Zoë Wanamaker will return to the London stage in 2015 when she reprises her acclaimed role as poet Stevie Smith in Hugh Whitemore’s award-winning play Stevie at the Hampstead Theatre.
The Olivier Award-winning actress, who played the eponymous heroine during the play’s run at Chichester Festival Theatre earlier this year, will star in the production from 6 March (press night 16 March) to 18 April.
A biographical snapshot of both the poet and the private woman, Stevie tells the story of a publishing company’s secretary who spends her evenings with her beloved aunt in a world of Battenberg cake, gossip and ginger nuts while still managing to write the piercing poetry and prose that will one day make her famous.
Acclaimed for her performances on stage and screen, Wanamaker returns to the Hampstead Theatre for the first time since 1994 when she appeared in Terry Johnson’s production of Dead Funny. More recently she has appeared on stage in Passion Play at the Duke Of York’s Theatre and The Cherry Orchard at the National Theatre, but the actress is arguably best known for her film and television roles, which include the Harry Potter franchise and hit BBC comedy My Family.
A co-production with Chichester Festival Theatre, Stevie will be directed by Christopher Morahan and will open at the Hampstead Theatre following Hello/Goodbye, which transfers to the venue’s main space following its run in the Hampstead Downstairs in March.
Endeavour star Shaun Evans will lead the cast alongside Miranda Raison. Directed by Tamara Harvey, who returns to the Hampstead Theatre following her recent success with In The Vale Of Health, the production will run from 21 January (press night 27 January) to 29 February.
Peter Souter’s first stage play following his work for TV and radio, Hello/Goodbye is a modern metropolitan guide to falling in (and out) of love and follows Juliet as she seeks a fresh start in the new year. As she begins moving into her new flat, she finds amidst the boxes a strange guy who is also moving in. He says his agency has messed up and he’s not budging, but the real problem is that, well, he’s rather gorgeous.
Best known for his long-running role as the young Morse in ITV drama series Endeavour, Evans returns to the London stage for the first time since 2009’s Kurt And Sid at the Trafalgar Studios. Spooks star Raison, who has been a regular face on stage in recent years, boasts credits including Strangers On A Train at the Gielgud Theatre and The River at the Royal Court.
The 2015 season announcement comes with the news that the Hampstead Theatre will offer £10 tickets for under 30s for every performance on the venue’s main stage. Talking about the initiative, Artistic Director Edward Hall said: “At Hampstead, we believe in accessible theatre – Access for All. We’re delighted to announce that from January we will be selling tickets from £10 for under 30s on our main stage. These are accessible for any and every performance on the main stage. There are a limited number so we advise advanced booking. We look forward to making Hampstead Theatre even more accessible to young people.”
The Hampstead’s 2015 offerings will open following the return of Nina Raine’s hospital drama Tiger Country, which plays from 8 December to 17 January. The current run of Roy Williams’ Wildefire will end on 29 November.