Roger Allam and Anna Chancellor to appear in upcoming season at Orange Tree Theatre

Photo credit: Rebecca Need-Menear/Hugo Glendinning

Full programming has been revealed for the 2025 season at Orange Tree Theatre, including four world premières, two rediscoveries and a classic comedy.

Churchill in Moscow reunites writer Howard Brenton and director Tom Littler for their sixth collaboration with Roger Allam in the titular role to launch the season from 3 February 2025. The play explores an imagined meeting between Winston Churchill and Joseph Stalin at the Kremlin in 1942. A revival of April De Angelis’ Playhouse Creatures follows, directed by Michael Oakley and starring Anna Chancellor, which will transfer to the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre and Theatre Royal Bath. The Orange Tree then presents the London première of the RSC production of Mark Ravenhill’s Ben and Imo, directed by Erica Whyman, with Samuel Barnett and Victoria Yeates reprising their roles. The spring season culminates with a revival of Terence Rattigan’s penultimate play In Praise of Love, directed by Amelia Sears. 

The 2025 season continues with Poor Clare by Chiara Atik, directed by Blanche McIntyre, and the world premières of two adaptations: August Strindberg’s Dance of Death, newly adapted and directed by Richard Eyre, and Hedda, a new play by Tanika Gupta, inspired by Ibsen’s classic Hedda Gabler. The 2025 season culminates with Tom Littler directing the 250th Anniversary production of Richard Brinsley Sheridan’s comic classic The Rivals.

Artistic Director Tom Littler said: “It's sometimes said that history never repeats itself, but it does rhyme. This year of programming digs into the past to ask questions about the present and the future. Questions about power and those who wield it; about the shadow of war; about privilege and class; about heritage; about secrecy and honesty. These are rich plays: entertaining, exciting, and provocative. We can't wait to share the work of these outstanding writers with our audiences in Richmond and beyond.”

Priority booking for Churchill in Moscow, Playhouse Creatures, Ben and Imo and In Praise of Love opens from 16 October at 12pm, with general on sale opening on 28 October at 12pm.

On sale details for the rest of the season is to be announced.

For more info on the 2025 season at Orange Tree Theatre, please click here.