The Almeida Theatre announces on-demand streaming of Lolita Chakrabarti’s Hymn.
Adrian Lester and Danny Sapani. (Photo credit: Zeinab Batchelor)
Following an acclaimed, sold-out run of live-streamed performances, a recording of Hymn will be available to stream on-demand for a limited time from Wednesday 3 – Tuesday 9 March. The world premiere production, which was originally due to play to socially distanced audiences, was directed by Blanche McIntyre (The Writer) and features actors Adrian Lester (Red Velvet; Hustle) and Danny Sapani (Killing Eve; Les Blancs).
Featuring music from Gil and Benny’s lives, Lolita Chakrabarti’s searching, soulful new play asks what it takes to be a good father, brother or son.
Benny is a loner anchored by his wife and children. Gil longs to fulfil his potential. They form a deep bond but as cracks appear in their fragile lives they start to realise that true courage comes in different forms.
Hymn on-demand will go on sale to Almeida Members from Thursday 25 February midday and on general sale from Friday 26 February midday. So mark your diaries and click here to find out more!
Join us for Theatre Chat Live tonight at 6pm with special guests Amy Hart and Danny Khaan
If you’re missing theatre and want to have a chat with like-minded fans, please tune into Official London Theatre’s Instagram channel tonight at 6pm for our next episode of Theatre Chat Live where our social media coordinator Jess will be waiting to talk to you about all things stage! This week, we will also be joined by reality TV star and theatre fan, Amy Hart, where she’ll be talking all about her favourite shows gone too soon. Danny Kaan, West End photographer and creator of the Digi Collective/Dear Audience coffee table book, will also be joining Jess tonight.
Previous episodes of Theatre Chat Live have included special guests Louise Dearman, Oliver Tompsett and Aisha Jawando. To watch the previous episodes or to find out all about our new digital series click right here
The Old Vic announces two new commissions to mark International Women’s Day
Regina Taylor
Today, The Old Vic announces two new commissions for International Women’s Day to be screened as part of the Your Old Vic programme. These One Voice monologues are written by Kiri Pritchard-McLean and Regina Taylor and will be broadcast on YouTube from Mon 08 March at 10am. Pritchard-McLean will direct Putting A Face On which will be performed by Susan Wokoma, and Tinuke Craig will direct Taylor’s Aisha (the black album) which will be performed by Jade Anouka.
Putting A Face On is a funny, dark and ultimately empowering monologue about gaslighting* and how, despite positive strides towards gender equality, domestic abuse remains prevalent within so many women’s daily lives. As the Domestic Abuse Bill returns to the House of Lords for a second reading, as part of the ongoing campaign to offer further rights and protection to survivors through greater access to the safety and support they need, this new monologue offers insight into the nuances of emotional abuse, victim-blaming and control.
Following the United States’ centenary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment in 2020, which gave the first women the right to vote in America, and Kamala Harris’ historic inauguration, Aisha (the black album) traces the history of Black women’s political power, from disenfranchisement to mobilisation against the backdrop of the pandemic, the Black Lives Matter movement and the 2020 US election.
Of the commissions, Kiri Pritchard-McLean, said ‘I am utterly honoured to work with The Old Vic and equally thrilled to write something for one of the best talents we have, Susan Wokoma. It’s heartening to see that The Old Vic are striving to make new work in such difficult circumstances and the support from the theatre has allowed me to articulate my thoughts and fears about this bizarre period into this monologue. Don’t worry, there is jokes’
Regina Taylor, said: ‘This is not the time to be silent. Very excited to join these voices to explore these fast-shifting times’
These two new monologues will be presented as the culmination of a week-long celebration of International Women’s Day which will begin with the re-releasing of a selection of the One Hand Tied Behind Us One Voice series. Originally curated by Maxine Peake in 2018, this series marked 100 years since the 1918 Representation of the People Act gave the first women in Britain the right to vote. The re-released monologues are: Betsy by Ella Hickson, performed by Jill Halfpenny; Contactless by Maxine Peake, performed by Siobhan McSweeney; Imagine That by Kit de Waal, performed by Flo Wilson; Mother’s Little Helper 1963 by Jeanette Winterson, performed by Celia Imrie.
Click here to find out more.