Theatre announces new shows and events for this milestone year.
With Abigail’s Party directed by Nadia Fall beginning previews this week, launching Stratford East’s 140th anniversary season, the theatre announces new shows and events for this milestone year and Fall’s final season as the theatre’s Artistic Director. Featuring productions that exemplify the creative spirit that Stratford East is synonymous with, this season carries the baton of the past brightly into the now, and beyond into the future.
A new adaptation of George Orwell’s Animal Farm by Tatty Hennessy, directed by Amy Leach. Co-produced with Leeds Playhouse in association with Nottingham Playhouse.
Azuka Oforka’s debut play The Women of Llanrumney, directed by Patricia Logue and starring Suzanne Packer (Casualty) who returns to Stratford East, having previously presented work at the venue as co-founder of the BiBi Crew. Co-produced with Sherman Theatre.
Tambo & Bones by Dave Harris returns, directed by Matthew Xia, in a co-production between Actors Touring Company, Stratford East and Royal & Derngate, Northampton in association with Belgrade Theatre, Leeds Playhouse and Liverpool Everyman.
New British musical Lovestuck by two of the co-creators of the hit podcast My Dad Wrote A Porno, James Cooper (Book & Lyrics) and Jamie Morton (Director), with Bryn Christopher (Music & Lyrics) and Martin Batchelar (Music). Co-produced with Wildpark Entertainment.
A community production of William Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet co-produced with Sadler’s Wells, adapted by Kwame Owusu, co-directed by Emily Ling Williams and Malik Nashad Sharpe, bringing young artists and the local Newham community together with a professional cast.
Twenty years after staging the original production, Stratford East presents a new production of reggae musical The Harder They Come, book by Suzan-Lori Parks, featuring songs by Jimmy Cliff, additional new songs by Suzan-Lori Parks, directed by Matthew Xia. Based on the cult film produced and directed by Perry Henzell and co-written by Trevor Rhone.
Alongside the main stage programming, there will be a series of events – the first, a panel talk exploring Stratford East's heritage of championing Black and Asian artists and audiences, hosted by Chinonyerem Odimba, Artistic Director of tiata fahodzi, with the panel including Roy Williams Tanika Gupta, Jo Martin and Dipo Baruwa-Etti. The second, a panel talk delving into Stratford East’s history of staging political work. Hosted by Mark Thomas with a panel including Amy Leach.
Stratford East’s programme of one-night events also continues, with the return of Live at Stratford East; Canned Laughter, a mixed bill comedy night raising funds for the Trussell Trust; and Kiell Smith-Bynoe: Kool Story Bro, with further events to be announced.
Nadia Fall, Artistic Director of Stratford East, said: “I am excited to announce our 140th anniversary season, which is also my final season as Artistic Director of Stratford East. Though I’m already teary about leaving at the end of the year, this programme is very much my love letter to the theatre, staff, artists and audiences. And we certainly intend for it to be a brilliant celebration of our big birthday!
Further Information: Stratford East