DONMAR WAREHOUSE announces reopening season featuring Kit Harington and Rory Kinnear
Photo credit: Joachim Mueller-Ruchholtz
After undertaking extensive building and maintenance repairs, including work to make the venue more accessible, the Donmar Warehouse has announced that it will open its doors again in September.
The season, running from 21 September 2021 to 4 June 2022, will comprise five productions in-house and one production on tour to schools in Westminster and Camden. Opening the season will be Inua Ellams’ audience-led poetry event Search Party from 21 September to 24 September, followed by a brand-new play by Cordelia Lynn called Love and Other Acts of Violence from 7 October to 27 November. Telling the story of a young Jewish physicist and a left-wing poet, it marks Abigail Weinstock’s stage debut and will be directed by Elayce Ismail.
Rory Kinnear takes to the stage from 10 December to 5 February in Tim Price’s new adaptation of Ruben Östlund’s award-winning film, Force Majeure. Originally scheduled to run last summer, this production will be directed by the Donmar’s Artistic Director Michael Longhurst and will be designed by Jon Bausor.
From 11 February to 9 April, the Donmar treats us to Shakespeare’s Henry V starring Kit Harington directed by the Donmar’s Associate Director Max Webster. The season will close with Marys Seacole, a dazzling play by Jackie Sibblies Drury, running from 15 April to 4 June. It will be directed by Nadia Latif and designed by Donmar Associate Artist Tom Scutt. Casting will be announced in due course.
In addition to the in-house season, the Donmar will revive its 2019 production of Teenage Dick, Mike Lew’s reimagining of Shakespeare’s Richard III. It will tour ten comprehensive schools in Camden and Westminster for free with the support of their respective borough’s councils. Former Donmar Warehouse Resident Assistant Director, Blythe Stewart, will reimagine Michael Longhurst’s production for schools and Jack Hunter will star as Richard III.
In ongoing support of the NHS and commitment to theatre accessibility, the Donmar’s Associate Sponsor Barclays will provide hundreds of free tickets to NHS workers throughout the season whilst the Donmar, in partnership with sponsor IHS Markit, will provide over 1000 tickets to audiences under 26 as part of their YOUNG+FREE scheme. BSL performances will also be scheduled across the season, alongside the captioned and audio described performances on offer.
Of the season, Artistic Director Michael Longhurst said: “I’m thrilled we’ve managed to expose the Donmar’s warehouse bones during our essential building works; stripping out the cramped bars and improving accessibility to make a welcoming space for artists and audiences to return to. We’re back with a season that mines history to examine our present; that holds society to account through personal stories; that is laced with comedy and poetry and packed full of talent for our shared entertainment. I’m delighted that the Donmar is also mounting its first local comprehensive schools tour, giving young people and young actors opportunities they’ve been denied during the pandemic. We can’t wait to see you in person again!”
Tickets go on sale from 9am (online) and 12pm (phones) on Thursday 8 July. More information can be found here.
