The Stage

West Yorkshire Playhouse’s new season to feature Stoppard’s Hapgood

Published Thursday 29 November 2007 at 16:00 by Lalayn Baluch

West Yorkshire Playhouse has announced details of its 2008 spring-summer season, which includes a new play based on George Orwell’s struggle to finish 1984.

Ranjit Bolt’s The Grouch opens the line-up on February 15, with an updated version of Moliere’s 17-century comedy Le Misanthrope, directed by Sarah Esdaile.

The production will be followed by Roy Smile’s Year of the Rat, a biographical drama which follows a week in the life of Orwell. The UK premiere of the show, directed by Alan Strachan, will play from March 7 to April 5.

The Playhouse’s artistic director Ian Brown will take the helm of the world premiere of Fast Labour by Steve Waters. The portrayal of gang masters involved in the UK migrant labour market, co-produced by London’s Hampstead Theatre, will be presented for three weeks from May 30.

Season highlights also include Tom Stoppard’s Hapgood, playing from May 1 to May 24, created in collaboration with the Birmingham Rep, and Colin Teevan’s family show Monkey! which features aerial acts.

Meanwhile, the theatre will play also host to the world premiere of Tajinder Singh Hayer’s latest work Mela from June 28 as part of the Northern Exposure new writing season.

Christmas 2008 will see another co-production, this time Peter Pan - A Musical Adventure, between the Playhouse and the Birmingham Rep. The new version of the JM Barrie play has been created by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe and will be directed by Kavanagh.

The venue will host the work of 13 visiting companies in spring-summer 2008, including a production of Romeo and Juliet directed by Barrie Rutter running from March 26 until April 5.