Donmar Warehouse's All-Female THE TEMPEST Begins Tonight at King's Cross

Singer-songwriter Joan Armatrading will compose original music for Phyllida Lloyd's forthcoming production of The Tempest. The songs will be set to Shakespeare's words in the Donmar's new all-female production which starts performance from tonight 23rd September.

The Tempest Songs will also feature as a digital album of music released by 429 Records and available to download on iTunes from Monday 19th September.

The Tempest marks the reunion of director Phyllida Lloyd with actor Harriet Walter, who will play Prospero. The production will then be joined in a season with revivals of the Donmar's acclaimed productions of Julius Caesar and Henry IV. Full casting includes: Jade Anouka, Sheila Atim, Jackie Clune, Shiloh Coke, Karen Dunbar, Clare Dunne, Leah Harvey, Zainab Hasan, Jennifer Joseph, Martina Laird, Sophie Stanton, Carolina Valdés and Harriet Walter.

Joan Armatrading has also leant her support as Ambassador to The Donmar's Shakespeare Trilogy YOUNG+FREE scheme, which is making 25% of tickets free to those 25 or under. Other Ambassadors include Christine Baranski, Frances Barber, Laura Dockrill, Cynthia Erivo, Lenny Henry, Jenny Jules, Cush Jumbo, The Mayor of London - Sadiq Khan, Symran Makhani, Nicola Mendelsohn, Vanessa Ogden, Lucy Perman, Ramsha Saleem, Fiona Shaw, Meryl Streep, Kate Tempest, Jill Tuffee and Ben Whishaw.

Long recognised as a pioneering creative force with a career spanning four decades, the Saint Kitts born Joan Armatrading has maintained an acclaimed and storied career and fanbase. In 2014 she embarked on an 18-month tour of the world-a solo tour with only her piano and guitar in tow. Classics such as the title track, "Drop the Pilot" and "Willow" are all performed with a heightened sense of intimacy. "Me Myself I World Tour" captures that magic in her performance at Wolf Trap. Joan has reassured fans that she has not retired and will continue to perform, just not on this scale.

The three times Grammy nominated British artist has garnered countless accolades which include Top 10 albums and singles ("Love and Affection," "Willow," "Drop The Pilot," are but a few), not to mention a #1 debut atop the Billboard Blues chart in 2007 (a first for a female artist from the UK). She has made VH1's list of the 100 Most Influential Women in Rock, has been nominated for Brit Awards, gave a command performance for Nelson Mandela on his 70th birthday at Wembley Stadium and has received numerous Honorary Degrees.

Press day for the Shakespeare Trilogy will be on Tuesday 22 November 2016 at 11am (Julius Caesar), 3.30pm (Henry IV) and 8pm (The Tempest).

429 Records is a unit of The Savoy Label Group (SLG). The Savoy Label Group has evolved into a Grammy Award winning and chart topping independent music company with an extensive roster of leading rock, blues, jazz, classical and world recording artists. SLG is led by Steve Vining and is based in Los Angeles, CA. To purchase the album, visit itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-tempest-songs/id1154653300. For more information, go to www.429records.com.

IF YOU GO:

THE DONMAR SHAKESPEARE TRILOGY
23 September - 17 December 2016

PRESS PERFORMANCE DAY TUESDAY 22 NOVEMBER

Julius Caesar (11am), Henry IV (3.30pm), The Tempest (8pm)

For 25s and under to register for Young+Free visit www.youngandfreelondon.com

The first Young and Free tickets will be released on Friday 2 September

From 23 September

THE TEMPEST

Director Phyllida Lloyd

Designer Chloe Lamford

Theatre Environment Designer Bunny Christie

Lighting Designer James Farncombe

Sound Designer Peter Malkin

Video Designer Duncan McLean

Composer Joan Armatrading

Movement Director Ann Yee

Assistant Director Ola Ince

From 27 October

JULIUS CAESAR

Director Phyllida Lloyd

Designer Bunny Christie

Lighting Designer James Farncombe

Sound Designer Tom Gibbons

Movement Director Ann Yee

Fight Director Kate Waters

Video Designer Duncan McLean

Assistant Director Ola Ince

Lighting Designer at the Donmar Neil Austin

From 17 November

HENRY IV

Director Phyllida Lloyd

Designer Bunny Christie with Ellen Nabaro

Costume Designer Deborah Andrews

Lighting Designer James Farncombe

Sound Designer Tom Gibbons

Movement Director Ann Yee

Fight Director Kate Waters

Assistant Director Stef O'Driscoll

Lighting Designer at the Donmar Neil Austin

Donmar at King's Cross

King's Boulevard, King's Cross, London N1C 4BU

For more information visit www.donmarwarehouse.com.

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