Almeida Theatre announces new season of shows from Autumn 2022

The Almeida Theatre have announced their new season of shows from Autumn 2022 to Spring 2023, to include the world premiere of new musical Tammy Faye and Rebecca Frecknall’s new production of A Streetcar Named Desire with all-star casts.

The world premiere of Tammy Faye, a new musical from Elton John, Jake Shears and James Graham, will play at the venue from 13 October-3 December and will be directed by Almeida Artistic Director Rupert Goold.

From a studio in South Carolina, Tammy Faye and Jim Bakker revolutionised religion.  

Preaching to millions 24 hours a day, Tammy just wants to put the fun back into faith.  

But a new wave of ministers wants you not to just feel God in your heart, but in your homes, in your schools and in the law too. 

The cast features Olivier Award-winner Katie Brayben (Beautiful) as Tammy Faye, Tony Award-nominee Andrew Rannells (The Book of Mormon, Girls) as Jim, and Olivier Award-nominee Zubin Varla (Fun Home) as Jerry Falwell.

Completing the cast are Kelly Agbowu, Amy Booth-Steel, Ashley Campbell, Peter Caulfield, Danny Collins, Richard Dempsey, Fred Haig, Georgia Louise, Robyn Rose, Nicholas Rowe, Martin Sarreal, Steve John Shepherd, and Gemma Sutton.

The production features choreography by Lynne Page, design by Bunny Christie, costumes by Katrina Lindsay, lighting by Neil Austin, sound by Bobby Aitken, musical supervision, co-orchestrations and arrangements by Tom Deering, co-orchestrations by Mark Dickman, video by Finn Ross, musical direction by Oli Jackson, and casting by Pippa Ailion and Natalie Gallacher.

Following her “spellbinding” (Financial Times) production of Summer and Smoke, Almeida Associate Director Rebecca Frecknall takes on another Tennessee Williams masterpiece with A Streetcar Named Desire, running from 10 December 2022-4 February 2023.

When Blanche unexpectedly visits her estranged sister Stella, she brings with her a past that will threaten their future. As Stella’s husband Stanley stalks closer to the truth, Blanche's fragile world begins to fracture. Reality and illusion collide and a violent conflict changes their lives forever.

Lydia Wilson (The Duchess of Malfi) returns to the Almeida to play Blanche, with the BAFTA-winning Paul Mescal (Normal People) as Stanley, Anjana Vasan (We Are Lady Parts) as Stella and Dwane Walcott (Machinal) as Mitch.

Rupert Goold will direct the world premiere of Lulu Raczka’s Women, Beware the Devil from 11 February-25 March.

For Lady Elizabeth nothing is more important than protecting her family’s legacy and their ancestral home. When that comes under threat, she elicits the help of Agnes, a young servant suspected of witchcraft.  

But Agnes doesn’t want to be a witch, she wants to be a Lady, and no one will get in her way.  

The UK premiere of musical The Secret Life of Bees, written by Lynn Nottage, Duncan Sheik, Susan Birkenhead, based on the best-selling novel by Sue Monk Kidd, will play from 4 April-27 May 2023, directed by Whitney White.

From the Pulitzer Prize-winning writer of Sweat, the Tony Award-winning composer of Spring Awakening, and Tony Award-nominated lyricist of Jelly's Last Jam, comes a captivating new musical about a group of women ignited by rebellion and longing for acceptance. 

1964, South Carolina. Rosaleen is fighting for her right to vote, and Lily is escaping her violent father. When this unlikely pair flee their small town, they seek salvation at a remote honey bee farm run by the remarkable Boatwright sisters. But will their past catch up with them? 

Almeida Artistic Director Rupert Goold said: “After a wonderful, if challenging, year since reopening we are thrilled to be presenting this exciting season of work that builds on relationships we have with artists new and familiar, our local community, and above all with the audiences that continue to discover and cherish the uniqueness of our building.

“It was inspiring to experience the responses to Spring Awakening last Christmas – it seemed that audience members reacted strongly to a musical that chimed so powerfully with contemporary feeling. So we’re very excited to be producing two new musicals, from two sets of powerhouse writers, that also speak clearly to the present day.

“Our Associate Director Rebecca Frecknall made her name with her extraordinary award-winning production of Tennessee Williams’ Summer and Smoke and now she’s taking on another Williams classic A Streetcar Named Desire with a blindingly good cast.”

For more information, please click here.