With the sold-out production of Noël Coward’s Private Lives currently running until 27 May, Artistic Director Michael Longhurst and Executive Director Henny Finch today announce the final two shows in the programme for 2023, and the conclusion of Donmar’s 30th birthday season.
The European première of Clyde’s reunites double Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage and director Lynette Linton as a follow up to their Donmar smash hit Sweat which transferred to the West End. The production opens on 19 October, with previews from 13 October and runs until 2 December.
The season concludes with William Shakespeare’s Macbeth starring David Tennant in the title role, directed by Donmar Associate Director Max Webster, which opens on 15 December, with previews from 8 December, and runs until 10 February 2024.
Michael Longhurst’s final season of shows before he steps down as Artistic Director next year will be announced in Autumn 2023.
Also announced today is the schools’ tour of William Shakespeare’s Henry V, directed by Donmar’s former Resident Assistant Director Dadiow Lin. Inspired by the critically acclaimed 2022 Donmar Warehouse production directed by Max Webster, and supported by headline partner Howdens and Westminster City Council, the production tours for four weeks in June and July, with performances offered free of charge reaching up to 3000 young people in Camden and Westminster.
Later this year, the Donmar will host the launch of a new paper by Climate Dramaturg and Donmar Associate Artist Dr Zoë Svendsen. This report represents the culmination of an 18-month research period during which Zoë and the Donmar, together with freelance artists, have worked to create a new, climate-conscious model for production, which they intend to make freely available to the industry along with key resources to share their learnings and new ways of working.
Donmar Warehouse also announces today the second cohort of playwrights who will receive The Theatre Royal Haymarket Writers Award, in partnership with Access Entertainment, owner of the Theatre Royal Haymarket.
The Award commissions two new writers each year to support the development of their careers on main stages. Each writer will receive a full commission to write a play as well as access to the Donmar’s creative talent who will offer support for the research and development of the writers’ ideas, through readings and workshops with professional actors. The 2023 recipients of the Theatre Royal Haymarket Writer’s Award are Mufaro Makubiku and Hannah Shury-Smith.
This season is generously supported by Charles Holloway, Season Supporter.
Michael Longhurst says today “For my penultimate season announcement I am thrilled to share two more productions to round off our 30th birthday year. First, we have the European première of Lynn Nottage’s hilarious and uplifting CLYDE’S directed by Lynette Linton, fresh from her Critics’ Circle Best Director win. CLYDE’S follows their astonishing production of SWEAT staged at the Donmar, and the West End, in 2019. And I am so excited to witness David Tennant’s portrayal of Macbeth, in what will be an unmissable production directed by Max Webster. We are also proud to share an adapted version of our last Shakespeare production HENRY V with young people in Camden and Westminster in our next Schools’ tour, created by artists from our training programme. With the continued cuts to schools’ arts provision, touring productions like this are essential, to help nurture the next generation of audiences and theatre makers. Finally I am delighted to have Mufaro Makubiko and Hannah Shury-Smith under commission, thanks to our Theatre Royal Haymarket Writers Award”
Forbes McNaughton, Howdens Company Secretary said, “We are delighted to be sponsoring the Donmar’s Henry V Schools Tour this year, building on last year’s successful support of their ‘Take the Stage’ programme. Supporting local communities, and inspiring young people within them, is one of Howdens’ key values. Access to inspiration should be available to all, and our ongoing support of this exciting initiative means that young people, who may not have previously considered a career in performing arts, for cultural, geographical or socio-economic reasons, have access to some of theatre’s leading creative minds.”
As part of its continued 30th birthday celebrations, and with generous support from Associate Sponsor Barclays, the Donmar continues to offer £10 tickets on all of its productions in 2023 for audiences under the age of 30. Six tickets will be available for every performance of Clyde’s and ten on every performance of Macbeth.
Speaking about supporting the Donmar to continue to offer these discounted tickets on Macbeth, Tom Corbett, Managing Director, Sponsorship, from Barclays said: “We are incredibly proud of our long-standing affiliation partnership with the Donmar Warehouse and anticipate that this production of Macbeth will be a must-see event. We are delighted to be able to offer audiences aged under 30 the opportunity to experience the show for just £10.”
