The Almeida Theatre announces re-opening plans

The Almeida Theatre in North London will re-open from 19 May with an initial socially distanced run, which will present a new project called Six Artists in Search of a Play. This will play until 5 June and sees six creatives perform semi-staged work with the option to stream at a later date. 

The season will begin with Audrey Sheffield’s presentation of The Dybbuk, which was originally penned by S Ansky and translated by Golda Werman. The story will follow a bride-to-be who is possessed by the spirit of her former dead lover on her wedding day. 

Anthony Lau will then present Thunderstorm, a tale by Cao Yu, which is considered as one of the most important modern pieces of Chinese theatre. Set in a time of social, cultural and political conflict, the Chinese drama has two families fighting, serving, living and longing alongside each other. 

Ebenezer Bamgboye will then present The Gods Are Not To Blame, which is written by Ola Rotimi and inspired by Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex. It follows a Nigerian King in a story considered an allegory of colonialism. 

Nastazja Domaradzka will take on Dziady/Forefathers’ Eve, following a Polish political prisoner who has been incarcerated under Tsar Alexander I for nationalistic activities. Translated by Charles S Kraszewski, the piece is written by Adam Mickiewicz. 

Atri Banerjee, one of the venue’s resident directors will present Name, Place, Animal, Thing. Written by Annie Zaidi, it looks at class, caste and gender within the contemporary Indian home. 

Cherelle Skeete’s Michael X will bring the season to a close. The piece, which was first produced at the Tabernacle Theatre in 2008, is written by Vanessa Walters and focuses on community heroes who have a desire to survive and thrive no matter what. It will pay homage to unsung heroes of inner city migrant communities. 

An accompanying programme of music, dance, panel discussions and rehearsed readings will coincide with each piece.

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