Sheffield Theatres Announces 2018-19 Season

Robert Hastie today announces Sheffield Theatres' new season, his third as Artistic Director. The season brings another brand new British musical to the Crucible stage, presenting world premières of bold and political new plays, and the celebrated Christmas musical at the Crucible Theatre.

The season begins with the world première of Sheffield born playwright Chris Bush's play Steel directed by Rebecca Frecknall. Exploring the role of women in the Labour party over the last three decades, it asks what's changed and what still must? This is followed by Robert Hastie's new production of A Midsummer Night's Dream in the Crucible with music by Dan Gillespie Sells who returns to Sheffield Theatres following the smash hit Everybody's Talking About Jamie, and a second world première with Close Quarters by Kate Bowen - a taut thriller about the first generation of British women in close combat roles and looks at gender politics in the world's most dangerous workforce. This co-production with Out of Joint is directed by Kate Wasserberg, and is her first new play since taking over as the company's Artistic Director.

Paul Foster returns to Sheffield Theatres to direct this year's Christmas musical Kiss Me, Kate by Sam and Bella Spewack with music and lyrics by Cole Porter following the success of Annie Get Your Gun.

2019 begins with Sheffield Theatres Associate Director Caroline Steinbeis's production of Rutherford and Son, Githa Sowerby's celebrated classic about the struggle for supremacy, legacy and deciding one's own destiny. This is followed by debbie tucker green's hang directed by Taio Lawson, who joined Sheffield Theatres this year as Resident Assistant Director the part of the Regional Theatre Young Director Scheme.

The season is completed by the world première of Standing at the Sky's Edge by BAFTA and Olivier Award-winning Michael Wynne, with music and lyrics by the internationally acclaimed musician Richard Hawley. The production, directed by Hastie, tells the story of the first residents of Sheffield's iconic Park Hill in a heart-swelling, heart-breaking love song to the city.

The new musical follows the success of the Sheffield Theatres production Everybody's Talking About Jamie in 2017. The West End transfer recently extended its booking period to October 2018 and received three awards at the WhatsOnStage Awards - Best New Musical, Best Actor in a Musical and Best Supporting Actress in a Musical.

Robert Hastie said today, "Our new season is deeply rooted in Sheffield and culminates in an exciting new musical about the iconic Park Hill estate which overlooks the theatre. I am thrilled to be directing Standing at the Sky's Edge and to be working with Michael Wynne and Sheffield legend Richard Hawley. Together they have created a musical with a strong Sheffield heart and I can't wait to bring it to the Crucible stage.

My passion for new writing and our commitment to supporting emerging artists and redressing the gender balance across our work is at the forefront of this season. We are delighted to welcome back Sheffield-born Chris Bush with her new play Steel, directed by Rebecca Frecknall; a timely piece exploring the role of women in Labour politics over the last three decades. This is followed by another world première, Kate Bowen's Close Quarters, a thrilling debut play about the first generation of British female soldiers on the front line, directed by Kate Wasserberg as her first new play as Artistic Director of Out of Joint, with whom we're delighted to be co-producing. And finally in the Studio, Taio Lawson, who joined Sheffield Theatres this year as the Regional Theatres Young Director Scheme Assistant Director, will direct debbie tucker green's provocative play, hang.

In the Crucible, I am excited to open the season with a fresh take on A Midsummer Night's Dream with music by Dan Gillespie Sells, and for our Associate Director Caroline Steinbeis to revive Githa Sowerby's celebrated classic Rutherford and Son. At Christmas, we welcome Paul Foster back to Sheffield to direct a glorious show from the golden age of musical theatre, Kiss Me, Kate."

For more information, visit www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk.

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