Comprising works by two luminaries of twentieth century literature, a giant of European Theatre and one of the great English novelists, the season kicks off with Winnie The Pooh creator, A A Milne's 1921 theatrical work The Dover Road, which runs from September 6 to October 1 and is directed by Nichola McAuliffe. The Dover Road, which was first performed in 1921, is a light- hearted comedy set in a mysterious house just off the Dover Road, inhabited by the enigmatic Mr Latimer. Two runaway couples find themselves enjoying the hospitality of a complete stranger, who seems to have an underlying purpose of his own...
The Dover Road is followed by
Lillian Hellman's 1951 work, The Autumn Garden which runs from October 4 to 26. Set in The Gulf of Mexico on September 1949, it tells the story of the formerly well off Tuckerman family who have hit hard times. To make ends meet, Constance Tuckerman has opened up the old summerhouse to family and friends as paying guests. As the season draws to a close and the guests prepare for one last party, tensions rise as Constance awaits the arrival of her former fiance and his glamorous wife. The Autumn Garden is a slyly funny and melancholic tale of lost hopes, unrequited love and wasted lives from one of the most famous and controversial American women writers of the twentieth century. The production is directed by Jermyn Street Theatre artistic director
Anthony Biggs.
The season continues from November 1 to 26 with Strindberg's Women, a double bill by the giant of Swedish theatre which offers a different side of his vision of the agony and ecstasy of love: Stronger, the only play Strindberg wrote solely for women, tells of two women do battle for the love of one man. Storm is a study of the relationship between a man and his ex-wife as they strive to come to some form of peace and forgiveness in the aftermath of their love. The plays were inspired by two of Strindberg's wives, Siri Von Essen and Harriet Bosse. In them he reveals a different side of himself that recognises the passion of women, and holds out for the possibility of forgiveness and peace between men and women.
Rounding off the season, and running from November 29 to December 21, comes a fresh and faithful adaptation of one of the nation's best loved novels,
Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice adapted by Joannah Tincey, directed by
Abigail Anderson and performed by a cast of two playing all twenty-one characters. The adaptation offers a brand new interpretation of one of literature's great love stories. Two actors juggle the full gamut of Austen's characters and locations; from the Meryton Assembly to the grounds of Pemberley; from Mrs Bennet's nerves to Mr Wickham's misdeeds. And of course Darcy and Lizzy, who move from instant dislike to something altogether more affectionate, all in just two hours.
In addition to announcing the season, Jermyn Street Theatre is also delighted to bring news of the appointment of Tom Littleras Associate Director at the theatre. Tom was associate director at Theatre503 until May this year and, as Artistic Director of his own company Primavera, he has a long association with Jermyn Street Theatre. His work there has included
Howard Brenton's Bloody Poetry in 2012, The Living Room by
Graham Greene in 2013 and the 2014 revival of
Terence Rattigan's First Episode. Tom has also directed at regional reps, in the West End, site-specific productions, commercial tours, and in Europe (in English and other languages).
Jermyn Street Theatre Artistic Director
Anthony Biggs said: "I am delighted with the quality and breadth of work we are presenting this autumn. True to the theatre's aims, the line up offers up a mix of great writing, high production values, thrilling re-discoveries and first-class talent, all staged within an intimate space. I am immensely proud that we uphold the fine reputation the theatre has built up by presenting such a strong programme of work". We are also very pleased to welcome Tom Littler, who, as Associate Director, will bring his own vigour, enthusiasm and talent to add to the strength of the team and creative output of the theatre."
Recent work at Jermyn Street Theatre has included the current production of I'm Getting my Act Together and Taking it On The Road,
Michael Brandon and
Cherie Lunghi starring in Off the King's Road, the revival of J B Priestley's I Have Been Here Before and Anthony Bigg's production of I Loved Lucy which has just transferred to The Abingdon Theatre New York. This work builds on the theatre's other recent successes, which include the UK premiere of
Ruby Rae Spiegel's Dry Land, the acclaimed premiere of Eugene O'Neill's The First Man and
Jonathan Lewis's comedy A Level Playing Field.
Anthony Biggs became Artistic Director of Jermyn Street Theatre in January 2013. His previous productions at the theatre include the recent Flowers of The Forest, The South African Season, The Potsdam Quartet, the UK premiere of Ibsen's St John's Night,
Charles Morgan's The River Line, Ibsen's Little Eyolf and the revival of
Frederick Lonsdale's On Approval.
For more information, visit www.jermynstreettheatre.co.uk.
