RSC and Good Chance announce KYOTO will transfer to @sohoplace
The RSC and Good Chance have announced that Kyoto will transfer to @sohoplace for a limited 16-week run from 9 January – 3 May 2025.
The production transfers direct from its critically acclaimed world premiere run in Stratford-upon-Avon. The London transfer will see Tony award-nominated actor Stephen Kunken (The Handmaid’s Tale, Billions) reprise his celebrated role as American oil lobbyist and master strategist, Don Pearlman, after making his RSC debut earlier this year.
This December will mark 27 years since the signing of the Kyoto agreement which took place on 11 December,1997. Global in scale and yet personal at heart, Kyoto is a fast paced, politically charged thriller which places audiences at the heart of the historic 1997 Kyoto climate summit, a world where big oil, big money and big egos clash in the battle to secure the world’s first legally binding emissions targets.
Written by Good Chance co-founders, Joe Murphy and Joe Robertson, and directed by Stephen Daldry and Justin Martin, this breathless and gripping tale recounts the fateful hours of tense negotiation which lead up to the historic signing of the UN’s landmark climate conference in December 1997. The production features a unique production design by award winning designer Miriam Buether.
Also returning to the cast are Jenna Augen as Shirley, Olivia Barrowclough as Secretariat, Jorge Bosch as Raul Estrada-Oyuela, Nancy Crane as USA, Andrea Gatchalian as Kiribati/AOSIS, Togo Igawa as Japan/Ohki, Kwong Loke as China/Zhong, Dale Rapley as Bolin/Santer/Gore, Raad Rawi as Saudi Arabia/Al Sabban, and Ferdy Roberts as UK/Prescott/Houghton.
Co-Directors Stephen Daldry and Justin Martin said: “Kyoto tells the story of a miraculous moment of agreement in which the seemingly impossible, became a reality. From the crucible of Kyoto emerged something extraordinary; a landmark moment in the history of climate legislation, which paved the way for much of the environmental progress we have witnessed in our lifetime. To bring Joe and Joe’s urgent and vital play to the heart of central London, feels entirely in-keeping with the international nature of this collaboration and we are delighted to be re-uniting with so many of the original company in our new home @sohoplace in 2025.”
Writers and Good Chance Co-Artistic Directors Joe Murphy and Joe Robertson said: "We’re delighted that Kyoto will continue its life in Nica Burns’ spectacular @sohoplace next year. We loved creating the show with Good Chance and the RSC in Stratford and the incredible conversations it inspired with audiences every night.
“The play tells the extraordinary story of how an unlikely group of international diplomats, scientists, politicians and activists made a leap of faith - to work together to defeat powerful vested interests and reach the first global agreement on climate change.
“In our current age of disagreement, and amid the daily assault of news reports about climate catastrophe, we want Kyoto to be a story of hope that will thrill and inspire audiences to take a seat at the table and make that same leap of faith again."
The full creative team comprises set designer Miriam Buether, costume designer Natalie Pryce, lighting designer Aideen Malone, sound designer Christopher Reid, video designer Akhila Krishnan, composer Paul Englishby, dramaturg Gemma Stockwood, and casting director Julia Horan CDG.
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