Philip Ridley News

Inis Nua Theatre Company opens their 2016-2017 season at the Louis Bluver Theater at The Drake (302 South Hicks Street) with Radiant Vermin by Philip Ridley, with previews starting October 19 and opening set for October 21. From England, this Philadelphia premiere mixes "be careful what you wish for" with a strong dose of unnervingly wicked humor.

Charlotte Hope (Myranda in Game of Thrones, Allied, A United Kingdom), Jack Fortune (King Lear, Route Irish, Sparkling Cyanide), Barnaby Kay (A Streetcar Named Desire, The Real Thing, Wuthering Heights) and Gary Shelford (Twelfth Night, Angry Young Man) join the previously announced multi award-winning, international star Ed Harris (forthcoming HBO series from J.J. Abrams & Jonathan Nolan; Westworld, Pollock, The Hours and The Truman Show), Golden Globe winner Amy Madigan (Twice in a Lifetime, Roe vs. Wade), and Jeremy Irvine (War Horse, The Railway Man, Now is Good) to complete the cast in Sam Shepard's Pulitzer & Obie prize winning play, Buried Child, following a critically acclaimed New York run earlier this year.

Metal Rabbit, in association with The Bunker Theatre, present the London transfer of critically acclaimed 2015 Edinburgh Festival sell-out Tonight with Donny Stixx. Donny has committed an act that shocked everyone. Tabloids called him The Most Hated Boy Alive. But, despite this, Donny doesn't want forgiveness. All Donny wants is his own television show.

One of the finest actors of his generation, Jeremy Irvine (Steven Spielberg's War Horse, The Railway Man, Now is Good and forthcoming films Fallen, Billionaire Boys Club, and This Beautiful Fantastic) will make his West End debut in Sam Shepard's Pulitzer & Obie prize winning play, Buried Child.

Improbable has today announced the appointment of Ben Monks as Executive Director. Monks joins Improbable from his current position as producer for Supporting Wall, having co-founded the company in 2008. Monks will work closely with Artistic Directors Phelim McDermott and Lee Simpson, as Rachael Williams leaves the company after three years in the position. Joining Improbable in September 2016, Ben Monks will be integral to marking the company's upcoming 21st anniversary year and new programme of work, soon to be announced.

A brand new theatre, named The Bunker, is opening in a former underground car park in Southwark Street and is set to be the capital's newest contemporary Off-West End venue.  Behind this exciting venture are emerging creatives Joel Fisher and Joshua McTaggart.

Casting has been announced for first major revival of Caryl Churchill's BLUE HEART, nearly 20 years after its Royal Court premiere, co-produced by Tobacco Factory Theatres and the Orange Tree Theatre. Blue Heart brings them together to work again with key creatives David Mercatali and Angela Davies, who have worked on previous projects with both organisations. The play runs at Tobacco Factory Theatres 22 September-1 October, and at the Orange Tree Theatre 13 October-19 November.

The New Group has announced additional casting for Sweet Charity, the production launching the company's 2016-2017 Season.  Choreographed by Joshua Bergasse and directed by Leigh Silverman, this production features Yesenia Ayala, Darius Barnes, James Brown III, Asmeret Ghebremichael, Shuler Hensley, Sasha Hutchings, Donald Jones, Jr., Nikka Graff Lanzarone, Emily Padgett and Joel Perez, and as previously announced, two-time Tony Award winner Sutton Foster as Charity Hope Valentine.  A limited Off-Broadway engagement plays November 2 - December 11 at The Pershing Square Signature Center (The Romulus Linney Courtyard Theatre, 480 West 42nd Street), with Official Opening Night set for Sunday, November 20.

A powerful new play by Abi Zakarian will set out on a UK tour this Summer starring Nancy Sullivan.

CARGO is an enthralling new play from author and playwright Tess Berry-Hart (Someone to Blame, Sochi 2014). Directed by Evening Standard Award nominee David Mercatali (Little Light, Radiant Vermin), this timely world premiere is a tense and provocative thriller that reveals just how much people are willing to risk in search of a better life.

A powerful new play by Abi Zakarian will set out on a UK tour this Summer starring Nancy Sullivan.

Last night, Jesse Eisenberg's THE SPOILS recently had its press night at Trafalgar Studios. His third play, The Spoils originally ran Off-Broadway in 2015 at The Pershing Square Signature Center. The London production stars Eisenberg, Alfie Allen (Game of Thrones), Katie Brayben(Beautiful - The Carole King Musical), Annapurna Sriram (Billions) and Kunal Nayyar (The Big Bang Theory), and plays until August 13. It's directed by The New Group's Scott Elliott. To book tickets, call 0844 871 7632 or visit atgtickets.com

Last night, Jesse Eisenberg's THE SPOILS had its press night at Trafalgar Studios. His third play, The Spoils originally ran Off-Broadway in 2015 at The Pershing Square Signature Center. The London production stars Eisenberg, Alfie Allen (Game of Thrones), Katie Brayben (Beautiful - The Carole King Musical), Annapurna Sriram (Billions) and Kunal Nayyar (The Big Bang Theory), and plays until August 13. It's directed by The New Group's Scott Elliott. To book tickets: 0844 871 7632, atgtickets.com

On today's episode of the Maxamoo Theater & Performance Podcast, Lindsay Barenz, Liz Richards, and Jack Moore discuss what they're most excited to see in June at the theater beyond Broadway in New York City. They digress for a brief celebration of Ars Nova, the Off Broadway powerhouse in Midtown, and proper etiquette for eating a lozenge at the theater.

The world premiere of Philip Ridley's KARAGULA is one of the largest productions ever staged Off-West End. PIGDOG's experimental and formally playful work aims to help transform how the industry interprets accessibility, equality and gender politics. With this in mind, Karagula has been cast with true diversity -- in terms of age, gender, race and ability.

A powerful new play by Abi Zakarian will set out on a UK tour this Summer starring Nancy Sullivan.

59E59 Theaters will host the US premiere of RADIANT VERMIN, written by Philip Ridley and directed by David Mercatali, at the 2016 Brits Off Broadway festival. Produced by Supporting Wall, Metal Rabbit Productions, and Soho Theatre, RADIANT VERMIN begins performances on Thursday, June 2 for a limited engagement through Sunday, July 3. 

The New Group has announced additional guests for post-show talkbacks at The Sensuality Party, with playwrights Thomas Bradshaw (Burning, Intimacy) and Erika Sheffer (Russian Transport) joining in the conversation at Brooklyn College following the 7:00pm performances on May 2 and May 3, respectively, and Wallace Shawn (Aunt Dan and Lemon, The Fever, Marie and Bruce) joining at LaGuardia Community College following the 2:30pm performance on May 11.

CARGO is an enthralling new play from author and playwright Tess Berry-Hart (Someone to Blame, Sochi 2014). Directed by Evening Standard Award nominee David Mercatali (Little Light, Radiant Vermin), this timely world premiere is a tense and provocative thriller that reveals just how much people are willing to risk in search of a better life.

Performances begin tonight for The Sensuality Party, a new play by Justin Kuritzkes, presented by The New Group as part of the company's 2015-2016 season. This New York premiere, directed by Danya Taymor, features Catherine Combs, Jeff Cuttler, Katherine Folk-Sullivan, Jake Horowitz, Layla Khoshnoudi and Rowan Vickers.