NANCY MEDINA News

Bristol Old Vic today launched its 2020 programme of work, Year of Artists a?" shining a spotlight on the role of artists in a changing world, and celebrating creativity in us all. Work from some of the most incredible talent in British theatre today (from Emma Rice, Sally Cookson, Joel Horwood and Maria Aberg) sits alongside dazzling new writers and artists (such as Ross Willis and Miranda Cromwell) and opportunities for everyone from across the region, regardless of age, experience or background, to get creatively involved.

Theatre Royal Bath Productions today announces three new premieres to open at the Ustinov Studio including Hansol Jung's Wild Goose Dreams which premieres next month (21 November to 21 December) with opening night for press on 27 November, Will Eno's Drama Desk Award winning play The Realistic Joneses (6 February to 7 March), followed by the latest drama from emerging playwright Kate Attwell, Testmatch (2 April to 9 May 2020), in a co-production with English Touring Theatre.

The Young Vic Directors Program announces the launch of a new, improved Genesis Network website. The website has been updated and developed to better facilitate the community and peer-support at the heart of the Young Vic Directors Program, the only scheme of its kind, which has been running for nearly twenty years. The program currently serves nearly 1,000 directors, designers and producers living in the UK at the early stages of their career.

It's Pittsburg, 1969, and the city's Hill District is far from the vibrant, bustling, jazz-soaked African-American neighbourhood it was in its prime. August Wilson's Two Trains Running brings a shabby diner in this threatened community to life, offering a window onto the lives of seven irregular regular customers and, ultimately, the state of America in the sixties.

The Young Vic today announces the complete cast for Lauren Yee's critically acclaimed in a word, directed by Genesis Future Directors Award recipient Dadiow Lin.

A slice-of-African-American-life in 1960s Pittsburgh comes to life at Royal and Derngate

Royal & Derngate and English Touring Theatre presents August Wilson's Two Trains Running. Medina directs Geoff Aymer (West), Ray Emmet Brown (Wolf), Derek Ezenagu (Hambone), Andrew French (Memphis), Leon Herbert (Holloway), Michael Salami (Sterling) and Anita-Joy Uwajeh (Risa).

Royal & Derngate and English Touring Theatre present Nancy Medina's production of August Wilson's Two Trains Running. Medina directs Geoff Aymer (West), Ray Emmet Brown (Wolf), Derek Ezenagu (Hambone), Andrew French (Memphis), Leon Herbert (Holloway), Michael Salami (Sterling) and Anita-Joy Uwajeh (Risa). The production opens at Royal & Derngate Northampton on 4 September, with previews from 31 August and runs until 14 September before embarking on a UK tour to Nuffield Southampton Theatres, Oxford Playhouse, Cast Doncaster, New Wolsey Theatre, Yvonne Arnaud Theatre and Derby Theatre.

Royal & Derngate and English Touring Theatre today announce the full cast for Nancy Medina's production of August Wilson's Two Trains Running. Medina directs Geoff Aymer (West), Ray Emmet Brown (Wolf), Derek Ezenagu (Hambone), Andrew French (Memphis), Leon Herbert (Holloway), Michael Salami (Sterling) and Anita-Joy Uwajeh (Risa). The production opens at Royal & Derngate Northampton on 4 September, with previews from 31 August and runs until 14 September before embarking on a UK tour to Nuffield Southampton Theatres, Oxford Playhouse, Cast Doncaster, New Wolsey Theatre, Yvonne Arnaud Theatre and Derby Theatre.

Demi is the bastard son of a Nigerian woman and the Greek god Zeus. Half mortal, he has strong elemental power, but also possesses an insane talent in playing basketball. Spanning through Greek and Yoruba mythology, Inua Ellam's magical poem takes you back to the roots of performance.

We risk war. This is the consequence. Battle. Shield. Spear and sword. Conflict amongst the Gods. This must be avoided.'

Inua Ellams' new play, The Half God of Rainfall receives its world premiere at Birmingham Repertory Theatre from 13 - 20 April (press night Tue 16 April, 7pm).

With the critically-acclaimed Equus and The Funeral Director currently touring the UK, English Touring Theatre today announces the full tour dates for its Autumn 2019 Season. The company, in a co-production with Royal & Derngate, present the revival of August Wilson's Two Trains Running directed by the 2018 winner of the RTST Sir Peter Hall Director Award, Nancy Medina. Then, in a co-production with Sheffield Theatres, they present the world premiere stage adaptation of Matt Haig's Reasons to Stay Alive.

Royal & Derngate announces another world premiere production, a musical staging of Pippi Longstocking, for the venue's Made in Northampton 2019 Christmas show. Meanwhile, the venue's 2018 Christmas production of The Worst Witch continues to tour the UK. Pippi Longstocking is adapted for the stage for the first time by Mike Akers from Astrid Lindgren's much-loved books, with original music by Stu Barker. It will be directed by The Wardrobe Ensemble's Jesse Jones and Helena Middleton who co-directed Education, Education, Education for Royal & Derngate in 2017.

This Autumn Season, join the New Wolsey Theatre as they present the brilliantly funny ONE MAN, TWO GUVNORS by Richard Bean in association with Nuffield Southampton Theatres.

Casting has been announced for Nancy Medina's forthcoming production of Inua Ellams' new play The Half-God of Rainfall. Rakie Ayola (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child) will play Modupe, mother to her half-god son Demi who will be played by Kwami Odoom (Barber Shop Chronicles). This world premiere production will be directed by Nancy Medina, designed by Max Johns, with movement direction by Imogen Knight, sound design by Tanuja Amarasuriya, lighting design by Jackie Shemesh and casting by Briony Barnett.

Fuel Director, Kate McGrath today confirmed the programme of work for 2019. She said: "Understanding the world we live in seems more complex than ever. Imagining a positive future requires new levels of optimism. Coming together in a theatre is a way to do these things, and have a good night out. Brilliant artists create a space for a temporary community to come together and seek to understand and to imagine. Fuel's job is to identify those living artists and bring their urgent and brave work to life for people to experience. As we approach our 15th birthday, we reflect on what has changed in the world since 2004, where we find ourselves today, and what 2034 might hold for us all. Our 2019 season celebrates our common humanity: how we all connect to the earth and to each other.

Artistic Director of Northampton's Royal & Derngate, James Dacre today announced that the venue will stage the world premiere of a brand new version by Mike Poulton of Henrik Ibsen's masterpiece Ghosts in April 2019, directed by Lucy Bailey, starring Penny Downie and Pierro Niel-Mee.

Royal & Derngate Northampton in partnership with English Touring Theatre are delighted to announce that the winner of the 2018 RTST Sir Peter Hall Director Award, Nancy Medina, will premiere August Wilson's Pulitzer-Prize nominated, TONY and Lucille Lortel Award winning Two Trains Running in the Royal Theatre, Northampton next Autumn as the opening show of the venue's Made in Northampton Autumn season. The co-production costs will be supported by a grant from The Royal Theatrical Support Trust.

The Royal Theatrical Support Trust (RTST) and Royal & Derngate Northampton have announced Nancy Medina as the winner of the 2018 RTST Sir Peter Hall Director Award and Josh Seymour as the runner-up. Now in its third year, and its second bearing the name of the RTST co-founder, Sir Peter Hall, the award is made to an up-and-coming director demonstrating exceptional directing skills in a rigorous competitive process.