The Hampstead Theatre has announced its Autumn season 2017 for the Main Stage, including two world premieres and stars Robert Lindsay and Claire Skinner.
The season opens with the world premiere of Prism, based on the life of legendary cinematographer Jack Cardiff, a witty and poignant new play written and directed by Terry Johnson. Robert returns to Hampstead Theatre (How I Got That Story, 1981) as Jack, ‘the man who made women look beautiful’, and will be joined by Claire, Rebecca Night and Barnaby Kay.
Robert Lindsay in Prism at the Hampstead Theatre
Having retired to the sleepy village of Denha, Buckinghamshire, Jack begins to write his autobiography – but in doing so, finds that he would rather live in the past, with its days of famous sets and secret liaisons, than remember it. The show will play from 6 September – 14 October, with press night on Thursday 14 September.
This is followed by the world premiere of Nicholas Wright’s The Slaves Of Solitude (from 20 October – 25 November, press night Monday 30 October), adapted from the acclaimed novel by Patrick Hamilton, and directed by Jonathan Kent. The new play blends dark hilarity and melancholy as it centres on an unlikely wartime British heroine in 1943, Henley-on-Thames.
Miss Roach is forced by the war to flee London for the Rosamund Tea Rooms boarding house, which is as grey and lonely as its residents, none more loathsome than the unbearable Mr Thwaites. But a breath of fresh air arrives in the form of a handsome American Lieutenant and things start to look distinctly brighter – until a seeming friend moves in next door.
The Autumn season is concluded by the first production of Simon Gray’s adroitly funny Cell Mates since 1995, which will be directed by Artistic Director Edward Hall and play from 30 November – 20 January 2018 (press night Thursday 7 December).
The absorbing drama explores how personal freedom is an illusion, and even friendship must have carefully circumscribed limits in a world where deception is a reflex response, as notorious double agent George Blake and petty criminal Sean Bourke strike an accord which promises escape – and not just from prison.
The Hampstead Theatre has also announced Inspire: The Next Playwright Programme, an opportunity for playwrights with new ideas, talent and energy to develop their craft under the mentorship of award-winning playwright Roy Williams, while The Downstairs Club, a new free membership scheme for under 30s, will provide better access to Hampstead’s cheaper tickets across the Main Stage and Downstairs.
Artistic Director Edward Hall commented, “I’m extremely proud to announce such an exciting body of work at Hampstead Theatre this autumn.”
“I’m also proud to introduce ‘Inspire: The Next Playwright Programme’, where 18 – 25 years olds have the opportunity to be mentored by Roy Williams for a year, developing their writing skills and script ideas. We also hope our new membership scheme for under 30s will provide even better access to our cheaper tickets across both of our auditoria.”
For more information on the schemes, and to book your tickets for the season, visit the venue’s website.