Jenny Hicks and Jacqueline Holborough were both serving sentences in HMP Askham Grange when they decided that prison needed theatre. Hence, Clean Break was born. From a collective of ex-prisoners, the company grew to be one of Britain's most progressive, life-changing, and groundbreaking organisations.
It showcases the strength of silence and slowness with an ending that won't be forgotten.
Studio Theatre's current production of Lucy Kirkwood's contemporary play THE CHILDREN benefits greatly from a strong director (the company's Artistic Director David Muse) guiding three exceptionally talented actors that work together as a singular unit to present the story. Strong production values also enable the cast and audience alike to immerse themselves in the story.
Shakespeare & Company's season opens Memorial Day Weekend with Pulitzer Prize finalist The Waverly Gallery by Kenneth Lonergan, directed by Founding Artistic Director Tina Packer. This powerful story sheds a heartrending and humorous light on the effects of senility on a family. Performances run from May 23rd - July 14th in the Elayne P. Bernstein Theatre.
Lucy Kirkwood's aptly titled THE CHILDREN, now in its Chicago premiere at Steppenwolf Theatre Company, poses thought-provoking questions about the responsibilities that humankind has to future generations. Kirkwood's intentionally crafted play filters these broad themes through the specific narrative of her three characters, all nuclear scientists. The larger repercussions of the characters' careerss means that Kirkwood can dive into the meaty content of the play with both a particular emotional arc and also with a universality that should resonate with all audience members. Because of this, THE CHILDREN comes across as rather pointed in certain moments, but the weight of the issues that Kirkwood presents allows it to resonate deeply.
Where to start when reviewing the best play in town? Start with the beginning I suppose, and The Children begins with a gorgeous set courtesy of Michael Krauss and Carlo Lorenzo Garcia. It's a small cottage on the east coast of England and it has that perfect 'lived-in look'. It would be easy to create a passable set but this one is rich with details, depth and character. Add to that a terrific lighting design from Alison Lewis and sound design from Craig Brock and you have a three-dimensional environment worthy of a play of this caliber from playwright Lucy Kirkwood.
Lucy Kirkwood's explosive The Children begins as a caustic, bold comedy between a late-middle-aged couple (Hazel and Robin) and a friend (Rose) from many years ago who makes an unannounced visit to their seaside cottage on the east coast of England. The thin veneer of civility flakes away and the caustic nature of their relationships become apparent. What becomes apparent to the audience is that these three old friends have much more to discuss than just old times and these three actors bring years of experience and flare to the Phoenix stage.
Over 40 years, Clean Break has commissioned some of the most progressive and brilliant women writers to write ground-breaking plays, alongside developing the writing skills of the women it works with in its London studios and in prisons. As part of the company's 40th Anniversary year, Methuen Drama publishes a collection of monologues from this canon.
Steppenwolf Theatre Company presents the Chicago premiere ofThe Children written by acclaimed British playwright Lucy Kirkwood and helmed by celebrated Chicago director Jonathan Berry.
Jobsite Theater has broken all-time sales records with three of the first four plays in their 20th Anniversary Season, ensuring that this will be their best season to date in every category. The resident theater company of the Straz Center now turns their eyes to Lucy Kirkwood's Hedda, a gripping modern-day adaptation of Henrik Ibsen's Hedda Gabler, on stage in a North American professional premiere May 10 - Jun. 2, 2019.
Artistic Director Braden Abraham today announced Seattle Rep's new nine-play 2019/2020 season, which features the second Public Works Seattle production, two musical works, a world premiere, a Pulitzer-Prize nominated play, and more. To align with their vision of 'theater at the heart of public life,' Seattle Rep is also rolling out their new visual identity over the next few months, with a full campaign to be launched in August. With this announcement of the new season, Seattle will get a taste of what is coming at Seattle Rep.
The Broadway hit musical drama CHOIR BOY; the satirical and timely new comedy ADMISSIONS; the modern urban masterpiece PASS OVER; the Tony-nominated eco-thriller THE CHILDREN; and the sweeping Broadway musical BRIGHT STAR will make up SpeakEasy Stage Company's 2019-2020 Season, the company's Founder and Producing Artistic Director Paul Daigneault announced today.
Drawing parallels with particle physics, Lucy Kirkwood's latest play MOSQUITOES considers human behavior and family dynamics.
Studio Theatre concludes its 40th Anniversary Season Main Series productions with the DC premiere of playwright Lucy Kirkwood's urgent and unsettling eco-thriller The Children, directed by Studio Artistic Director David Muse. Inspired in part by the 2011 Fukushima nuclear explosion in Japan, Kirkwood's disaster drama begins as an old love triangle flaring to life in the aftermath of a natural disaster and morphs into a disquieting look at the cataclysmic impact of human intervention in the natural world. The Children deepens Muse's relationship with Kirkwood's work he directed the US premiere of her Olivier Award-winning epic play Chimerica in 2015.
Lucy Kirkwood's explosive The Children begins as a caustic, bold comedy between a late-middle-aged couple (Hazel and Robin) and a friend (Rose) from many years ago who makes an unannounced visit to their seaside cottage on the east coast of England. The thin veneer of civility flakes away and the caustic nature of their relationships become apparent. What becomes apparent to the audience is that these three old friends have much more to discuss than just old times.
Lynne Meadow (Artistic Director) and Barry Grove (Executive Producer) are pleased to announce the complete casting for the world premiere of Continuity, the new play by Lortel and Drama Desk Award nominee Bess Wohl (Small Mouth Sounds, American Hero) and directed by Tony Award nominee Rachel Chavkin (Hadestown; Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812). The production will feature Max Baker (1984, The Explorers Club), Jasmine Batchelor (The River), Rosal Colon ('Orange is the New Black,' Between Riverside and Crazy), Curran Connor (Pidgeon, A Picture of Autumn), Garcia ('Tales of the City'), Darren Goldstein (Lillian Hellman's The Little Foxes, The Madrid), Alex Hurt (Cardinal, The Whirligig) and Megan Ketch (The Big Wedding, 'American Gothic').
Steppenwolf Theatre Company presents the Chicago premiere of The Children written by acclaimed British playwright Lucy Kirkwood and helmed by celebrated Chicago director Jonathan Berry
Clean Break continues its 40th anniversary year following the success of its Spring season, which opened with the sold-out run of Inside Bitch at the Royal Court Theatre.
Berkeley's acclaimed Aurora Theatre Company(Artistic Director Tom Ross) announces today the six plays that will comprise the theatre's 28th season, beginning with the Bay Area Premiere of Ike Holter's energetic drama, EXIT STRATEGY. The Bay Area premiere of Bryna Turner's BULL IN A CHINA SHOP follows. Lucy Kirkwood's recent Broadway hit THE CHILDREN will kick off the new year as a West Coast Premiere, followed by Joe Orton's classic LOOT in a production honoring the playwright's unseen and uncensored version. Next is the World Premiere of Christopher Chen's thought-provoking Originate + Generate commission, THE RULER. The season closes with the Bay Area premiere of Laura Eason's smart comedy SEX WITH STRANGERS.
Shakespeare & Company is proud to announce its 2019 Summer Season casting. Under the direction of Artistic Director Allyn Burrows the Company's Summer Season includes a roster of audience beloved artists, critically-acclaimed actors, and a host of newcomers.
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