Jermyn Street Theatre's Summer Season to Include LESERE, 'VIVIEN' & More

Continuing its 21st anniversary year, Jermyn Street Theatre today announces two plays for the summer months and gives a sneak preview into the autumn season.

The summer season kicks off with the world premiere of a gripping psychological thriller set in 1920s South of France in the aftermath of the First World War. LESERE by Ashley G Holloway is the story of an English couple whose quiet post-war life in rural France is suddenly interrupted by a stranger who seems to know everything about the past they are trying to forget. Exposing the falsehoods upon which they have built their lives, he shatters their fragile tranquility, intent on some terrible revenge. But what for? Lesere is a deadly game of cat and mouse that explores the long lasting scars of war and the human capacity for self-delusion. Lesere runs from July 7 to August 1.

From August 4 to 22 actress Susie Lindeman presents the first full West End run of "VIVIEN: Letter To Larry. When Laurence Olivier asked Vivien Leigh for a divorce, her response created a worldwide sensation. As the golden couple disintegrate, Vivien, alone, is left fighting for his love and her life. Following its highly praised centenary showcases and with new archive becoming public, this new production of Donald Macdonald's immediate and intimate work sheds new light on and taps into the ongoing fascination with the life of one of the greatest British actresses of the twentieth century.

Following the summer season, this Autumn Jermyn Street Theatre will be staging a series of American plays. The first of these, which runs from September 8 to October 3, is the UK premiere of the hit Off-Broadway musical SEE WHAT I WANNA SEE by Michael John Le Chuisa. The original production ran at the Public Theatre and starred Idina Menzel in her first role after Wicked. This will be followed by The UK premiere of Eugene O'Neil's early work, THE FIRST MAN which runs from October 6 to 31 and is directed by Jermyn Street Theatre artistic director Anthony Biggs. Drawing the season to a close from November 3 to 21 will be another UK premiere, DRY LAND, the critically acclaimed off-Broadway hit and Susan Smith Blackwood Award nominee by rising star Ruby Rae Spiegel. Full details of the season along with those of the Christmas show will be announced at a later date.

Jermyn Street Theatre's current season has comprised the recent world premiere of Jonathan Lewis's comedy A Level Playing Field, Jerry's Girls - a musical revue based on the songs of composer/lyricist Jerry Herman (May 12 to 31) and Stephen Wyatt's provocative, frank and insightful comedy about the love lives and sex lives of older gay men Told Looks Younger (June 9 to July 4). The 21st anniversary year has also included James Hogan's Ivy and Joan, the first ever revival of Edwardian playwright, St John Hankin's Last Of The De Mullins and the world premiere of Giles Coles drama The Heart of Things. This work builds on the theatre's other recent successes, which include the acclaimed production of Flowers of the Forest by John Van Drutten, the first ever revival of Terence Rattigan's debut work - First Episode, Maltby & Shire's Closer Than Ever, Arthur Wing Pinero's The Notorious Mrs Ebbsmith, Steven Berkoff's Religion & Anarchy and William Inge's Natural Affection.

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.

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