Details of Matthew Warchus’ Season 5 at The Old Vic Theatre have been announced.
Highlights include:
- Claire Foy and Matt Smith make their Old Vic debuts in Duncan Macmillan’s Lungs, directed by Matthew Warchus
- Alan Cumming and Daniel Radcliffe star in a double bill of Samuel Beckett’s Endgame and Rough for Theatre ll, directed by Richard Jones
- The world premiere of a new play by Old Vic associate artist Lucy Prebble based on Luke Harding’s book A Very Expensive Poison, directed by John Crowley
- Old Vic associate artist Jack Thorne’s version of A Christmas Carol directed by Matthew Warchus returns
- A musical adaptation of the hit 1983 film Local Hero directed by John Crowley. Book by Bill Forsyth and Old Vic associate artist David Greig with music and lyrics by Mark Knopfler
Commenting on Season 5, artistic director Matthew Warchus commented:
“One of the things I love about theatre is its almost complete disinterest in trivialities. It feeds off – and feeds back – life’s most titanic ideas and emotions. Our next batch of shows at The Old Vic is no exception and delivers five powerful stories in five contrasting genres; a world premiere play, a very topical duologue, a festive celebration, a 20th century classic and a brand new musical.”
A Very Expensive Poison
Previews from 19 August 2019 (press night is 5 September)
In a world premiere John Crowley (Brooklyn, The Goldfinch) directs Lucy Prebble’s (The Effect, ENRON) reimagining of Luke Harding’s jaw-dropping exposé of the events behind the notorious death of Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko.
Lungs
Dates to be announced
Directed by Matthew Warchus, Claire Foy and Matt Smith make their Old Vic debuts in Duncan Macmillan’s hilarious rollercoaster of a play, as a couple wrestle with our planet’s biggest dilemmas.
A Christmas Carol
Previews from 23 November 2019 (press night is 4 December)
Matthew Warchus’ hit production of Charles Dickens’ classic returns to The Old Vic, adapted for the stage by Jack Thorne (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child).
Endgame (in a double bill with Rough For Theatre II)
Previews from 27 January 2020 (press night is 4 February)
Richard Jones (The Hairy Ape, Into the Woods) directs Beckett’s macabre comedy in which hope and cruelty are the last things to die.
Endgame will be presented in a double bill with Samuel Beckett’s rarely seen short play Rough for Theatre II, performed by members of the company. Stars Alan Cumming and Daniel Radcliffe.
Local Hero
Previews from 18 June 2020 (press night is 30 June)
A Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh and Old Vic production, the hit comedy film Local Hero takes to the stage as John Crowley directs a new musical adaptation by Bill Forsyth and David Greig (Dr. Seuss’s The Lorax) with music and songs by the legendary Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits).
Commissions and in development shows for 2019 and beyond include: Ella Hickson with a new version of Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex; Simon Stephens with a new adaptation of Ibsen’s An Enemy of the People and a new play by Paul Unwin chronicling the birth of the NHS directed by Sarah Frankcom, and following its work-in-progress run at The Old Vic in September 2018 SYLVIA, written (with Priya Parmar), directed and choreographed by Old Vic associate artist Kate Prince, is in development for a planned future life.
In addition, The Old Vic is also launching two new initiatives: an online loyalty scheme called OV Extra, designed to give audiences discounts, insights, invites and surprises for just £5 a month, and Matinee Idols, a social initiative specially for those aged over 60.
Plus the theatre has announced the appointment of Tina Alexandrou and Olivier Award-winning actress Sheila Atim to The Old Vic Theatre Trust Board of Trustees.
