Out of Joint to Return to St. James Theatre with THIS MAY HURT A BIT, May 2014

Out of Joint will return to London's St. James Theatre, following their acclaimed 25th anniversary of OUR COUNTRY'S GOOD, with Stella Feehily's ambitious new play about the NHS - THIS MAY HURT A BIT. Exploring the UK's best-loved and most fiercely debated institution, the production will run from Monday 12 May 2014, following a UK tour.

The production is directed by Out of Joint Artistic Director Max Stafford-Clark, whose experience of a major stroke in 2006, plus years of subsequent treatment, inspired playwright Stella Feehily (Max's wife) to research and write the play.

A month after stating "we will stop the top-down reorganisation of the NHS that has got in the way of patient care", the government launched the biggest top-down reorganisation the service had seen in its 65-year history. Stella Feehily's new play explores one family's journey through the digestive system of the NHS, and asks: what is the prognosis?

Out of Joint are also delighted to announce a bold new initiative for the production's London run, in partnership with producer Karl Sydow: Bookers who are quick enough will have access to seats from as little as £5.

Stafford-Clark says, "Here in the UK, theatre is the artform through which we grapple with the great concerns of our time. Many people have strong and complex views on the NHS, and the fact that we have sold nearly 1000 tickets already for our performances of the show in Bolton next year demonstrates a hunger to engage with the subject."

"We are determined that this dazzling and far-reaching new play will be affordable to as many people as possible, even with the financial constraints of a commercial theatre in London with just 300 seats. So we are being bold. We are making 500 seats available across the run for £5 each and a further 1000 seats available for £14 each. This would not be possible without the support of Karl Sydow, to whom we are very grateful."

Stella Feehily's previous plays for Out of Joint include DUCK, O GO MY MAN, DREAMS OF VIOLENCE, and her most recent, BANG BANG BANG, an adventure about two human rights defenders in Congo which packed out the Royal Court's Theatre Upstairs. THIS MAY HURT A BIT will be designed by Tim Shortall, who designed Out of Joint's recent productions of OUR COUNTRY'S GOOD and the West End-transferring TOP GIRLS.

Karl Sydow has recently brought Out of Joint's productions of Our Country's Good and A Dish of Tea with Dr Johnson into the West End.

Press Night: Monday 19 May 2014 at 7.30pm. Karl Sydow presents the Out of Joint and Octagon Theatre Bolton production: THIS MAY HURT A BIT by Stella Feehily, directed by Max Stafford-Clark, with Designer: Tim Shorthall and Sound Designer: Andy Smith. Cast to be announced.

The show runs Monday 12 May - Saturday 21 June 2014 at the St. James Theatre, London, SW1E 5JA, 7.30pm (Monday to Saturday) 2.30pm (Thursday and Saturday).. Prices: £34, £23, £14, £5. Box Office: 0844 264 2140 or www.stjamestheatre.co.uk.