Billie Piper is set to reprise her role in the critically acclaimed Simon Stone production Yerma this summer, as part of the Young Vic’s newly-announced 2017 season.
Artistic Director David Lan announced today’s season: “We want every show we stage to evoke the world on our streets. As life becomes ever more complex and surprising, we look for the best angles from which to watch and intervene.
“[Director] Joe Hill-Gibbins’ ferocious A Midsummer Night’s Dream [16 February – 1 April; press night 23 February] searches out the darkest caverns beneath Shakespeare’s young masterpiece with some of the finest actors on the UK stage and two great designers from Berlin.
“Brendan Cowell’s Young Vic debut was opposite Billie Piper in Yerma. Now he plays the genius astronomer in Brecht’s greatest play Life Of Galileo [Saturday 6 May – Saturday 24 June; press night 16 May]. How do you stay true to your hard-won understanding of the nature of reality when Power tells you you’re wrong? Joe Wright directs this timeless play of extreme ideologies and dogma backed by violence. The designs by Lizzie Clachan and 59 Productions promise an out of this world experience.
“And Simon Stone’s huge 2016 success Yerma [Wednesday 26 July – Thursday 31 August] returns with the incomparable Billie Piper. Last time demand went through the roof so we’re thrilled more people will have a chance to catch this once-in-a-lifetime show.
“[Director] Natalie Abrahami and [actress] Juliet Stevenson’s collaboration on Happy Days was so admired that it played two seasons. Now they’re back together with Wings [Thursday 14 September – Saturday 28 October; press night 20 September], Arthur Kopit’s extraordinarily poignant and powerful account of an aviatrix in late middle age whose mind, following a stroke, comes apart. Told from within her consciousness, following her journey from trauma towards healing, Wings caused enormous excitement when first seen on Broadway almost 40 years ago.
“The Suppliant Women [Saturday 13 – Saturday 25 November; press night 16 November] continues our season Horizons, exploring the experience of refugees. 3000 years ago Aeschylus wrote this story about a large number of women, refugees from their destroyed city, as they wait outside a neighboring city, desperate for shelter. David Greig and Ramin Gray’s new version has already had huge success in Edinburgh, Belfast and Newcastle.
“In our Maria studio: See Me Now [Saturday 11 February – 4 March; press night 17 February] began its life as a project run by our Taking Part department in response to our production of Measure for Measure. Now it is a show in its own right created and performed by people who have been or are sex workers.
“Taha [Wednesday 5 July – Saturday 15 July; press night 7 July] is the story of the great Palestinian poet Taha Muhammed Ali written and performed by Amer Hlehel, directed by Amir Nizar Zuabi – both of whom have performed many times with us.
“Nina – A Story About Me And Nina Simone [Wednesday 19 July – Saturday 29 July; press night 21 July] created and performed by Josette Bushell-Mingo tells the story of the magnificent musician Nina Simone, linking her life-long struggle within the US Civil Rights movement to the Black Lives Matter movement of today.
“How To Win Against History [Thursday 30 November – Saturday 23 December; press night 5 December] was the smash hit of last year’s Edinburgh Festival. We’re delighted to welcome this hilarious musical visit from a great English eccentric.
And in The Clare: This year the Genesis Future Directors Award gives two outstanding young directors the chance to create their most ambitious show yet. Lucy J Skilbeck brings their unique perspective to two Chekhov shorts The Bear And The Proposal in March [Wednesday 15 – Saturday 25 March] and in November Nancy Medina directs the American modern classic Dael Orlandersmith’s Yellowman [Wednesday 22 November – Saturday 2 December].
There will be more news of 2017 shows at the Young Vic soon.”
Tickets for the 2017 season go on sale to Friends of the Young Vic today, with public booking opening Wednesday 1 February at 10am.
For more information and to book your tickets, visit the venue’s website.