Hampstead Theatre has today announced both its programme for Spring 2024 and the launch of a £1.25m fundraising appeal as it continues its commitment to nurturing, commissioning and producing new plays.
Spring 2024 will see four world premieres, one UK premiere, and one English language premiere by acclaimed writers including April De Angelis, Stephen Adly Guirgis, Christopher Hampton and Richard Nelson alongside rising playwrights Sarah Power and Richard Molloy. Tickets for the new season will go on sale to members from today, Thursday 23 November, and to the public on Thursday 30 November.
The season opens with the world premiere of a brand-new play The Divine Mrs S by April De Angelis, directed by Anna Mackmin, which celebrates arguably the greatest theatre actress of all time – Sarah Siddons, the ‘Queen of Drury Lane’ at the end of 18th Century.
Michael Longhurst returns to Hampstead Theatre, following his final season as Artistic Director of the Donmar Warehouse, to direct the UK premiere of Stephen Adly Guirgis’ Pulitzer Prize winning Between Riverside and Crazy.
Concluding the season on the main stage is Academy Award-winner Christopher Hampton’s Visit from an Unknown Woman, an adaptation of a short story by Stefan Zweig, which will be directed by Clare Lizzimore.
The Hampstead Downstairs programme is to include, Grud, a first play by Sarah Power, directed by Jaz Woodcock-Stewart. Sarah wrote the play last year while on Hampstead Theatre’s INSPIRE programme for playwrights.
Following his debut and Olivier Award-nominated play Every Day I Make Greatness Happen at Hampstead Theatre, Richard Molloy returns to Hampstead and reunites with Associate Director Alice Hamilton for the world premiere of The Harmony Test.
Also receiving its world premiere is a new play by Olivier Award-winner Richard Nelson, An Actor Convalescing In Devon, written for and performed by Paul Jesson and directed by Clarissa Brown in collaboration with Richard Nelson.
Also announced today is the #HampsteadAhead campaign, a £1.25m philanthropic appeal, to propel Hampstead Theatre as it continues to nurture and commission writers, produce new plays and offer significant ticket subsidies to thousands of young people. The appeal has already been given a significant boost with £1m pledged by a small number of Hampstead’s supporters and trustees. Also lending their support and voices to the #HampsteadAhead campaign are artists including Tamsin Greig, David Suchet, Jemma Redgrave and Roy Williams OBE.
Greg Ripley-Duggan, Producer and Chief Executive at Hampstead Theatre said: “We’re thrilled that, as we approach the end of our first year without government subsidy, we can still offer such a rich and varied programme of new plays for our audiences to enjoy.
“Taking the Main Stage and Downstairs together, we start with a celebration of acting and the art of the theatre through contrasting plays by April De Angelis and Richard Nelson. Stephen Adly Guirgis’ and Richard Molloy’s brilliant plays then offer complementary views of contemporary life, before the building celebrates work created at different ends of writing careers, via riveting pieces from debutant Sarah Power and veteran playwright Christopher Hampton.”
“Hampstead’s aim has always been to present outstanding new plays and champion original talent and so it is wonderful that we are able to continue with that aim in our Spring 2024 programme. Philanthropy is at the heart of Hampstead’s future and with £1m already pledged towards our new £1.25m #HampsteadAhead appeal we want to say thank you for the rock-solid support of our patrons, audiences and trustees.”
Artists supporting the #HampsteadAhead appeal have said: “It pleases me no end that Hampstead Theatre are still, in spite of the troubles they’ve had, punching a way through and still have the INSPIRE initiative in the building to support new writers. The #HampsteadAhead appeal is vital to its continued success.” Roy Williams OBE
“Just being here at Hampstead Theatre makes me feel the necessity of theatres like this, not just surviving but flourishing. It’s a lot to do with succeeding generations of writers and that’s why the #HampsteadAhead appeal is important.” Tom Stoppard
“Hampstead Theatre so deserves to be supported by its audience and by its patrons and by everybody who cares about and loves theatre.” Jemma Redgrave
“This country is blessed with many brilliant writers from Osborne to Pinter to Stoppard to Lucy Prebble and Laura Wade and they all had to start their careers somewhere and Hampstead Theatre is the perfect platform for new writers. This theatre needs your support now.” Robert Lindsay
