Bill Kenwright will present the third Theatre Royal Windsor Summer Season under the Directorship of Sean Mathias.
The season will comprise of two world premieres Frank and Percy by Ben Weatherill starring Ian McKellen and Roger Allam (Theatre Royal Windsor Friday 9 June – Saturday 22 July 2023 and Theatre Royal Bath Tuesday 25 July – Saturday 5 August 2023) and Alone Together by Simon Williams, with casting to be announced, (Friday 4 August 2023 – Saturday 19 August 2023).
2023 will be Sean Mathias’ third summer season at Theatre Royal Windsor. 2021 saw two classics with Shakespeare’s Hamlet and Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard. The 2022 season had two modern classics including Frederick Knott’s Dial M for Murder, Enid Bagnold’s The Chalk Garden. The 2023 season will be focussed on new writing.
Director Sean Mathias said: “I cannot believe my luck in finding not one but two charming and original new plays for the season. Ben Weatherill (Frank & Percy) is a true young talent in the theatre. And to have reunited Ian and Roger after almost 20 years since we all did Aladdin together at the Old Vic is a real coup. Both Frank and Percy, and Alone Together explore the fragility and joy of relationships in all their different forms, and what forges and strengthens bonds between humans, at a time when more than ever, we all need to love and support one another.
Producer Bill Kenwright said: “Sean has firmly established the summer season at Theatre Royal Windsor as the highlight of our dramatic theatrical year. (We should never forget our hugely loved and much needed record-breaking annual panto!). This year it is great to be exploring two new plays from an exciting new playwright (Ben Weatherill), and a dear friend of mine and of Theatre Royal Windsor (Simon Williams) whose writing skills get better with every play of his I read.
I love for us to present new plays at Windsor, although to be honest it’s not always easy in a regional theatre with no subsidy whatsoever. so I’m particularly pleased that Sean and I have chosen these two as our new adventures.”
Frank and Percy is a poignant and witty take on the unexpected relationship that blossoms between two men.
Ever seen a couple of old boys on a park bench and wondered what they are chatting about?
In his new play Ben Weatherill lets us overhear Frank and Percy as they discuss the weather, then their dogs and then each other and so much more. Will the widowed schoolteacher and the elder statesman dare to risk changing their lives or let sleeping dogs lie?
Old friends, three-time Olivier Award winner Roger Allam, and one of our greatest stage and screen actors, Ian McKellen, re-unite with Director Sean Mathias, for this witty, poignant two-hander.
Alone Together
Driven by the loneliness of a dismal marriage to Colin, Angela finds comfort in a chance meeting with Jonty, a young novelist. Each have secrets to protect and pasts to work through, was it really a chance encounter?
In a world where you can be anyone online, can you really escape reality?
Casting to be announced.
