Artistic Director Michael Longhurst and Executive Director Henny Finch today announce the next two shows in the Donmar’s 30th birthday season, along with lead casting for the previously announced Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning musical Next To Normal.
Opening the season is Noël Coward’s Private Lives with a cast including Stephen Mangan as Elyot, Rachael Stirling as Amanda, Laura Carmichael as Sibyl and Sargon Yelda as Victor, in a new production directed by Michael Longhurst.
This is followed by the world première of award-winning playwright Jack Thorne’s latest play When Winston Went to War with the Wireless directed by Katy Rudd, a gripping and timely examination of the BBC’s independence during the 1926 General Strike.
Having collaborated on Caroline, or Change on Broadway, Longhurst reunites with Caissie Levy, who will play Diana in Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey’s Next to Normal, along with Trevor Dion Nicholas as Dr. Madden/Dr. Fine, with further casting to be announced. Alessandra Davison and Adam Karim are also today announced as Resident Assistant Directors for the company.
This season is generously supported by Charles Holloway, Season Supporter, and presented in partnership with Wessex Grove.
After five years in the role, Michael Longhurst announces today he will step down as Artistic Director of the Donmar Warehouse when his contract ends in February 2024.
During his tenure, Michael has championed new writing including work by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, Alice Birch and the upcoming world premiere of Trouble in Butetown by Diana Nneka Atuona. He has also revived classics including Henry V, starring Kit Harington. His own productions directed at the theatre include Europe by David Greig, Mike Lew’s ground-breaking Teenage Dick, starring leading disabled actors Daniel Monks and Ruth Madeley, Tim Price’s adaptation of Ruben Östlund’s Force Majeure, where the stage was transformed into a ski slope, and the recent sell out run of acclaimed musical The Band’s Visit.
Michael Longhurst said: “I could not be prouder of the Donmar team and all that we’ve achieved across my tenure – the impact of the pandemic on our industry was devastating, but in the face of this, I am so grateful that the team rose to the challenge, not only to fundraise for and deliver an essential capital project, but to simultaneously help reopen theatres with our globally-transferring sound installation Blindness and our multi-cast Olivier Award-winning revival of Constellations in the West End. Thank you to all the artists and theatre makers who have been part of the journey so far. I am proud that in a time so challenging for freelancers to have enabled so many Donmar debuts, and to have continued to improve the diversity of those making work here. I am enormously grateful to my Co-Chief Executive Henny Finch for her unwavering support and great skill throughout my tenure.
As I approach the end of my contract, it feels like the right moment to hand over this incredible theatre – now celebrating its 30th anniversary. When I leave next year, I will do so with the company in robust financial health, in part due to the Donmar’s many loyal supporters, with whose help we feel confident we can fill the gap left by the recent withdrawal of our Arts Council funding. I know that the Donmar will not simply survive, but thrive and continue to forge forward as an industry leader and innovator – this next chapter is a new moment and an incredible opportunity for the company’s next Artistic Director.
Before then, I am beyond thrilled to be honouring the 50th anniversary of Coward’s death by reviving his most famous work Private Lives in the fierce intimacy of the Donmar; producing Jack Thorne’s astonishingly timely play about BBC independence, and directing the long-awaited UK premiere of Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical Next to Normal, with Broadway star Caissie Levy, whose vocals are currently Grammy-nominated on the cast album of my last Broadway production Caroline, or Change. I look forward to announcing my final season later in the year, before pursuing new artistic challenges for myself in 2024”.
Full season details and ticket information can be found here
