Mills and her mother, the acclaimed actor, Brigit Forsyth.

Have some fun and see the US premiere of 'Instructions for American Servicemen in Britain,' a hilarious and inventive play now being performed at 59E59 Theaters through Sunday, May 12.

59E59 Theaters welcomes the US premiere of SQUARE GO, written by Kieran Hurley and Gary McNair and directed by Finn den Hertog. Produced by Francesca Moody Productions (Fleabag) in association with Seared Productions, SQUARE GO begins performances on Wednesday, June 5 for a limited engagement through Sunday, June 30.

59E59 Theaters welcomes the US premiere of JULIE MADLY DEEPLY, written by Sarah-Louise Young with contributions from Russell Lucas and directed by Russell Lucas.

59E59 Theaters (Val Day, Artistic Director; Brian Beirne, Managing Director) is thrilled to welcome to Brits Off Broadway the NYC premiere of HANDBAGGED, written by Moira Buffini and directed by Indhu Rubasingham. Produced by Round House Theatre, HANDBAGGED begins performances on Tuesday, June 4 for a limited engagement through Sunday, June 30. Press Opening is Wednesday, June 12 at 7:00 PM. The performance schedule is Tuesday - Friday at 7:00 PM; Saturday at 2:00 PM & 7:00 PM; and Sunday at 2:00 PM. Performances are at 59E59 Theaters (59 East 59th Street, between Park and Madison). Single tickets are $25 - $70 ($49 for 59E59 Members). To purchase tickets, call the 59E59 Box Office at 646-892-7999 or visit www.59e59.org.

Artists and companies from close to two dozen European countries will gather in New York for the 2nd annual "European Month of Culture NYC," presented by Origin Theatre Company in partnership with the Delegation of the European Union to the United States. A dynamic schedule featuring performances, screenings, readings of new plays, concerts, art exhibits, panels and roundtable discussions, master classes and parties - many of them free events - runs from May 2 to 30, 2019 at venues across the City.

59E59 Theaters (Val Day, Artistic Director; Brian Beirne, Managing Director) is thrilled welcome the US premiere of FERAL, devised by Tortoise in a Nutshell and directed by Ross MacKay.

Following a Stage Award winning run at Edinburgh Festival Fringe and two sold-out runs at the Arcola, New Perspectives' adaptation of the Booker Prize-nominated novel by Chigozie Obioma will receive a West End transfer in September 2019. Gbolahan Obisesan has adapted the story of four brothers torn apart by a prophecy. In a small Nigerian town, Ben and Obembe slip away to fish at a forbidden river along with their two older brothers. Risking the wrath of their father, who expects great things of them all, they continue unnoticed and carefree until one day the prophecy of a madman changes the course of their lives. Based on the Man Booker Prize-shortlisted novel by one of Africa's major new voices, New Perspectives present Chigozie Obioma's powerful allegory of brotherhood, vengeance and fate.

Following a bumper year of five shows which saw East Midlands theatre company New Perspectives premiere their Stage Award winning show The Fishermen, a new production based on John Berger's masterpiece A Fortunate Man, and a first-time collaboration with Midland's rural touring company Pentabus on Crossings, New Perspectives have announced two rural touring productions for 2019. The Man Without A Past, a new adaptation of Finnish film, and a new production of debbie tucker green's trade join their 2019 programme, which has already seen the first of this year's international appearances with A Fortunate Man presented at the M1 Singapore Fringe Festival in January, one of only two British companies to take part in the festival.

59E59 Theaters (Val Day, Artistic Director; Brian Beirne, Managing Director) is thrilled welcome the US premiere of POSTING LETTERS TO THE MOON, compiled by Lucy Fleming from letters written by Celia Johnson and Peter Fleming, to Brits Off Broadway.

59E59 Theaters is thrilled welcome to Brits Off Broadway the US premiere of CAROLINE'S KITCHEN, written by Torben Betts and directed by Alastair Whatley. Produced by Original Theatre Company, Ghost Light Theatre & Eilene Davidson, CAROLINE'S KITCHEN begins performances on Thursday, April 25 for a limited engagement through Saturday, May 25.

59E59 Theaters (Val Day, Artistic Director; Brian Beirne, Managing Director) is thrilled welcome the US premiere of KILLING TIME written by Zoe Mills and directed by Antony Eden. Produced by Word Mills and Dead Letter Perfect in association with the Stephen Joseph Theatre, KILLING TIME begins performances on Thursday, April 18 for a limited engagement through Sunday, May 12. Press Opening is Thursday, April 25 at 7:30 PM. The performance schedule is Tuesday - Friday at 7:30 PM; Saturday at 2:30 PM & 7:30 PM; and Sunday at 2:30 PM. Performances are at 59E59 Theaters (59 East 59th Street, between Park and Madison). Single tickets are $25 ($20 for 59E59 Members). To purchase tickets, call the 59E59 Box Office at 646-892-7999 or visit www.59e59.org. 

59E59 Theaters is thrilled launch Brits Off Broadway with the US premiere of INSTRUCTIONS FOR AMERICAN SERVICEMEN IN BRITAIN, adapted with kind permission from the Bodleian Library's publication 'Instructions for American Servicemen, 1942' by Dan March, Matt Sheahan, James Millard, & John Walton, and directed by John Walton. Produced by Fol Espoir in association with Jermyn Street Theatre and The Real MacGuffins, INSTRUCTIONS FOR AMERICAN SERVICEMEN IN BRITAIN begins performances on Tuesday, April 16

Marking the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, the 80th anniversary of the outbreak of World War II, and the 100th anniversary of the birth of Mateusz Zajac, The Tailor of Inverness, the universally acclaimed international hit play, written and performed by Matthew Zajac, is touring Scotland for the sixth time during April and May.

The Original Theatre Company (OTC), under the Artistic Direction of Alastair Whatley, announces its most ambitious season yet, with an original commission (Caroline's Kitchen), a European premiere (Napoli, Brooklyn), a first revival (The Night Watch) and a 30th anniversary production and first revival (Valued Friends).