The Unicorn’s New Artistic Director Purni Morell Announces Her First Season

The Unicorn Theatre's new Artistic Director Purni Morell has announced her first season at the London venue. In their opening season, featuring new work from leading writers and world-class theatre makers, the Unicorn plans to create a surprising and exciting environment, across its two spaces, which speaks to both adults and children about who we are and how we live today.

Season highlights include a new adaptation of Eoin Colfer's The Legend of Captain Crow's Teeth from one of the UK's most original and visually inventive theatre-makers Matthew Lenton; Modern re-workings based on the Greek myths Antigone and Philoctetes from Nancy Harris and Ryan Craig; animation and puppetry from Mark Arends; a site-specific production in the tunnels below London Bridge station, and completing the season, a verbatim piece exploring the Olympics in How Was it For You?

Artistic Director Purni Morell said "It's a very exciting time to be joining the Unicorn. There's a great buzz in Britain around theatre for younger audiences at the moment, and I'm delighted to be able to capitalise on that by offering both tried and tested favourites but also some quite radical new departures. What we've tried to do is offer everyone a taste of what is to come here in the future, and, particularly, to extend our reach out to older teenage and adult audiences with some quite challenging work that I think will surprise . And I'm particularly delighted to be welcoming artists like Eoin Colfer, Ryan Craig and Gobsquad/Campo to our theatre in this season."

A Unicorn production
The Legend of Captain Crow's Teeth
Based on the book by Eoin Colfer
Directed and devised by Matthew Lenton

Saturday 31 March to Sunday 15 April

Based on the novel from the popular best-selling children's author Eoin Colfer, creator of the Artemis Fowl series, The Legend of Captain Crow's Teeth is a funny and lively adventure of ghostly pirates, sibling rivalry and terrifying school discos, directed and devised by Matthew Lenton.

Award-winning Matthew Lenton is the Artistic Director of Vanishing Point, a company he founded in 1999. His credits include Saturday Night (Traverse/Lisbon), The Beggar's Opera (Royal Lyceum and Belgrade Coventry) and Little Otik (Glasgow Citizen's Theatre and National Theatre of Scotland).
This production is suitable for age 7 upwards.

A Hull Truck production
DNA
By Dennis Kelly
Directed and Designed by Anthony Banks

Tuesday 17 to Saturday 28 April

DNA follows the story of a group of teenagers who try to cover their tracks after making the biggest mistake of their lives. But their temporary harmony soon begins to unravel with dire consequences for the gang and others around them. Relationships break down, innocent people are punished and in a further twist; all may not quite be as it may seem…
This production is suitable for age 12 upwards.

An Iron Shoes production in association with the Unicorn
Mad About the Boy
By Gbolahan Obisesan
Directed by Ria Parry

Friday 11 to Sunday 20 May

Set in London, Mad About the Boy sees a teenage boy fighting for his status, survival and identity, pulled between the influence of his family, his friends and his school. Winner of an Edinburgh Fringe First Award in 2011, this razor-sharp drama gives voice to a lost generation.
This production is suitable for age 14 upwards.

The Unicorn presents
The Greeks
4.30PM – THE MAN WITH THE DISTURBINGLY SMELLY FOOT
7PM - HOW TO THINK THE UNTHINKABLE

This spring, the Unicorn will be presenting two Greek classics, written by Sophocles, specially adapted for young audiences by Nancy Harris and Ryan Craig. Both productions were originally developed at The National Theatre Studio and bring a fresh perspective to two ancient tales.

Ellen McDougall directs both productions in The Greeks season. She is an Artistic Associate at ATC and Associate Reader at Soho Theatre. Ellen was nominated for an Olivier Award in 2011 for Ivan and the Dogs (ATC/Soho).

The Man with the Disturbingly Smelly Foot
Based on Philoctetes
By Nancy Harris
Directed by Ellen McDougall
Wednesday 25 April – Sunday 20 May

Philoctetes has been deserted by Odysseus because he has a disgustingly smelly foot. Odysseus also left Philoctetes with a magical bow and arrow that he needs. There is just one problem, Philoctetes is not happy about the fact he has been left stranded on a island with just a chorus of seashells for company and isn't too keen on giving the bow and arrow back. A battle of morals ensues – is it best to be truthful and risk not getting something, or trick the other person in to doing what you think is right?

Nancy Harris is a Dublin-born writer whose previous credits include Girl in a Bath and The Cleanest Way to End It (Soho Theatre), Love in a Glass Jar (Abbey Theatre, Dublin) and Little Dolls (Bush).
This production is suitable for ages 7-10.

How to Think the Unthinkable
Based on Antigone
By Ryan Craig
Directed by Ellen McDougall
Saturday 28 April – Saturday 19 May

Ryan Craig's visceral play captures the passion, danger and moral deadlock of the story of Greece's most famous teenager. Is it right to question or defy those in authority whey we know they're wrong?
Ryan Craig has many TV writing credits as well as (for the stage) The Holy Rosenbergs, Our Class (National Theatre), The Glass Room (Hampstead) and What We Did to Weinstein (Mernier Chocolate Factory, Nominated for Most Promising Playwright, Evening Standard Awards 2005).
This production is suitable for ages 11-14.

A Unicorn production
Something Very Far Away
Written and directed by Mark Arends
Design and animation by Matthew Robins
Fri 1 – Sun 24 June

Something Very Far Away is a completely new theatrical experience. The show is animated in front of you as the story is told through projection, puppetry and music, no words at all.
The story focuses on the life of Kepler who loses his wife in a tragic circus accident. Grieving, he builds a spaceship so that he can travel in to space and look back on his happy memories on earth. This is a deeply moving production that is suitable for all the family.

Mark Arends is an actor who has previously appeared in Beauty and the Beast and Cat in the Hat at The National Theatre. Matthew Robins is an artist and musician and creator of Flyboy most recently seen at the Barbican. His other credits includes Beauty and The Beast at the National.

This production is suitable for ages 8+.

New International Encounter and the Unicorn presents
Tales from the River Thames
Co created by NIE and pupils across London
Tuesday 12 to Saturday 23 June

Tales from the River Thames is based on stories written by 600 schoolchildren from across London. NIE are working with the children to create a magical show that brings to life tales of what could be in and on this mighty river.
This is a site specific production and will be held at Number 10, Bermondsey Street, in the tunnels below London Bridge station.
This production is suitable for ages 7+.

In association with LIFT
Before Your Very Eyes
By Gobsquad and Campo
Thursday 28 to Saturday 30 June

Before Your Very Eyes is the last part of the CAMPO trilogy of theatre with children, made for adult audiences, presented in association with LIFT.
Nine 8-14 year olds are locked in a glass box with one-way mirrors and will age 'before your very eyes'. Watch children enact a fortieth Birthday party and talk to their younger selves presented through live performance and recorded material.
This production is suitable for ages 14+.

A Unicorn Young Company production
How Was It For You?
Wednesday 29 August to Saturday 1 September

A piece of verbatim theatre based on how the Olympics has affected the lives of Londoners. This production, by the Unicorn Young Company, will be written by Evan Placey (Synergy Theatre's Holloway Jones and winner of RBC Under 30 National Playwriting Competition), and directed by Nadia Fall.
This production is suitable for everyone.

Unicorn Theatre

147 Tooley Street
London
SE1 2HZ

www.unicorntheatre.com
Box Office: 020 7645 0560

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