Jonathan Church, artistic director of Theatre Royal Bath, has announced the theatre’s full 2018 summer season programme. Some of the country’s most prolific actors will star in a selection of both UK premieres and renowned classics in the theatre’s historic Main House and the intimate Ustinov Studio.
Highlights include:
- Theatre company Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory launches Henry V at the Ustinov Studio, starring Ben Hall and directed by Elizabeth Freestone.
- An Ideal Husband, directed by Jonathan Church, will transfer to the Main House direct from a West End season.
- Joanna Murray-Smith’s Switzerland, directed by Lucy Bailey, will make its UK premiere in the Ustinov Studio.
- David Suchet will star in the 50th-anniversary production of Arthur Miller’s The Price, directed by Jonathan Church.
- Elizabeth McGovern and Amanda Abbington star in the 10th-anniversary production of Yasmina Reza’s God of Carnage, directed by Lindsay Posner.
- Jonathan Church makes Ustinov Studio directorial debut with Terence Rattigan’s In Praise of Love starring Robert Lindsay and Tara Fitzgerald.
Jonathan Church succeeded Peter Hall as artistic director of Theatre Royal Bath’s annual summer season in 2017. Introducing his new season, he said:
“It’s a great pleasure to announce such a diverse and rich season of drama this summer and in particular to welcome this exceptional group of actors, directors and writers to the beautiful Theatre Royal Bath and Ustinov Studio. My memories of the summer in Bath are powerfully linked to the work that Peter Hall created here so it’s a real treat to welcome his grandson Ben Hall to the season playing Henry V.”
Summer Season 2018:
Henry V
Ustinov Studio (21 June to 21 July 2018, press night is 28 June)
Innovative theatre company Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory will launch its brand new production of Henry V, directed by Elizabeth Freestone, prior to a UK tour. Ben Hall (The Durrells, Coriolanus) will star in the title role. He will be joined by Rosie Armstrong, Alice Barclay, Melody Brown, Alan Coveney, Chris Donnelly, Luke Grant, Heledd Gwynn, Joanne Howarth, David Osmond, Zachary Powell, Amy Rockson and Corey Montague-Sholay.
An Ideal Husband
Main House (18 July to 4 August 2018)
Oscar Wilde’s An Ideal Husband, directed by Jonathan Church, will transfer direct from a West End season at the Vaudeville Theatre. The production will star real-life father and son duo, Edward Fox and Freddie Fox. They are joined by Susan Hampshire, Nathaniel Parker, Frances Barber and Sally Bretton.
Switzerland
Ustinov Studio (1 August to 1 September 2018, press night is 9 August)
Lucy Bailey will direct the UK premiere of Joanna Murray Smith’s award-winning psychological thriller Switzerland. The play paints a portrait of one of the great writers of the 20th century, Patricia Highsmith, famed for writing The Talented Mr Ripley, Strangers On A Train and The Price of Salt.
The Price
Main House (9 August to 25 August 2018, press night is 15 August)
Jonathan Church will direct the 50th anniversary production of Arthur Miller’s drama The Price. David Suchet will star as furniture dealer Gregory Solomon with further casting to be announced. The play tells the story of two long-estranged brothers, Victor and Walter Franz, meeting in their former childhood home following the death of their father. When Gregory Solomon, a silver-tongued used furniture dealer, arrives to close a deal he hasn’t counted on the brothers being there to confront each other.
God of Carnage
Main House (29 August to 15 September 2018, press night is 5 September)
Lindsay Posner directs the 10th anniversary production of Yasmina Reza’s award-winning farce God of Carnage. The production stars two much-loved actors from hit television series, Elizabeth McGovern (Downton Abbey) and Amanda Abbington (Sherlock). Originally written in French, God of Carnage was translated by Christopher Hampton in 2008. The production went on to win the Olivier Award for Best New Comedy and the Tony Award for Best New Play.
In Praise of Love
Ustinov Studio (3 October to 3 November, 2018, press night is 15 October)
Jonathan Church will make his Ustinov Studio directorial debut with Terence Rattigan’s final play In Praise of Love. Robert Lindsay and Tara Fitzgerald will star in the closing production of Church’s season. A perceptive and powerful drama about the concealed truths and veiled emotions in a marriage, In Praise of Love sees a series of heart-breaking revelations change a couple’s relationship forever.
