HIGHTIDE FESTIVAL 2014 Presents Nick Payne, Harry Melling & More, Now thru April 19

Four premiere productions by Elinor Cook, Harry Melling, Dan LeFranc and Nick Payne.

Readings of new plays by Benedict Andrews, Thomas Eccleshare and Chris Thorpe.

PEDDLING transfers off-Broadway to New York's 59E59 Theaters.

Mike Daisey's epic 29-part monologue cycle, ALL THE FACES OF THE MOON, will be presented as a play for headsets.

Judges of the inaugural HighTide / Royal & Derngate Award announced: Sudha Bhuchar, Alecky Blythe,Sebastian Born,Madani Younis, Timberlake Wertenbaker, Amanda Whittington.

Ten Artistic Associates appointed including Blanche McIntyre, Ella Hickson and Prasanna Puwanarajah.

Today HighTide Festival Theatre's Artistic Director Steven Atkinson announces the line-up for the eighth HighTide Festival, taking place today, April 10 - 19 2014 (press day Saturday April 12) in the idyllic Suffolk market town of Halesworth. Tickets go on sale February 10.

Atkinson commented: "We're thrilled to be bringing Nick Payne back to Halesworth for the first time since 2008. Just as his career has blossomed, I hope the same fortune awaits Elinor Cook and Harry Melling, who are both receiving their first professional production in this year's festival. And Michael Boyd is bringing his considerable talents to bear directing the European premiere of Dan LeFranc's US hit THE BIG MEAL, making his first post-RSC production a major new play."

Michael Boyd commented: "The Big Meal is brave, playful, open hearted, and true. Dan LeFranc has created infinite space in a nutshell for this dark comedy about the frailties and mortality of one extended family, and he tells the tale with elegant simplicity and theatrical wit. It's a great play for this inspiring Festival."

Nick Payne commented: "The human brain is the only material in the universe which can come up with and execute tests about not only the universe but also itself. I find the brain endlessly fascinating and constantly baffling. As such, I wanted to write a play about it... I'm excited to be working with nabokov, Live and HighTide, and I can't wait to take this play on tour."

HighTide Festival Plays 2014

PEDDLING, written and performed by Harry Melling (the HARRY POTTER series, KING LEAR Chichester / BAM) receives its world premiere, directed by Steven Atkinson. Following its run at HighTide Festival, the production transfers to New York's 59E59 from April 22 for a 4 week run.

INCOGNITO is a world premiere by Nick Payne, winner of the Evening Standard Award for Best New Play. It is directed by nabokov Artistic Director Joe Murphy (BLINK, THE TAMING OF THE SHREW). Following its run at HighTide, the production transfers to Live Theatre Newcastle and the North Wall Oxford. INCOGNITO is a HighTide / nabokov / Live Theatre Newcastle co-production in association with the North Wall.

THE GIRL'S GUIDE TO SAVING THE WORLD is the professional debut of Elinor Cook, winner of the George Devine Award 2013 for Most Promising Playwright.

THE BIG MEAL by Dan LeFranc makes its European premiere following its off-Broadway premiere at Playwrights Horizons, where it picked up a Drama Desk nomination and four Lucille Lortel nominations, including for Outstanding Play. This is Michael Boyd's first production since leaving the RSC. A HighTide / Theatre Royal Bath Productions co-production, it opens at the Ustinov Studio before transferring to HighTide.

HighTide Festival Readings of new plays

EVERY BREATHby Benedict Andrews (THREE SISTERS, BIG AND SMALL) in its European premiere following its Australian premiere in 2012, directed by Steven Atkinson.

China Plate presents CONFIRMATION written and performed by Chris Thorpe, directed by Rachel Chavkin (The TEAM).

ESCALATOR PLAYS: a revue show inspired by and about and the East of England, directed by Caitlin McLeod.

I'M NOT HERE RIGHT NOW by Thomas Eccleshare (PASTORAL), directed by Valentina Ceschi.

HighTide Festival Visiting Artists

Mike Daisey's epic 29-part monologue cycle, ALL THE FACES OF THE MOON, will be presented as a play for headsets. All 40 hours of this live theatrical novel, recorded consecutively over 29 nights at The Public Theater in New York earlier this year, will be available for free to audiences at the Festival.

Live Theatre's CAPTAIN AMAZING, written by Alistair McDowall (BRILLIANT ADVENTURES).

China Plate's YOU'RE NOT LIKE OTHER GIRLS CHRISSY, written and performed by Caroline Horton, Winner of Best Solo Performer, The Stage Awards 2010.

INHERITANCE BLUES,DugOut Theatre, devised by the company.

Eastern Angles' PALM, WINE AND STOUT, written by Segun Lee-French.

HighTide Festival Music and Comedy

HACKNEY COLLIERY BAND

GENTLEMEN OF THE SHADE

HighTide Festival Opportunities for Young People

Writers' Academy, led by Playwright Vickie Donoghue (MUDLARKS) and Director Justin Audibert.

Tickets up for grabs:

As part of our commitment to young people in the East, The Garfield Weston Foundation have made a charitable donation, allowing us to give away 400 tickets to the region's young people at absolutely no cost. We anticipate the demand for tickets will great and we suggest that you book early.

HighTide Festival Theatre and the Royal & Derngate have also launched the HighTide / Royal & Derngate Award, designed to commission a play which examines life outside of our major cities; an original piece which explores and has its roots in those towns and rural communities that make up the majority of the population. Today we can announce that joining Steven Atkinson and James Dacre are a panel of eminent judges: Sudha Bhuchar (Tamasha), Alecky Blythe (playwright), Sebastian Born (National Theatre),Madani Younis (Bush Theatre), Timberlake Wertenbaker (playwright), Amanda Whittington (playwright).

Ten Artistic Associates, comprised of established and upcoming artists, have been appointed to support the Artistic Director in reading and considering the 1000 scripts HighTide receives every year. The Associates are: Tom Attenborough, Justin Audibert, Richard Beecham, Ella Hickson, Paul Jellis, Blanche McIntyre, Prasanna Puwanarajah, Stephanie Street, Chris Thorpe, Will Wrightson.

HIGHTIDE FESTIVAL 2014 LISTINGS

HighTide Festival, Halesworth, Suffolk IP19 8BY

Festival Dates: 10 - 19 April inclusive.

PRESS DAY: Saturday 12 April 2014

Performances will take place from 11.00 - 23.00 each day.

Transport:

Trains: Direct from Ipswich and Lowestoft, with connections to London Liverpool Street and Norwich.

Driving: 50 minutes from Norwich, 2hrs 30 from central London.

www.hightide.org.uk

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