Arcola Theatre announces outdoor festival of art and performance, Today I’m Wiser
Since closing its doors to the public in March last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Today I’m Wiser reopens the theatre to the public, platforming innovative and daring theatre in the heart of Hackney and bringing new work and ideas explored privately over the past year into a public setting.
In its first two decades, Arcola has helped to launch some of the leading lights in British theatre, providing early-career opportunities to artists including Aml Ameen, Zawe Ashton, Mike Bartlett, Alecky Blythe, Polly Findlay, Arinzé Kene, Lucy Kirkwood, Rebecca Lenkiewicz, Lynette Linton, Michael Longhurst, Wunmi Mosaku, Barney Norris, Lyndsey Turner and Alexander Zeldin.
After an enormously challenging year for the theatre industry, Today I’m Wiser invites audiences and artists to commune once more and rebuild our community bonds, which have been disrupted due to lockdowns and other global challenges.
This first chapter of the festival will feature Arcola’s own production of a reimagined French classic, Pierre de Marivaux’s The Game of Love and Chance, and present diverse stories from a broad range of theatre companies, including Defibrillator Theatre’s Sunnymead Court, Flux Theatre’s The Narcissist, Thistle and Rose Arts’ My Father the Tantric Masseur and Metamorph Theatre’s Scab.
Globe announces new Co-Directors of Education
Shakespeare’s Globe is delighted to announce that Professor Farah Karim-Cooper and Lucy Cuthbertson have been confirmed as Co-Directors of Education, leading the largest education department in a theatre in the country. Lucy and Farah were joint interim leaders throughout the Globe’s year of closure, creating over 600 events and courses, and supporting the nation’s sudden critical need for quality home learning.
Farah and Lucy take on the position after Patrick Spotiswoode, who served as the Director and Founder of Globe Education for 37 years, confirmed his retirement last summer. Starting 14 years before the completion of the Globe, Patrick was one of a small team dedicated to keeping alive Sam Wanamaker’s dream of a reconstructed Globe theatre at the heart of an educational and artistic centre in Southwark.
Lucy and Farah have been at the forefront of keeping the nation engaged with Shakespeare in all ways online. Events over UK lockdown included: live and interactive storytelling sessions with families joining all around the world, study workshops launched online to help support teenagers missing school. As part of anti-racist approaches to Shakespeare, there was a digital festival of work and newly created workshops for children, students, teachers and staff looking at ways to decolonise Shakespeare.
Wise Children announce dates for new production of Wuthering Heights
Wise Children today announces new dates for the world premiere of Artistic Director Emma Rice’s adaptation of Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights, which she also directs, in a coproduction with the National Theatre, Bristol Old Vic and York Theatre Royal. Starring Lucy McCormick as Cathy, this elemental stage adaptation brings new life to the classic story with Rice’s celebrated musical and visual style. The production opens at Bristol Old Vic on 20 October, with previews from 11 October, and running until 6 November, with livestreamed performances in the final week at Bristol. It then transfers to York Theatre Royal, 8 – 20 November, and runs at the National Theatre in 2022 before touring to The Lowry, Theatre Royal Nottingham, Sunderland Empire and King’s Theatre, Edinburgh with further dates to be announced.
Emma Rice said today, “It is with an earthy spring in my step and epic twinkle in my eye that I announce our new plans for Wuthering Heights. So many projects have fallen by the wayside during lockdown that there were times when I lost hope – but there was no need! Wise Children are back; stronger, wiser and grateful for the chance to sing and dance again. The exceptional cast, crew, administrative and creative teams are ready to go and we are fizzing with ideas, dreams and anticipation. Emboldened and humbled by the enforced break, I feel truly lucky. I cannot wait to get back to doing what I love most and to share this thrilling and important piece with the world. It’s time.”
Rescued from the Liverpool docks as a child, Heathcliff is adopted by the Earnshaws and taken to live at Wuthering Heights. He finds a kindred spirit in Catherine Earnshaw and a fierce love ignites. When forced apart, a brutal chain of events is unleashed.
Shot through with music, dance, passion and hope, Emma Rice transforms Emily Brontë’s masterpiece into a powerful and uniquely theatrical experience. Lucy McCormick leads the company of performers and musicians in this intoxicating revenge tragedy for our time.
With set and costume design by Vicki Mortimer; sound and video by Simon Baker; composition by Ian Ross; movement and choreography by Etta Murfitt; lighting design by Jai Morjaria.
National Theatre announces new programming and new campaign for its future
The National Theatre has today announced its programming until the start of next year with productions on all three South Bank stages as well as three major UK tours, two productions on Broadway, a return to cinemas, and a new feature film to be broadcast on television this autumn. In the week the theatre reopened for audiences again, six new productions were announced, and five productions halted by the pandemic were confirmed to return to the South Bank.
It has also announced the public launch of National Theatre Together, a new campaign with people at its heart, highlighting the importance of creativity and collaboration with theatre-makers and communities, for young people and audiences. The campaign cements the NT’s commitment to the people of this country and will raise vital funds for the theatre’s ambitious recovery post-pandemic.
Rufus Norris, Director and Joint Chief Executive of the National Theatre, said: “Theatre is a world-class UK industry, and brings with it a bucket-load of economic and social benefits. The National Theatre has a crucial role to play in supporting the nation’s creativity; it’s an incredible place full of amazing people and elicits enormous affection, pride and passion in audiences around the world. National Theatre Together celebrates the work we create with theatre-makers and communities, for young people and audiences – and asks our friends to once again stand with us and equip us to do what we do best: shape a bright, creative future for this nation.”