The Hope Theatre Announces its Winter Season, Including Two World Premieres

The award winning Hope Theatre has announced its upcoming Winter Season under the artistic direction of Off West End award winner Matthew Parker.

The season starts with the UK premiere of THE DOG / THE CAT (4 - 22 Sept); a double bill of antipodean plays from writer/actor Brendan Cowell (YERMA at the Young Vic) and Lally Katz and directed by Sharon Burrell of Two The Moon productions. This romantic and comedic delight is set to be a big hit after two extended sell out seasons in Sydney.

The team behind the critically acclaimed in-house productions of LOVESONG OF THE ELECTRIC BEAR, STEEL MAGNOLIAS and last year's BRIMSTONE & TREACLE, are excited to mount a rare revival of THE LESSON by the French absurdist playwright Eugene Ionesco (translated by Donald Watson). More than 50 years since its UK premiere, Eugene Ionesco's dark comic-drama still packs one hell of a punch and this unflinching and dreamlike comedy-drama bursts on to The Hope Theatre stage this autumn (25 Sept - 13 Oct) under the direction of its award-winning Artistic Director, Matthew Parker.

The innovative and beautiful JERICHO'S ROSE from Althea Theatre invites the audience on a breathtaking journey into the past and present. Fusing new writing, movement, live music and loop pedalled sound to create a unique tapestry of fragmented memories this new piece written by Lilac Yosiphon and created by the company plays from 16 Oct to 3 Nov. An international theatre ensemble of British and non-British actors and theatre makers, Althea Theatre explore international and local viewpoints, creating new work to challenge issues prevalent to European society today.

Following this is GILDED BUTTERFLIES, devised by Tormented Casserole is inspired by their meeting with death row survivors, they explore the volume of a living soul contained in one cell. It comes to The Hope following a run at the Brighton Fringe.

The season comes with a rare revival of Sarah Daniel's HEAD-ROT HOLIDAY (27 Nov - 22 Dec). First staged by Clean Break, a theatre company dedicated to giving a voice to women in the criminal justice system. Nearly two decades later, Weighed In mounts a special revival of this irreverent dark comedy from one of the most important feminist writers of her generation from new company Wired In.

Running alongside the main Season there will be a varied programme of Sun/Mon shows which bring developmental and early-stage work to audiences at The Hope.

Matthew Parker said of the new season "4 years after opening it's doors The Hope Theatre has gone from strength to strength and this is shown in the quality and diversity of work submitted for our programming. I am delighted to be able to announce such an eclectic mix of theatre from various backgrounds and voices, old and new, I look forward to a winter full of BIG ideas."

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